Yearning to be spoiled for choice? Put rice bowls on your weeknight menu and revel in the reality of limitless options! Meals that can be built in infinite ways, rice bowls can be fresh or spicy, bold or light, and offer the benefit of variety to sate any type of craving.
Beyond the base, which can be made with brown rice, jasmine, white and more, rice bowl toppings are the key to making meals that are creative, satisfying and varied. Choose from a selection of proteins, vegetables, sauces, herbs and tasty add-ins, and you can eat rice bowls for a month without ever getting bored!
Building a perfect rice bowl is a matter of following a simple formula. Merely start with a quality, easy-to-prep bowl of warm Success® Rice. From there, add leftover or just-cooked proteins, plus a smattering of colorful veggies.
Sauces add punch, while add-ins, such as nuts, cheese and herbs, add aroma, more flavor and an intriguing mix of textures. As you can see, building a rice bowl is easy and creative with consistently delicious results!
Whether you have a tried-and-true favorite or want to sample something new, you’ll want to give these recipes a try. Rice bowls that keep dinnertime endlessly exciting, these are the ones we make on repeat, week after week.
Epic Rice Bowl Toppings
Building a great rice bowl is a choose-your-own-adventure endeavor that can go in any direction you crave. As with all cooking, for the best results you’ll want to choose the best ingredients. Begin with a tasty, fluffy rice foundation, then assemble your bowl, keeping flavor combinations, textures and color in mind. Use the following categories as a guide to get you started.
Bold and Spicy
- Proteins: Since most of the flavor in a bold and spicy bowl comes from the sauce or add-ins, you can choose any type of protein you prefer, from beef to shrimp or plant-based alternatives. A great place to start is this Easy Birria Bowl and Rice with Chipotle Crema.
- Fruits and Vegetables: A few simple purchases can make building a delicious rice bowl a breeze. Simply seasoned cole slaw mix and creamy avocado turn this Mexican Grilled Shrimp and Rice Bowl into a gourmet delight. Throw in some fresh mango for added flair.
- Sauces: Marinating proteins is a great way to impart flavor to any dish. You can also add bold sauces (such as barbecue sauce, hot sauce, hoisin or chili crisp) to your finished bowl. A simple blend of seasoned oil, honey and chipotle peppers gives this Honey Chipotle Chicken Rice Bowl plenty of zip!
- Garnishes and Mix-Ins: Bold and spicy garnishes range from pungent wasabi peas to savory crisped onions. In this recipe for Kimchi Fried Rice Bowl with Fried Egg, we turn to tangy kimchi for a punch of flavor in every forkful.
Savory and Umami-rich
- Proteins: A natural umami bomb, red meat is a great place to start if you’re looking for an über-savory rice bowl. We turn to sirloin steak, marinated in sweetened soy sauce and sesame oil, for our Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowl. Pork, lamb, goat, and veal are other delicious alternatives.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Prefer to focus on veggies? You can also satisfy savory cravings with 100% plant-based bowls, like this Miso Kale Power Bowl made with hearty Success® boil-in-bag brown rice.
- Sauces: No matter what you put in a rice bowl, a drizzle of sauce is the final accessory that will bring every ingredient together. Savory sauces we love include gochujang, hoisin, tahini and sriracha, as in this Tofu Protein Power Bowl and Vegetarian Pho Dinner Rice Bowl.
- Garnishes and Mix-Ins: When searching for umami in a bowl, look for strong ingredients that make an impression, such as green onions, pickled ginger, toasted nuts, pickles or furikake, as in this Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Spicy Mayo Poke Bowl.
Fresh and Vibrant
- Proteins: If you’re looking for a rice bowl that’s light and refreshing, plant-based ingredients and seafood are ideal. Made with Success® boil-in-bag white rice, this Southwest Rice and Beans Bowl is a vegetarian dish that’s still hearty enough to satisfy.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Raw or lightly-sauteed and seasoned produce is a perfect match for fresh rice bowls. For example, sweet corn, lime and green onion turn a bowl of Success® boil-in-bag jasmine rice into a complete meal in this recipe for Mexican Grilled Corn Salad.
- Sauces: Punchy homemade pesto, like the one used in this Arugula Walnut Pesto Rice Bowl, is just one example of a vibrant sauce you’ll want to turn to when making zesty rice bowls. Made with herbs, fresh vegetables and plenty of bright seasonings, other top options include salsa, pico de gallo, tzatziki, and chimichurri.
- Garnishes and Mix-Ins: Light doesn’t have to mean boring! To make a fresh rice bowl that’s dynamic and delicious, focus on variety, both in textures and flavors. Thanks to a medley of add-ins, this Crispy Sweetgreen Rice Bowl hits sweet, nutty, savory and spicy notes in every bite.
Warm and Aromatic
- Proteins: Generously spiced rice bowls are the ultimate aromatic feast. To infuse flavor into your protein—be it chicken, shrimp, beef or a vegetarian alternative—lean on warm spices, like cumin, cinnamon and allspice. Lavished with garlic-scented oil, cumin and paprika, chicken thighs are the star of this Chicken Shawarma Bowl made with Success® boil-in-bag basmati rice.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Leave the meat out of the equation and enjoy a warm bowl of sustenance that takes just minutes to prepare. Whether you’re cleaning out the fridge or just trying to eat fresh, you can make a delicious dinner layered with a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and leafy greens. Give the plant-based route a go, with this za’atar spiced Middle Eastern Rice and Smashed Chickpea Bowl.
- Sauces: A rich and creamy coconut curry sauce coats tender bites of chicken in this Coconut Chicken Rice Bowl. In addition to various kinds of curry sauce, peanut sauce, tomato sauce, and gravy are all warming, comforting toppings for an aromatic, satisfying rice bowl.
- Garnishes and Mix-Ins: Building a warm and aromatic rice bowl means balancing earthy spices with pops of bright flavor. A squirt of citrus, a smattering of herbs, and a spoonful of zippy yogurt sauce bring spices to life. Try it for yourself, with our Salmon Rice Bowl with Turmeric Yogurt Drizzle.
