Looking for plant-based bowl recipes for a crowd — that even your omnivore friends will love? Build-your-own plant-based bowls are the best solution!
These customizable meals use a bunch of ingredients for everyone to mix and match for their own bowl. It’s one of our favorite vegan dinner ideas for mixed groups. You can keep everything plant-based and healthy – yet offer add-ons (like cheese or meat on the side). In other words, a win-win for everyone at the table! 😋
Plant-Based Mexican Burrito Bowls 🌮
These are the OG bowls. Our patients love these Mexican-inspired bowls. Like Chipotle, but even better! Set out all the components and let your guests build their perfect burrito bowl.
- Base: Start with brown rice or quinoa, and lettuce greens.
- Protein: Pile on black beans or pinto beans (packed with fiber and protein). You can also add spiced tofu or Upton Chorizo flavor seitan for extra oomph.
- Veggies: Offer sautéed peppers and onions, roasted corn (frozen), diced tomatoes, and avocado.
- Toppings: Finish with salsa, avocado, fresh cilantro, Trader Joe’s Taco sauce and a squeeze of lime. 🌶️ For non-vegans, have shredded cheese or sour cream on the side. But truly, these bowls are so flavorful on their own.
- Crunch tortilla chips over the top or serve in warmed corn tortillas.
Vegan Burger Bowls 🍔
Our last family gathering at 4th of July, we had these burger bowls and they were soooo good! Plus, no one had to stand at the grill. This bowl tosses all the best burger fixings together for a fun and satisfying dinner.
- Base: Use a bed of crisp lettuce or mixed greens and rice.
- Protein: Add a hearty plant protein like crumbled veggie burgers, black bean patties, or Upton chorizo seitan. (Yes, this flavor works here too). You can cook up some ground beef as an option for the non-vegans too.
- Veggies: Top with chopped tomatoes, red onion, and pickles – all the classics.
- Sauce: Drizzle each bowl with a “special sauce” made by mixing ketchup, dijon mustard, relish (or chopped pickles), lemon juice and silken tofu. 🥄 (I combined both these recipes from Noracooks and Gimmedelicious.) This tangy sauce pulls everything together. (Chick-fil-a sauce or other pre-made burger sauce works in a pinch).
- Service with potato wedges or chips and watermelon for the full “cookout” vibe.
Plant-Based Sushi Stacks 🍣
Sushi night made simple – no rolling mat required! A couple years ago Ann & Jane Esselstyn shared a video featuring sushi stacks which became an instant hit in our house.
Our kids’ friends love love these deconstructed sushi roll piled in a stack. Or compile into a sushi bowl if you’re feeling laid-back.
- Base: Get your rice cooking. White Jasmine, short-grain brown, regular brown, whatever you prefer, it all works!
- Veggies: Dice up avocado, cucumber and bell pepper. Then shred carrot and red cabbage for color and crunch.
- Protein: Add a plant-based protein like marinated baked tofu cubes and edamame.
- Toppings: Sprinkle with cilantro, chopped frozen mango and shredded nori seaweed. We like the Furikake seasoning from Trader Joe’s. Pickled ginger, Japanese BBQ sauce, tamari, sriracha and wasabi add flavor and kick. 🥢
- Pile all the layers into a measuring cup and flip it onto a plate for a cute sushi stack presentation. Pro tip: put a wet ingredient like mango or cucumber at the bottom of the cup for easy release.
Ready for Sushi Stackers!
Completed Stack!
One more thing. Make a quick jar of pickled onion, a delicious addition for any bowl:
Slice 1 red onion thin and place into a glass jar. Add 1 tbsp of sugar or maple syrup, 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup hot water. Let sit for at least 1 hour.
Wrap-Up: Bowl Your Crowd Over! 🎉
These plant-based bowl recipes make all the guests happy. From plant-based newbies and picky kids to longtime vegans. Everyone gets to customize their own creation based on what they love (or don’t). 😉
For more plant-based cooking ideas be sure to check out our Resources page for links to get you started.
And if you’re looking for ongoing support (and fun events like monthly plant-based dinners), consider joining The Circle, our membership community.
Happy bowl-building and bon appétit! 🌱🥗