Budget-Friendly, Easy, Healthy Dinner Recipe Idea: Buddha Bowl

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Looking for a budget-friendly, fast and easy, healthy dinner idea? Buddha bowls are incredibly packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and more! They take no time to put together, and can make the perfect healthy dinner on a weekday or on a pinch! Check out my take on the Buddha Bowl recipe, inspired by fall!

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Budget-Friendly Healthy Dinner Recipe Idea: Buddha Bowl

Trying to come up with a fast and easy healthy dinner idea can be quite a hassle. Especially throughout the week or towards the end of the week, when you have gone through everything in your fridge!

Especially if you are on a tight budget but want to eat healthy, trying to find a cheap yet wholesome dinner recipe can get pretty stressful.

I absolutely love Buddha bowls. You can choose your favorite vegetables, grains, proteins and throw them all in a bowl tossed in your favorite dressing!

They are incredibly easy to make, very affordable and budget-friendly and you can get so creative with the recipes!

Below, I am sharing with you my favorite take on this quick, healthy dinner idea, the Buddha bowl.

Inspired by fall and fall vegetables!

Also, don’t forget to download the Free Buddha Bowl Checklist!

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How To Make A Buddha Bowl

As I mentioned earlier, Buddha bowls are extremely easy to make and are incredibly budget-friendly. Here is a typical Buddha bowl checklist:

Whole grains and or/starchy veggies.

For the base and main substance of a buddha bowl, I like to use a whole grain such as quinoa or brown rice and/or a starchy veggie such as sweet potato or butternut squash. Don’t be afraid to mix and match as well! The point is to add some complex carbs to build the base of your meal.

Choose your protein.

You can use tofu, tempeh, or legumes such as edamame, beans, and lentils. These are all packed with nutrients, fiber, and protein. (You can also replace the plant-based options with chicken or tuna, depending on your preferences.)

Greens.

I like adding a handful of greens such as kale, spinach, or arugula. This buddha bowl features spinach but you can use any greens you like. Dark leafy greens add a lot of nutrition as well as color to your bowl!

Raw or cooked veggies.

Add in your favorite raw or cooked veggies, anything and everything goes! You can do zucchini, carrot, beets, tomato, corn, cucumber, the list goes on and on! There are no rules, just personal preference.

Add a little texture and healthy fats.

I usually like to add some nuts for texture, as well as extra nutrients from the healthy fats. Anything from pumpkin seeds to sliced almonds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds will work. Top it all of with a couple of slices of avocado!

Dressing.

To finish off your Buddha Bowl, choose your favorite dressing, sauce or spread. My personal favorites are The Green Goddess and The Lemon Garlic Dressing. I also love to use just lemon with olive oil and spice blends for flavor. Tahini-based dressings are also a great, healthy choice.

Fall Inspired Buddha Bowl Ingredients

This healthy dinner recipe will yield two Buddha Bowls. All the ingredients below should be divided into two Buddha bowls.

1 . 2/3 cup quinoa

Whole protein, antioxidant and fibrous.

2. 2 handfuls spinach

Vitamin E and magnesium for your immune system.

3. 1 head broccoli, cut into florets

Well deserved title as the “Superfood”. Vitamins A, C and K. Anti-inflammatory. Lowers cholesterol. Fibrous. And these are just a few benefits!

4. 1 large sweet potato

Vitamins A and C for eyes and skin, potassium, fibrous and delicious!

5. 1 cup organic cooked beets

Fermented foods contain probiotics which are incredibly beneficial for your immune system and gut health. Beets are also incredibly high in antioxidants.

6. 170g extra firm tofu, about half the package

Packed with protein and very low in calories. Contains all nine amino acids. Great source of minerals as well.

7. A handful of pumpkin seeds

Rich in vitamins K and manganese, which help heal wounds. Also high in phosphorus, a mineral that helps us grow healthy bones.

How To Prepare Your Healthy Dinner Buddha Bowl.

It took me about 45 minutes for the whole thing! Super easy.

Firstly, start off with the things that take the most time to cook. Preheat the oven to 425F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut the sweet potato into medallions and cut the medallions into halves then place it onto one of the baking sheets. Cut and dry the tofu. Make sure it’s drained of its water as much as possible. Cut the tofu into cubes then place into onto the other baking sheet.
Place both baking sheets beside each other on the middle rack and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping once halfway.
While the tofu and potato are cooking, bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil. Cook the quinoa according to your package’s instructions. (Mine takes 15 minutes to cook.)
Five minutes into cooking the quinoa, place the broccoli florets into a handheld strainer and rest it above the boiling quinoa. This way you can cook the quinoa while steaming the broccoli.
Cut up the beets into small cubes.
Wash the spinach then spin it to dry using a salad spinner. Click here to see the one I use.
Once everything is ready, divide the cooked ingredients into two large serving bowls.
Top with pumpkin seeds and your favorite dressing! I used Chosen Foods Garden Goddess Dressing because it is affordable and has the most wholesome ingredients I have ever seen in a dressing bottle!