How to Build a Delicious Grain Bowl
One of my favorite ways to cook in the kitchen is to embrace my produce and get inspired as I’m cooking. This Grain Bowl is a perfect example of inspired cooking. It’s an easy and loose recipe that allows for lots of creativity and deliciousness! And of course, every good dinner starts with the best ingredients. That’s why this bowl starts with CA Grown Produce.
Why I Choose California Grown
A lot of people focus on how their food is made and like to buy organic. However, where your food is made is just as crucial! California has one of the most transparent crop input systems in the world. That means we know exactly what is happening with the soil and water that helps make our food. We often don’t think about this aspect of our produce, but it completely changes the end product that we use in our every day cooking.

Additionally, California is also one of the only places that mandates fair work for farmers and farmworkers. With such an intense and grueling job, it is so important to have fair work practices in place. October was officially named Farmer and Farmworker month, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than supporting all of California’s amazing farms.
If you want to join in the celebration, here’s how you can spot CA Grown produce in your stores. Not only does it make a difference in deliciousness, but you are making a difference by choosing CA Grown.
Making a Grain Bowl with Roasted Vegetables
I started my grain bowl with many in season vegetables like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cauliflower, mushrooms, and peppers. You can have fun with your choices and use whatever CA Grown produce you are able to access! The great thing about these bowls are that they are totally customizable.

For the “grain” part of the grain bowl, I used white rice. Use any kind of grain you’d like. If you are keeping it Whole30, this is the perfect moment for Cauliflower Rice (check out my hack for the best Cauliflower rice). You can also use quinoa, or even a noodle if that’s what you’d like. Have fun with it!
What Sauce to use for my Grain Bowl
Of course, no nocrumbsleft Grain Bowl would be complete without a fantastic sauce. Just about any of my Magic Elixirs would be wonderful. When we made the bowls, we went with Smoky Red Pepper, Spicy Poblano, and Pistachio Pesto. The sauce is another great moment to customize. You can really embrace so many different flavors depending on your sauce! It’s the perfect moment for meal prepping for the week, because you can use the same base, but make every day taste totally new and delicious.


What completely blows my mind about all of this is that essentially every element of this bowl would not be possible without California Grown. From the grains, to the vegetables, to the nuts, to the olive oil for roasting and making sauces, so much starts with California Farmers and Farmworkers. So join me in celebrating them this month and every month!
When you make your own Grain Bowl, be sure to rate and review it below and let me know what you put in yours! If you’re looking for more inspiration, sign up for our Friday Favorites newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest and Instagram to join in all the fun!
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How to Build a Delicious Grain Bowl
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Oven
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Grain Bowl is perfect for easy weeknight eating and meal prepping for your whole week!
Ingredients
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Paprika
Garlic powder
Or your favorite spices
GRAINS
White or brown rice
Quinoa
Cauliflower rice
SAUCES
Magic Elixirs:
CALIFORNIA GROWN VEGETABLES
Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
Butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch-thick half moons
Arugula
Mushrooms, we used brown cremini but all work
Cauliflower, cut into florets
Broccolini
Bell peppers, seeded and sliced into 4 equal parts
Avocado, sliced
Black or green olives, sliced
PROTEINS
Sizzling Everyday Roasted Chicken Breast
Crunchy Toppings
Almonds
Pumpkin seeds
Pistachios
Walnuts
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cook your favorite grain to use as a base for your bowl and set aside.
Prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet.
In a large bowl, add the sweet potatoes, butternut squash and bell peppers or vegetables of choice. Drizzle in olive oil from California and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Spread the mixture evenly over the baking sheet. Using the same bowl, toss cauliflower florets with olive oil and your favorite spices, such as paprika and garlic powder. Spread them on the baking sheet with the rest of the vegetables.
Cook the vegetables until golden and cooked to your liking, about 40 minutes.
Assemble the Bowl:
In a serving bowl, add your favorite grain, choice of roasted vegetables, some greens and your protein of choice. This bowl is extra delicious with some California avocado slices. Don’t forget to serve and top it off with your favorite magic elixir!
If you want to take it an extra step, sprinkle some Smoky Pepitas on top, recipe in The No Crumbs Left cookbook!
Keywords: grain bowl, whole grain bowl
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