A filling plant based meal using simple whole foods and some adobo seasoning makes for one delicious Southwest Quinoa Power Bowl. Top with a homemade honey lime dressing and this bowl will be on repeat! Packed with protein and fiber.
Power Bowl Meal Prep
A Southwest Quinoa Power Bowl recipes that’s packed with veggies and flavor!
What is a Power Bowl?
Basically, it’s your perfect balance of protein, grains, veggies and fat. That’s what gives you the power to tackle just about anything – even tidying up!
I really like to pack in a TON of vegetables because plants are full of nutrition. And depending on your grains and dressing ingredients, this bowl can be made gluten and dairy-free!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The list of ingredients may look long here, but there are a few components this power bowl recipe – the bowl and the dressing.
Trust me, your effort will be worth it!
Power Bowl
- quinoa
- favorite southwest seasoning (I used adobo)
- olive oil
- sweet potato
- onion
- black beans
- red bell pepper
- avocado
You can of course customize this bowl to your liking, using different vegetables, whatever you have on hand, make use of leftovers from taco night, etc.
Honey Lime Dressing
This honey lime dressing is amazing and all you need are these simple ingredients:
- coconut milk (plain yogurt also works)
- honey (or agave if strictly vegan)
- lime
- olive oil
- sea salt
How to Make a Power Bowl
It’s super simple and another great idea for some meal prep! This makes the best thrown together, easy quick meal, especially if you have the sweet potatoes, onions and quinoa cooked beforehand.
Just a Few Simple Steps
- Make the quinoa and let cool.
- Prep the veggies.
- Make the dressing.
- Mix everything together.
While this recipe was made for about 2-3 servings, keep in mind you could easily double all the ingredients and have yourself a healthy, plant-based meal for a family of four or so.
Instant Pot Quinoa
I used my Instant Pot to prep the quinoa, which not only saves some time but now you get bonus points for the pot of quinoa not boiling over while attending to the veggies. Seriously I swear it happens every time and the Instant Pot saves me.
TO COOK: Place 1 cup rinsed quinoa in Instant Pot with 1 1/2 cups water or broth. Cook on high for one minute, natural release pressure for 10 minutes. Unlock lid, stir and done!
Ways to Enjoy
You can eat this power bowl chilled if you’ve made it ahead of time.
You can also warm it up before eating it.
It would also make a great filler for tacos, or added into a bowl of greens for more of a quinoa bowl recipes.
Storing
Quinoa power bowls are one of my go-to healthy meal prep recipes because they last a full week in the fridge. The dressing can be mixed in or stored separately.
This recipe keeps best refrigerated in an airtight container in the fridge, and used within 7 days.
I hope you enjoy this Southwest Quinoa Power Bowl as much as we did!
Let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a comment and review here on the blog! I love seeing what you’ve made. Xx Ashley
How to Make…
Southwest Quinoa Power Bowl with Honey Lime Dressing
A filling plant-based meal using simple whole foods and some adobo seasoning makes for one delicious Southwest Quinoa Power Bowl. Top with a healthy, homemade honey lime dressing and this bowl will be on repeat! Packed with protein and fiber, plus gluten-free, and dairy-free friendly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Diet: Gluten Free
- Yield: 2 bowls 1x
- Scale:
Ingredients
For the bowls
- 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1/4 tsp adobo seasoning (or a southwest flavor seasoning)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 medium sweet potato, chopped
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium avocado, sliced
- cilantro for garnish
- 2 cups curly kale, massaed with olive oil (or your choice of greens)
Honey Lime Dressing
- 4 TBS canned coconut milk*
- 1 tsp olive oil
- juice of 1 lime, about 3 TBS
- 1 TBS raw honey (or agave if strictly vegan)
- 1/8 tsp salt, or more to taste
Instructions
- COOK QUINOA: Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer and place in small pot of water with 1 1/2 cups of water. Allow pot to come to a boil, add in your seasoning and simmer for about 15 minutes, until quinoa is tender and water has mostly gone.
- COOK SWEET POTATOES: While the quinoa is cooking, cook your chopped sweet potato and onion in medium pan with olive oil. Add salt and pepper, or more seasoning if you wish. Cook on medium heat until tender, about 10-15 minutes. Option to add sliced bell peppers for about 5 minutes to soften.
- MAKE DRESSING: In a medium bowl whisk together all ingredients.
- ASSEMBLE BOWLS: Distribute quinoa, kale, potatoes and onions, black beans, bell pepper, and sliced avocado in bowls. Dress with honey lime dressing and garnish with cilantro if you wish, enjoy!
Recipes Notes:
*can sub plain greek yogurt for coconut milk if not dairy-free. Feel free to double ingredients for full-sized family meal! Store any leftover ingredients in airtight container in fridge up to 5 days.
Nutrition does not include dressing.
Honey Lime Dressing= 80 calories, 3 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbs, 9 grams of sugar.
Nutrition Information:
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 727mg
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 15
- Protein: 13
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Vicky says
Hi. Are you referring to canned coconut milk for the dressing or in the container like an almond milk? Thanks.
Vicky says
Hi. Are you referring to canned coconut milk for the dressing or from a carton, like an almond milk? Thanks.
Ashley says
Hi there! Canned coconut milk is going to give you a thicker dressing and better consistency 🙂 Although carton coconut milk can be used, it just wont be as thick. I would suggest using canned if possible.
Jen says
This recipe is wonderful. My 5.5 yo gobbles it up and my husband said he could eat it for lunch and dinner every day for a month. I typically omit extra salt from my cooking, and our palates didn’t miss the omission here. I use a homemade Sazon as my southwestern seasoning for this recipe. After tossing the sweet potato cubes (have also used pumpkin) with the olive oil and Sazon, I roast it in the oven. I’ll also toss the onion and bell pepper with oil and Sazon, and I add them to roast once the sweet potatoes are soft/before they start browning. Then, I let everything roast until dark golden. We serve all of it over spinach, and it makes a delicious salad. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Jen, thank you so much for letting me know! I am so glad it is a household favorite for your family. And thank you for sharing your tips on prepping the veggies! It helps other readers out too 🙂 <3
kristine says
This is one of my go-to dishes. Even the picky hubby loves it!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Yay! So happy you and the husband enjoy 😀 thanks so much for your comment and review!
Lenora Brophy says
Honey is not vegan but you can use agave.
Ashley says
Yes you are correct, Lenora! I will make a note in the recipe page.
Heather Wendell says
Is it okay to use Refrigerated unsweetened coconut milk instead of canned
Ashley says
Yes the dressing just won’t be as thick.
Gail says
Love everything about the recipe, except the dressing. It was so sickly sweet and I only add 1/2 of the honey. Tried to salvage by adding some cilantro/garlic/jalapeno to tone down the sweetness. Didn’t work, had to throw it out!
Ashley says
Hi Gail,
Sorry to hear you didn’t care for the dressing – everyone’s taste buds are different but adding some more salt and cutting back on the honey could help.
Nicole says
I am obsessed with this bowl! I make it all the time for work. Keeps me full and gives me energy for 12 hour shifts. Thank you for sharing!
Jodi Wood says
This was seriously one of the best recipes I have ever cooked. It tasted like I ordered it from a restaurant. Will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Annick says
This recipe turned out so delicious! My whole family loved it, and it’s great for meal prep! And the dressing really takes it up to another level!
★★★★★