Three-Bean Power Bowl (Printable)

Hearty protein bowl with three beans, quinoa, fresh vegetables, and zesty dressing for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Beans

01 - 1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 cup cooked kidney beans, drained and rinsed

→ Grains

04 - 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
09 - 1 medium avocado, sliced
10 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
16 - 1 garlic clove, minced
17 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

18 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
19 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Dice all vegetables including cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion. Slice avocado and chop fresh herbs. Set prepared ingredients aside.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and fresh spinach.
04 - Stir cooked quinoa or brown rice into the bean and vegetable mixture.
05 - Pour the vinaigrette over the mixture and gently toss until all components are evenly coated.
06 - Divide the mixture among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with sliced avocado arranged on the surface.
07 - Sprinkle fresh cilantro or parsley and toasted seeds over each bowl if desired. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes better the next day, which means meal prep actually works instead of turning into sad lettuce by Wednesday.
  • You can make it with whatever beans and vegetables you have on hand, so there's zero waste and infinite variations.
  • One bowl delivers more protein than most lunches, and you'll actually feel full for hours afterward.
02 -
  • If you're making this for meal prep, keep the avocado separate and add it fresh each morning, otherwise you'll open your container to brown oxidized slices no matter what tricks you try.
  • The dressing tastes thin when you first whisk it, but give it a minute and it'll emulsify slightly—don't panic and add more oil, just trust the process.
03 -
  • Make the dressing a day ahead if you can—it tastes more balanced and deeper after the garlic has time to settle into everything.
  • If you're doubling this for a crowd, keep the components separate until the last moment so textures stay distinct and crisp instead of melding into exhausted softness.
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