Three-Bean Power Bowl (Printable)

Protein-packed bowl with three beans, fresh vegetables, quinoa, and tangy citrus dressing for a wholesome 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 diced cucumber
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
09 - 1 medium avocado, sliced
10 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

→ 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 seeds or sunflower seeds, optional

# How To Make:

01 - Wash and prepare all vegetables. Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber and bell pepper, slice avocado, and thinly slice red onion. Set aside.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and spinach.
04 - Stir cooked quinoa or brown rice into the bean and vegetable mixture until evenly distributed.
05 - Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients without crushing delicate vegetables.
06 - Divide the prepared mixture evenly into four serving bowls. Arrange sliced avocado on top of each bowl.
07 - Sprinkle fresh cilantro or parsley and toasted seeds over each bowl. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to two days for meal preparation.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's naturally filling enough to satisfy even when you're truly hungry, with protein that keeps you steady until dinner.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble in minutes, making weeknight cooking feel less like a chore.
  • The flavors taste fresher and brighter than anything you'd grab pre-made, and it genuinely tastes better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't add the avocado until you're ready to serve or eat within a few minutes, or it will turn brownish and lose that beautiful pale green color.
  • The bowl tastes noticeably better after sitting for at least thirty minutes, which is perfect if you're meal prepping and serves as a reminder that patience actually improves things.
03 -
  • Taste the dressing by itself before you add it to the bowl; it should taste bold and interesting on its own, and adjusting salt and lemon juice at this stage means everything that follows will be perfectly seasoned.
  • If you're prepping this for the week, keep the avocado completely separate and add it fresh each time, which only takes five extra seconds but makes a real difference in texture and appearance.
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