The Easiest Dinner Bowl

(Meatball Edition)

Bowls are one of my favorite dinners because they take the pressure off. Instead of following a strict recipe, I can mix and match what I have: a protein, a veggie, a carb, and something saucy to bring it all together. Tonight’s combo? Meatballs, roasted veggies, rice, and a creamy drizzle. Simple, cozy, and family-approved.

Here’s how it came together:

• Protein: meatballs. I had a batch in the freezer, so all I had to do was warm them up in the oven. (Store-bought or homemade) work!

• Veggies: I roasted cauliflower, squash, and green beans. Roasting is my go-to because it brings out all the flavor with almost no effort—just toss with a little oil, season, and let the oven do the work.

• Carb: rice. Always a crowd-pleaser in my house and the perfect base for soaking up sauce.

• Sauce: tonight I kept it simple with a quick yogurt-lemon-garlic drizzle. Pesto, tahini, or even olive oil and balsamic would all work too—this part is flexible!

Why I love it:
This kind of meal makes dinner feel lighter for me. I’m not glued to a recipe, I can use up whatever’s in the fridge, and I know my family is getting a balanced plate without me stressing about it. Plus, everyone can mix and match their bowl the way they like—so fewer mealtime battles.

And just like that, dinner was done. No stress, no complicated recipe—just a balanced bowl that checked all the boxes.

The best part about this non-recipe dinner bowl is how easy it is to swap things out: chicken instead of meatballs, broccoli instead of green beans, quinoa instead of rice. Once you have the formula down, you can make it work with whatever’s hanging out in your fridge.

So if you’re staring into your pantry wondering what to make, remember this little trick: protein + veggie + carb + sauce. Tonight’s meatball version was a win, but the possibilities are endless.

Real life moment: Tonight, this bowl saved me. Between tantrums, an unsupervised toddler with a sharpie and various emotional rollercoasters after school - I didn’t have energy for anything complicated. Pulling these simple pieces together into one bowl gave us a meal that felt nourishing and calm—even if the kitchen around me wasn’t.

Looking for some sauce staples to mix things up in your next dinner bowl? Download my sauce guide below for more ideas:

Protein, veggies, carbs, and sauce — the non-recipe formula in action.