Baja Bowl Inspired by Panera

These flavorful bowls, inspired by Panera version, include layer after layer of fresh flavor and a variety of textures. You get some nutty chewiness with the grains, tender softness and sweet flavor from the sweet potatoes, tart tang from the cilantro lime dressing, and a crisp bite from the fresh bell pepper and corn.

Collectively they create one beautifully colorful and deliciously satisfying grain bowl.

After you try this Mexican spin on grain bowls you can try building your own grain bowl from scratch. Wondering how to build a grain bowl? Simply include a base layer of grains, add fresh and/or roasted vegetables, a protein (such as legumes, meat, tofu, eggs) or cheese, fresh greens, and finish with a dressing or sauce of choice.

They make such a filling dinner and are an excellent option for make ahead meal prep for lunch too.

Possible Variations

To build these bowls include the grain and black beans, from there you can add your own substitutions:

• Protein: These can also be made with chicken thighs or chicken breasts in place of the sweet potatoes, I've included instructions in the note of the recipe.
• Cheese: You can add cheese such as feta, cheddar or queso fresco.
• Sauces: They are also delicious with a heaping spoonful of salsa, pico de gallo or a finishing drizzle of Mexican hot sauce.  If you want more creaminess try serving them with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Veggies: You can subsistute some of the vegetables here for others you may have on hand, that's the beauty of a grain bowl. Poblano pepper, zucchini, winter squash, or tomatoes are a great fit.
• Grains: These could also be made with farro or barley. Or you can use all brown rice or all quinoa rather than a blend.

The Best Harvest Bowls

This recipe is a copycat recipe with inspiration from Sweetgreen's harvest bowl but with what I consider a few even more delicious additions.

In place of balsamic dressing I found honey lemon dressing tasted better and was more fitting, feta was overall more preferred among tasters versus goat cheese, and Brussels sprouts add one more veggie and will help get more servings out of it. Pan seared chicken was also used in place of roasted for a quicker option.

Simply put we are obsessed with these meal in one bowls, they are one of the tastiest healthy fall recipes and we just can't get enough of them! Once you try them you may just start making them weekly like we are lately, and you can switch them up with different toppings (see ideas below).

They are loaded to the max with flavor and wholesome goodness. They make an excellent dinner and leftovers are perfect for meal prep for lunch the following day.

Easy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I vote sweet potatoes fries are better than regular russet potato fries, who's with me?

They have more flavor, and I love that little bit of natural sweetness. Maybe it's that after so many years of regular french fries, it's fun to have something new.

These roasted sweet potato fries are a great way to get everyone to eat more veggies!

While we can't say these are the crispiest baked sweet potato fries you'll ever eat (only deep frying will do that), they are a great healthier option! They do get slightly crisp edges as long as you let them brown up a bit.

They are a great autumn side dish when sweet potatoes are in season and they pair well with countless main dishes.

It's a simple process to prepare them. Peel and cut, toss with oil and seasonings, then spread onto baking sheets and bake.

Just don't forget the sauces for serving. As with traditional fries, these are that much better with a sauce.

Ketchup is just fine, but for a tasty upgrade, try the fry sauce recipe I have listed below.

Candied Yams

The thing that really sets these apart from other candied yams is the browned butter.

I started using browned butter in many of my sweet potato recipes because it really is the ultimate way to upgrade sweet potatoes.

It perfectly compliments that sweet flavor while bringing a nutty, caramel-like flavor to the dish.

Once you try it this way you'll never look back! It's easily worth the few extra minutes to brown the butter.

When a vegetable becomes a total treat everyone will love them!

Then you have your choice to top with sweetened whipped cream or a toasted homemade marshmallow topping! This is how we celebrate the holidays!

Sweet Potato Pie

If you like pumpkin pie you'll love sweet potato pie. They're very similar in taste but this recipe is made with fresh, baked sweet potatoes (instead of canned pumpkin) and it includes browned butter so you know it's going to be good!

There are a few steps to the process of making it but it's worth every step once you get to taste this luscious pie.

So What Makes the Best Sweet Potato Pie Recipe?

So I learned a few things in testing and creating this recipe:

• Blind baking the crust will keep you from ending up with a soft and gooey pie crust.
• Using baked sweet potatoes instead of boiled sweet potatoes concentrates their flavor rather then ending up with water logged boiled sweet potatoes.
• Browning the salted butter adds adds some depth of flavor to the pie filling. Salted browned butter and sweet potato were made to go together (have you tried my browned butter mashed sweet potatoes yet?)
• Keeping it light on the spices lets the sweet potato flavor shine.
• I personally preferred the classic texture of using mashed by hand sweet potatoes vs. those pureed in a food processor.
• The lightly caramelized flavor of evaporated milk was preferred to the flavor of milk or cream.
• Tent pie crust edges with foil to prevent over-browning.
• And being careful not to over-bake the pie prevented deep cracks from happening (but if they do no big deal, just cover with the topping).

This is easily my favorite sweet potato pie recipe! And I prefer the marshmallow topping for that nostalgic flavor combination, plus I feel that's what will really set it apart from pumpkin pie but feel free to use either whipped cream or marshmallow topping.

Healthy Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

Whether you are vegetarian or not, please try these tacos! They are amazingly delicious! Even though they are incredible simple they are also incredibly good.

They are reminiscent of the flavors of a sweet pork taco but of course without the meatiness.

Tacos are one of worlds best foods (if you ask me) and once you step outside the comfort zone of the classic beef or chicken you'll realize there's a world of opportunity. Tacos can be made countless ways and it's fun to switch things up once in a while. Using corn tortillas can keep you gluten-free, and you can keep this recipe vegan or dairy free by avoiding any cheeses!

Then after you've tried these sweet potato tacos be sure to try my other Vegetarian Taco Recipes:

• Lentil Tacos (Slow Cooker)
• Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Lime Crema
• Quinoa Tacos
• Roasted Veggie Tacos

Flavorful Vegetarian Tacos That Don't Even Need the Toppings!

My husband hates sweet potatoes yet he loved these tacos. All through dinner he kept saying "mmmmm" "mmmmm, these are so good." I'm surprised he didn't ask if the corn was hand shucked (name that movie? It's one of my all time faves, What About Bob).

They were good enough that I could have cared less about tomatoes, salsas, and hot sauces and for me that is shocking. I like my tacos with the works and these really don't even need it.

Yes they are also good with it but they are amazing with the filling alone. Try these and see what I mean!

Best Sweet Potato Soup with Exciting Moroccan Flavors!

The lentils in it add protein and fiber which make it more filling while the sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin a - plus they add a delicious, light natural sweetness that blends perfectly with the moroccan spices used in this soup.

This is a great recipe to use all those sweet potatoes that are in season right now. It might not be the first thing you'd think to make with the sweet potatoes you just bought at the store, well that is until you try it.

Made with Basic Healthy Ingredients

Once you taste it it will be a go to recipe to use up those sweet potatoes sitting in your pantry! My family loved this soup and it's a recipe I'll want to make again and again during the cold months ahead.

Plus, I love that I always have most of ingredients for this soup on hand. It's a convenient meal to make any day of the week.

Ingredients You'll Need for This Recipe

• Olive oil
• Produce - yellow onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, sweet potatoes, cilantro
• Spices - cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, cinnamon, salt
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• Vegetable broth
• Canned diced tomatoes
• Brown lentils

How to Make Sweet Potato Soup with Lentils

• Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat.
• Saute onion and carrot 4 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and saute 1 minute.
• Add remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil and spices. Saute 1 minute.
• Stir in vegetable broth, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and lentils.
• Bring to a light boil, reduce heat and simmer until sweet potatoes have softened, about 25 minutes.
• Stir in half the cilantro and serve with remainder.

More Sweet Potato Soup Recipes You'll Love!

• Sweet Potato Ham and Corn Chowder
• Sausage Kale and Sweet Potato Soup
• Roasted Sweet Potato Chili

Sweet Potato Casserole

Is it a dessert or is it a side dish? I think we like to label it as a side dish so we still can have a second dessert later.

This is my new favorite sweet potato casserole! It's not overly sweet, so it still works as a Thanksgiving side dish, and I'm addicted to that crisp, cinnamon crumble pecan topping.

Sure, those marshmallow toppings are good but this pecan topping variation is even better! I just love every last thing about it. Trust me, it's going to disappear in no time!

One of My Favorite Chicken Recipes

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes because the chicken is just so tasty. The delicious flavor comes from the use of bone-in, skin-on thighs and a quick garlic herb marinade.

I love the way the veggies and apples compliment the chicken. And since everything is roasted together the flavors have a chance to meld during that cook time.

This meal just has fall written all over it with it's seasonal veggies and the fact that it's just total good for the soul comfort food perfect for a cool breezy fall day.

Sweet Potato Salad

This Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad has the most delicious blend of flavors! You get that natural sweetness from the potatoes paired with a bright tangy citrus dressing, which also includes generous blend of spices, and it's finished with plenty of fresh herbs for even more flavor.

Then the crunchy sliced almonds and chewy dried cranberries add a nice balance of texture. And what to serve with it? This is a great salad to pair along with grilled or roasted chicken.