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If you’re looking for sauces for rice bowls, look no further. This collection has everything you need: sweet and spicy, nutty and savory, bright and herby. These sauces turn a simple bowl of rice and whatever’s in the fridge into something you’ll want to make again and again.

Bowl meals are one of my favorite ways to get dinner on the table. Everything goes into one bowl: the protein, grain, vegetables, and toppings, but what really sets a great bowl apart is the sauce. A drizzle of something creamy, tangy, or cooling does so much for both flavor and texture. It’s what makes the whole bowl sing! With that, I’ve put together a collection of 13 sauces for different flavor profiles so you never run out of ideas.

What Goes Into a Bowl Meal?
Craveable Sauces for Rice Bowls
Helpful Storage Tips
13 Tasty Sauces for Rice Bowls Recipe
Some Rice Bowls to Get You Started

What Goes Into a Bowl Meal?

The base—Something filling to anchor the bowl, like white or brown rice.
The protein—Grilled chicken, seared steak, salmon, or shrimp. You can go meatless and do eggs, tofu, tempeh, or a scoop of black beans.
Vegetables and fruit—Raw, roasted, or sautéed. Aim for a few different colors and textures.
The sauce—What ties it all together, and the reason for this post. From sweet and spicy to herbaceous and bright, you’ll find a variety of options below.
Crunch and garnish—Finish with something that crackles like crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, or crispy onions.

Craveable Sauces for Rice Bowls

Bang Bang Sauce With Greek Yogurt

Flavor profile: Spicy, slightly sweet, umami
Drizzle it over: Bang Bang Salmon Bowls, Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, Rice Bowl With Salmon, High-Protein Canned Tuna Bowl, California Roll Rice Bowl

Bang Bang Sauce With Yogurt Recipe

Bowl of mint Greek yogurt sauce with pitas and a squeezed lemon.

Mint Yogurt Sauce for Chicken

Flavor profile: Garlicky, lemony, cooling
Drizzle it over: Greek Quinoa Bowls With Chicken, Mediterranean Lamb Bowls, Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl, Tandoori Tempeh Bowls, Crispy Chicken Tikka Bowls

Make This Recipe

Dill Pickle Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Flavor profile: Ranch-seasoned, dill, briny
Drizzle it over: Buffalo Chicken Bowls, Chicken Summer Rice Bowls, BLT Rice Bowls, Chicken Rice Bowls

Make This Recipe

A jar of bright green dressing with lemons and parsley in the background in front of a white-tiled wall.

Green Goddess Dressing With Greek Yogurt

Flavor profile: Herbaceous, tangy citrus, umami
Drizzle it over: California Chicken Rice Bowls, Kale & White Bean Power Bowls

Make This Recipe

Teriyaki sauce in a jar on a countertop.

Easy Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

Flavor profile: Sweet, savory, and caramelized
Drizzle it over: Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, Rice Bowl With Salmon, Sticky Glazed Pork Rice Bowls, Miso Tofu Bowl

Make This Recipe

greek yogurt lime crema in a bowl surrounded by limes.

Greek Yogurt Lime Crema Recipe

Flavor profile: Tangy, citrus, fresh
Drizzle it over: Burrito Bowl Recipe, Fiesta Shrimp Rice Bowls, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Bowl, Street Corn Chicken Bowls, Black Bean Burrito Bowls

Make This Recipe

Parsley & Cilantro Chimichurri

Flavor profile: Refreshing, herbaceous, bright, acidic
Drizzle it over: Fiesta Shrimp Rice Bowls, Burrito Bowl Recipe, Skirt Steak Rice Bowls, BBQ Chicken Bowls

Make This Recipe

Homemade Caesar Dressing Recipe

Flavor profile: Creamy, garlicky, lemon, pepper, bright
Drizzle it over: Buffalo Chicken Bowls, BBQ Shrimp Rice Bowls, Kale & White Bean Power Bowls, Chicken Summer Rice Bowls, BLT Rice Bowls

Make This Recipe

Thai Peanut Sauce

Flavor profile: Nutty, sweet, savory, umami
Drizzle it over: Thai Basil Pork Bowl, Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls, Thai Bowls, Hot Honey Shrimp Bowls

Thai Peanut Sauce Recipe

Maple Tahini Dressing

Flavor profile: Nutty, toasty, sweet, maple, umami
Drizzle it over: Greek Quinoa Bowls With Chicken, Balsamic Chicken Rice Bowls, Maple Balsamic Tempeh Bowls

Make This Recipe

Sweet Chili Sauce

Flavor profile: Spicy, sweet, tangy
Drizzle it over: Rice Bowl With Salmon, High-Protein Canned Tuna Bowl, California Roll Rice Bowl, Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, Thai Basil Pork Bowl

Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

Soy Ginger Sauce

Flavor profile: Salty, zippy, creamy
Drizzle it over: Rice Bowl With Salmon, High-Protein Canned Tuna Bowl, California Roll Rice Bowl, Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, Egg Roll In a Bowl, Shrimp Sushi Bowls

Soy Ginger Sauce Recipe

Yum Yum Sauce

Flavor profile: Tangy, slightly sweet, creamy, savory
Drizzle it over: Chicken Teriyaki Bowls, Rice Bowl With Salmon, High-Protein Canned Tuna Bowl, California Roll Rice Bowl, Shrimp Sushi Bowls, Sticky Garlic Sesame Shrimp Bowls

Yum Yum Sauce Recipe

Helpful Storage Tips

Store sauces in the fridge in airtight containers for 4-7 days, depending on the base ingredients.

Dairy or mayo-based sauces last 3 to 4 days.
Acid or vinegar-based sauces last 5 to 7 days.

Good containers for storing sauces:

Check out my large collection of bowl meals and use these sauces!

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13 Tasty Sauces for Rice Bowls

By: Dana Sandonato

From my collection of 13 sauces for rice bowls, this Bang Bang sauce hits all the right notes—with Greek yogurt stirred in! A rich and tangy flavor with benefits. So go ahead and drizzle a little extra over your rice bowls.

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings: servings (tablespoons)

Ingredients

▢ 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
▢ 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
▢ 1/4 cup sugar-free sweet chili sauce
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha, more or less based on preference

Instructions

Mix everything together in a small mixing bowl until combined. Taste and adjust heat as needed.
Transfer to an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to a week.

Notes

You can keep this Bang Bang sauce in the fridge for more than a week. Be sure to check its quality by sight and smell. If it shows any signs of separation, mold, or a rancid, sour smell, discard it.