This copycat Panera Mediterranean Warm Grain Bowl recipe has everything that the Panera version has – but it’s even better and super easy to make! I love the combo of all my favorite ingredients like olives, hummus, tahini and Greek yogurt!
I tried these at Panera as soon as they came out in 2019! Before I even tried them – I knew I was going to copycat them! They sounded delicious – and frankly – pretty easy to remake! I have some tricks to make them even easier. 😉 Of course – that’s what I do.
Are the Panera Warm Grain Bowls good?
When Panera came out with their warm grain bowls (pictured above – Left – Baja, Right – Mediterranean) I went out right away and got both of them!!! And yes – they are both delicious! I had a hard time choosing which one to make first! The Baja has a lot of southwest salad type of ingredients like black beans, avocado and tomato while the Med has Greek inspired ingredients like hummus and kalamata olives.
What are the ingredients in the Panera Mediterranean Warm Grain Bowl?
- Greens – they use arugula but you can use spinach or mixed greens
- Cooked brown rice and quinoa – you can buy a precooked version for a short cut. They have freezer brands but also Minute Rice has some in cups that I usually buy to make these.
- Chicken breasts
- lemon/garlic marinade (My favorite!)
- Grape tomatoes
- Kalamata olives
- Cucumber
- Hummus – they used a “plain” traditional – I used Roasted Red Pepper hummus because I love it!
- Feta
- Plain non-fat greek yogurt – you can sub sour cream if you’d like
- Fresh lemon juice
- Tahini dressing (optional) – Honestly, I didn’t even notice the tahini dressing in the original bowl and with the hummus and yogurt – you don’t even need it.
How to make Panera Mediterranean Warm Grain Bowl
- Marinate chicken breasts in your favorite citrus/garlic marinade overnight.
- Bake chicken breasts for 20 minutes at 350 until cooked to 165 degrees.
- During last ten minutes of baking, microwave frozen rice/quinoa for 4 minutes in a microwave safe bowl.
- In two large serving bowls, place arugula around edge of bowl.
- Prep veggies: slice tomatoes and dice cucumbers
- When quinoa is cooked, divide between two serving bowls
- Remove chicken from oven and let rest for 5 minutes
- Top quinoa/argula with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives
- Slice chicken and place on top of quinoa.
- Add a heaping spoonful of hummus and yogurt to the bowl
- Top with crumbled feta and squeeze lemon over warm grain bowl
- If you like, you can add a tahini dressing – it really doesn’t need it.
Panera Copycat Recipes & Other Favorites
- Panera Baja Warm Grain Bowl
- Copycat Panera Broth Bowl
- Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese
- You can find other Panera recipes here…
Panera Mediterranean Warm Grain Bowl
This copycat Panera Mediterranean Warm Grain Bowl recipe has everything that the Panera version has – but it's even better and super easy to make! I love the combo of all my favorite ingredients like olives, hummus, tahini and Greek yogurt!
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1-2 cups mojo criollo marinade
- 2 cups cooked brown rice & quinoa
- 2 cups arugula or spinach/mixed greens
- 10 grape tomatoes halved
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olive
- 1/2 cucumber diced
- 1/2 cup hummus
- 1/3 cup feta
- 1/2 cup Plain Fat Free Greek yogurt
- 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup tahini dressing
Instructions
- Marinate chicken breasts overnight in Mojo Criollo Marinade
- Cook chicken breasts – Bake: 350 degrees for 20 minutesAir Fry: 350 degrees for 12 minutes
- Heat your rice/quinoa according to package directions
- In two large serving bowls, place greens around edge of bowl
- Prep veggies (slice tomatoes, cucumbers)
- Add cooked quinoa and split between two bowls on top of greens
- Remove chicken and let rest for 5 minutes
- Top quinoa/greens with tomatoes, cucumber, olives
- Slice chicken and place on top of quinoa
- Add heaping spoonful of hummus and yogurt to the bowl
- Top with crumbled feta
- Squeeze lemon over both bowls
- If you like, add tahini dressing – but I didn't feel it needed it!
Notes
– You can use rotisserie chicken if you like
– For the brown rice/quinoa – you can either use a bag of frozen rice/quinoa or Minute Rice makes a microwavable one! Super quick!
– Tahini dressing is expensive and not easy to find – I found that it wasn’t necessary with the yogurt and hummus – and when I tried the Panera version – I didn’t even taste it!
– Arugula is lighter than spinach but a little bitter – I found a mix of the two at the store that was really good
– For the brown rice/quinoa – you can either use a bag of frozen rice/quinoa or Minute Rice makes a microwavable one! Super quick!
– Tahini dressing is expensive and not easy to find – I found that it wasn’t necessary with the yogurt and hummus – and when I tried the Panera version – I didn’t even taste it!
– Arugula is lighter than spinach but a little bitter – I found a mix of the two at the store that was really good
Nutrition
Serving: 1bowlCalories: 716kcalCarbohydrates: 82.6gProtein: 62.3gFat: 17.5gSaturated Fat: 2.1gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 1221mgPotassium: 2701mgFiber: 13.8gSugar: 23.7gCalcium: 372mgIron: 7mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Unknown says
Thank you for the tips, this bowl is def a must make at my house.
Unknown says
I made this and it was delicious. You can have it with or without the chicken. Easy and quick too!
Messi Jigler says
Ugh. This is SO GOOD. Thanks for sharing!
Food Hussy says
Glad you liked it!!!
Food Hussy says
Glad you love it!! I do too!
Unknown says
I tried this at Panera today for the first time. SO GOOD! I immediately googled and found this recipe . I cant wait to make it myself.
FoodHussy says
That's awesome – youll love it!
Anonymous says
microwave?whats to point of creating a "recipe." might as well just go out and buy from panera.
Food Hussy says
Yes – I microwaved rice. Sue me. Feel free to boil water and make rice in a pan if it makes you feel like Martha Stewart.
Unknown says
Thanks for the recipe; looking forward to trying it.
Anonymous says
Lol…it never ceases to amaze me, the level of argumentative attitudes people post with online. So microwaving the rice just completely negates the fact that she created the ENTIRE rest of the recipe from scratch – including the marination of the chicken – but because of the rice she may as well have gone to Panera? Lol…I usually don’t engage but this was just too asinine to ignore.
Linda says
Made the Mediterranian one for dinner tonight. WAY more than my son and I could eat in one sitting but it was delicous. At least as good as the one from Panera itself. Definitely will make it again but cut the recipe in half. Yum!!!
FredwinaD says
Hahahaha! I love your reply to that ridiculous comment. Go, Food Hussy!
Unknown says
I work at Panera and The Mediterranean Grain Bowl is one of my all time faves!! Can't wait to try this recipe!!
Anonymous says
Thanks for the recipe! Turned out great. The only thing I did different was that I just replaced the Greek yogurt with sour cream and I had to fry the chicken instead. Tasted almost exactly the same as the original. Kudos! Ended up with a lot of food though haha
Riley says
How many servings does this make?
Food Hussy says
At least two – but it could easily be more if you have smaller portions!
Stacia says
This turned out so good. I did mine w/o chicken and made homemade hummus. I wish I could share my picture with you.
Unknown says
Cant wait to try this
Ana says
turned out amazing, and im obsessed with the panera one. i didn’t bake chicken instead i sautéed in a pan and had to use sour cream but was absolutely delicious. thanks
FoodHussy says
Glad you loved it!!!!
Ivy says
Thanks for taking the time to put together this great recipe.
Joan says
This is fantastic! Such a great mix of textures and flavors, everyone in the family loved it.
Jessie says
I love this salad at Panera, and things are always so much better made at home! This one is amazing!
Gavin Sutherland says
My kinda meal! Fresh, healthy, simple, can eat it in front of the TV and room left for dessert! Thanks for the recipe 😉
Rachna says
I have never tried these but they look absolutely delicious and healthy. I will be trying them very soon.
Maria says
I love the background of this dish <3 I haven't tried Panera before but I think this will taste great! Thanks for sharing, I'm going to try it.
Raj says
The ingredients say “2 cups of quinoa/rice” – is that 16oz of cooked quinoa/rice?
FoodHussy says
Yes – 2 cups.