Sauces for Rice Bowls: 15 EASY + Flavorful Recipes

In search of some tasty sauces for rice bowls? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide. From creamy sauces, to spicy sauces, and more!

First thing’s first…

How Do You Make A Rice Bowl?

• Start with a base of brown rice, white rice or quinoa. I love making my grains in the Instant Pot. Here’s my recipe for Instant Pot Quinoa and Instant Pot Rice.
• Add some beans. I generally heat up a can of drained and rinsed red beans, but you could also top these bowls with instant pot black beans or instant pot chickpeas. You could even add some sliced chicken.
• Pile on the toppings – Tomatoes, olives, avocado, cheese, etc.
• Drizzle on your favorite sauce from the list below. ↓↓↓
• Enjoy!

The BEST Rice Bowl Sauces

Yumm Bowls with Copycat Cafe Yumm Sauce

Learn how to make Yumm Sauce – inspired by Cafe Yumm. These vegetarian Yumm Bowls are loaded up with all the toppings and drizzled with a creamy curry & cumin spiced chickpea sauce.

Recipe

Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls

Peanut Sauce is delicious on rice bowls! Try it served with tofu on a bed of coconut-lime rice, with quick pickled red peppers.

Recipe

Salmon Sushi Bowls

Creamy Wasabi Sauce is especially delicious on these sushi rice bowls that can be topped with shrimp or salmon.

Recipe

Easy Cucumber Raita

This Raita Recipe is a popular Indian dip that’s creamy, crunchy and a perfect pair for warming and spicy foods. Try it on Prawn Biryani rice bowls.

Recipe

Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl

Mojo Sauce is so delicious drizzled over a Buddha Bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, peppers and chickpeas.

Recipe

Creamy Harissa Dressing

This naturally dairy-free and gluten-free Creamy Harissa Sauce is addictively delicious! Tahini, harissa paste, lemon, and maple syrup are whisked until smooth, leaving you with a bold and tangy sauce to drizzle over everything, from salads to eggs to meat.

Recipe

Poblano Cream Sauce

If there’s one sauce to keep in your fridge at all times, it’s this Roasted Poblano Cream Sauce. Super creamy, bursting with smoky flavors, and perfect for topping on enchiladas, tacos, and eggs, you’ll be hooked after just one taste!

Recipe

Sweet Soy Sauce (Kecap Manis)

Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce) is a popular Indonesian condiment you can use as rice bowl drizzle. So sweet and aromatic, this 3-ingredient sauce is easy to make and a must-have in your fridge!

Recipe

Indian Mint Sauce

This Indian Mint Sauce is an essential, no-fuss condiment that instantly upgrades any meal. Its bright, herbal flavor – creamy from yogurt and sharp from mint, cilantro, and lemon – cuts through rich and spicy dishes perfectly while also offering its own dose of heat and spice!

Indian Mint Sauce

Chipotle Crema

Add some smoke and spice to your favorite recipes with this Chipotle Crema. A Mexican-inspired sauce, this creamy mix is made with chipotles in adobo to give a boost to Mexican-style rice bowls.

Recipe

Peruvian Green Sauce (Aji Verde)

This Peruvian Green Sauce (or Aji Verde) is a spicy and versatile condiment. Made with jalapeno, cilantro, and fresh lime juice, plus Greek yogurt to give it a creamy texture. It's an amazing dipping sauce, spread or dressing.

Recipe

Dumpling Sauce Recipe

This super quick Gyoza Sauce is easy to make with 4 simple ingredients. It’s savory, tangy, and a little spicy. The perfect sauce for dumplings, but also delicious on savory rice bowls!

Recipe

Homemade Chili Crisp

This homemade Chili Crisp Recipe is ready in 15 minutes and adds a bold pop of flavor to noodles, dumplings, scrambled eggs, and more. It’s the ultimate spicy, tangy, and crunchy condiment to keep in your fridge!

Chili Crisp

Jalapeno Sesame Salsa Recipe

This jalapeno sesame salsa recipe is totally unique and so addictive! It's the perfect topping for rice bowls, hummus, scrambled eggs, pizza and more! Or just use it as a dip.

Recipe

Tzatziki Sauce

Learning how to make Tzatziki Sauce at home is easy and takes less than 10 minutes! Using grated cucumbers, Greek yogurt, and fresh herbs, you get the creamiest and most refreshing sauce that goes well with not only gyros, but also all kinds of meats and vegetables.

Tzatziki Sauce

Maple Tahini Sauce

Maple Tahini Dressing is dreamy + creamy. Add it to a grain bowl with roasted butternut squash & chickpeas.

Maple Tahini Dressing

Toum (Lebanese Garlic Sauce)

With only four ingredients, you can make your own whipped, creamy and delicious Toum, a traditional Lebanese garlic sauce, at home!

Recipe

Easy Stir Fry Sauce

Elevate your everyday stir fry with a simple, homemade Easy Stir Fry Sauce. It’s a 5-minute sauce made from pantry-staple ingredients, like soy sauce, broth, garlic, and ginger. No cooking required!

Recipe

Miso Sauce

This easy Miso Sauce delivers bold umami depth in minutes – perfect as a dressing, dip, spread, or marinade. Once you taste its perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy notes, you’ll want to drizzle it on everything!

Miso Sauce

Roasted Red Pepper Aioli

Red Pepper Aioli combines creamy mayo, roasted red peppers, chipotle in adobe sauce, lemon juice, and garlic for a smoky-sweet and versatile sauce. Made with just a handful of ingredients, it comes together in minutes and is perfect for drizzling, dipping, or spreading on all your favorite snacks, sides, and mains.

Red Pepper Aioli

Wasabi Mayo

This creamy wasabi mayo unlocks a powerful punch of flavor with just a few simple ingredients. The irresistible combination of rich creaminess and sharp, pungent heat will become your go-to sauce to have in your fridge whenever the carving hits! Slather this bold condiment on everything from sushi and sandwiches to burgers and beyond.

Wasabi Mayo

Tahini Dressing

This effortless Tahini Dressing delivers bold, umami-rich flavor in minutes, making it the ultimate versatile condiment as a dressing, dip, or sauce. Once you experience its perfect harmony of savory, sweet, and tangy notes, you’ll want to pour it on absolutely everything!

Tahini Dressing

How to make ahead + store

Many of these sauce recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead. 

More sauce recipes:

• Sauces for Noodles
• Sauces for Tofu
• Sauces for Hibachi
• Sauces for Buddha Bowls
• Sauces for Udon Noodles
• Sauces for Rice Noodles
• Sauces for Egg Rolls
• Dipping Sauces for Rice Paper Rolls
• Sauces for Korean BBQ

Healthy bowl recipes: 

• Quinoa Taco Bowls
• Shrimp Sushi Bowls
• Tuna Rice Bowl
• Chicken Gyro Bowls with Quinoa
• Poke Bowls
• Salmon Sushi Bowls
• Lemon Orzo Bowls with Lamb & Tzatziki
• Shrimp Spring Roll Noodle Bowls
• Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa & Avocado Cream Sauce

Did you Make Any of These Sauces for Rice Bowls?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of rice bowl sauces. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Full Recipe

15+ Sauces for Rice Bowls: Easy Sauce Recipes

Learn how to make Yumm Sauce! These vegetarian rice bowls are loaded up with all the toppings and drizzled with a creamy curry & cumin spiced chickpea sauce.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin

Serves 8 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

1x2x3x

Ingredients

Yumm Sauce:

• ▢ 3/4 cup canned garbanzo beans (drained & rinsed)
• ▢ 1/2 cup canola oil
• ▢ 1/2 cup water (plus additional as needed to thin)
• ▢ 1/2 cup almond flour
• ▢ 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (3-4 lemons)
• ▢ 1/3 cup silken tofu
• ▢ 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
• ▢ ½ teaspoon mustard powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (optional)

Bowls:

• ▢ Rice or Quinoa
• ▢ Beans
• ▢ Avocado (sliced )
• ▢ Tomatoes (chopped )
• ▢ Black olives (sliced )
• ▢ Cheddar cheese (shredded )
• ▢ Cilantro
• ▢ Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
• ▢ Sesame Seeds (for topping)
• ▢ Jalapeno Sesame Salsa (for topping)

Instructions

• Add ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, cover and refrigerate until serving.
• To assemble place about 1 cup rice in bowl, drizzle on Yumm Sauce, then top with 1/2 cup beans, avocado, tomatoes, olives, cheese, cilantro and top with greek yogurt or sour cream. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

Notes

Yumm sauce will store in the fridge for up to one week. It can also be frozen, but may separate. Just give it a good stir, or pop it back into your blender or use an immersion blender to process again. 

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 501mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 5.6mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!