It’s officially winter, y’all – and with that comes those bone-chilling temperatures up here in the Northeast. Let me tell you, though, there is nothing that feels quite so good as coming in from the snow and downing a crazy good broth bowl. It just warms your core from the inside out – while of course giving you all the culinary pleasure of salty deliciousness.
Below, I’ve rounded up some of the best broth bowl recipes out there for you to enjoy all winter long. Cozy comfort food at its best!
What is a Broth Bowl?
Every broth bowl is a soup, but not every soup is a broth bowl. (How’s that for a mental puzzle?!)
Generally, a broth bowl’s foundation is – like it sounds – the broth. It should be really good, enough so that you want to slurp it from the bowl.
Broth bowl recipes will also typically include some type of noodles, whether it’s rice noodles, soba noodles, ramen noodles, or veggie noodles. Some broth bowls can get away with leaving the noodles out – like in a Japanese miso soup – if the broth and veggie combo is truly delish.
Aside from those two factors, the rest of the broth bowl recipe can vary – most have vegetables and some sort of protein (whether its chicken or tofu or a boiled egg), but there’s flexibility for fun here.
Health Benefits of Broth Bowl Recipes
One of the main benefits to broth bowls is that they tend to be a high-volume food – lower in calories and more filling than other meals, thanks to all that liquid broth. Of course, you should watch the total proportion of noodles in there as those can add up – but generally broth bowls are quite balanced. Also, since they’re hot, you’re forced to eat them more slowly – actually sitting down and enjoying your food. All of these reasons mean they can be great choices for those of you setting New Year’s goals to eat better!
Plus, another benefit of eating broth bowls? Introducing the kiddos to something new! I totally get that some of these recipe ideas may be a little outside your family’s normal picks. I mean, my toddler would eat chicken nuggets everyday if I let him choose, haha. But these are a great way to expose children to new flavor profiles and expand their palates.
I hope you enjoy all of these!
10 Insanely Good Broth Bowl Recipes
1. Pho Bo from Pandemonium Noshery
Pho bo is a Vietnamese beef and noodle soup, and I love that you can jazz up the base with toppings of your choice – my favorites are scallions, fresh herbs, and chile peppers.
2. Soba Noodle Broth Bowl from Snacking in Sneakers
This dish hits on all those salty and umami notes that you could want in a delicious, filling bowl of soup, thanks to using a mushroom-based broth. Plus, it’s packed with vitamins and minerals thanks to all the veggies – and it’s got hearty buckwheat-based soba noodles to fill you up.
3. Shirataki Noodle Ramen from Rhian’s Recipes
This vegan broth bowl recipe has amazing umami flavor thanks to the miso paste and mushrooms used in the dish. It also uses a different type of noodle called shirataki noodles, a low-calorie option derived from the konjac plant. The noodles are gelatinous and fairly bland on their own, but it makes them a great addition to soup since they absorb the flavor.
4. Detoxifying Broth Bowls with Veggie Noodles from Abra’s Kitchen
Traditional noodles are switched up with parsnip and carrot noodles in this broth bowl – a great way to add more nutrients and create a lower calorie dish.
5. Coconut Curry Shrimp Ramen Bowl from Snacking in Sneakers
Curry is total comfort food in my book, so this recipe just hits the spot. It’s got that perfect salty, rich flavor thanks to the chicken broth, curry paste, and coconut milk in the base.
6. Easy Miso Soup from Happy Kitchen Rocks
This is one of the few broth bowls that I think can get away with no noodles, because the combo of seaweed, mushrooms, and miso paste add such powerful flavor.
7. Spicy Thai Noodle Bowls from The Garlic Diaries
Everything I want to eat at this second is in this dish. The broth is simple yet flavorful, based in chicken stock, fish paste, soy sauce, and curry paste. Then you get some hearty rice noodles and chicken up in there, with a bunch of delicious toppings. Yum!
8. Asian Broth Bowl from The Chronicles of Home
I like this recipe because the author offers modifications to fit many dietary needs. For example, there are instructions specific to Paleo and Whole30 diets – making it great for those of you that might be thinking about following either of those in the New Year.
9. Easy Bone Broth Noodle Bowl with Herbs from The View From Great Island
This recipe is the epitome of a simple dinner, thanks to its minimal ingredient list – yet it is packed with flavor thanks to the use of lots of herbs.
10. Caldo de Res from Berry & Maple
This might not be a traditional broth bowl, but I wanted to include it on this list because the broth is delicious. You’ll simmer beef shanks for two hours to create an incredible, rich broth – and then add in veggies like corn, cabbage, and zucchini. It might not be the Asian style broth bowl with noodles, but it’s a winner none the less.
Easy pho bo