These copycat CAVA bowls are a delicious and easy weeknight meal! With the help of a few key shortcuts, dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes. Try them the next time you’re craving something new, fresh and flavorful.

If you’re looking to bring some excitement to your weeknight dinners, these copycat CAVA bowls are just the ticket. They’re bursting with Mediterranean flavor and easy to put together, and with the shortcuts below you can have a homemade CAVA bowl on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Now, I’m not talking about those hectic Wednesday nights juggling dance classes, soccer practices and parent meetings. Those evenings call for something like my Slow Cooker Baked Ziti that you put together in the morning, or Oven Baked Bean Burritos that bake up in only 10 minutes and can be dunked in guacamole. But on nights when you have a little more breathing room (say 30 minutes to spare), these copycat CAVA bowls are a fantastic way to shake up your dinner routine.

Inspiration Behind Creating Copycat CAVA Bowls

My inspiration to recreate these bowls at home struck after my first visit to CAVA, the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant. CAVA lets you build your own bowl from a lineup of grains, greens, dips, spreads, proteins, toppings and dressings. Think Chipotle, but with Mediterranean flavors and even more options.

What Is a CAVA Bowl?

A CAVA bowl starts with a base of greens, grains or a mix of both, then gets layered with dips like hummus and tzatziki, a protein, fresh toppings and a dressing. At the restaurant, the grain options are saffron basmati rice, brown basmati rice or black lentils, and the greens include arugula, baby spinach, romaine and their Super Greens and Power Greens blends. Popular bowls pile on things like harissa honey chicken, Crazy Feta, pickled onions, cucumber, tomato and pita crisps with a harissa vinaigrette.

When I first thought about recreating my favorite CAVA combination at home, I imagined it would be quite a challenge, with so many ingredients and so much time in the kitchen. But I discovered that with a few smart shortcuts and the help of my trusty rice cooker, I could make something special without much hassle. The real charm of a CAVA bowl is that everyone can build a bowl that suits their own tastes, which makes it a great family dinner and a perfect meal prep option too.

The Copycat CAVA Bowl Base

Creating the perfect copycat CAVA bowl begins with choosing the right base. For my version, I wanted a base hearty enough to satisfy a robust appetite (thinking of David here) but light enough for those who prefer a less filling option (like myself).

• Greens: baby kale and chopped cabbage for a fresh, crunchy texture.
• Cauliflower rice: a lighter, grain-free alternative.
• Rice: brown rice or basmati rice, a staple that never goes wrong.
• Lentils: a boost of plant-based protein, just like the black lentils at CAVA.

I have a special affinity for my rice cooker; it makes almost all of my meal prep easy and almost entirely hands-off. For a nutritious and filling base, combine 1.5 cups of long grain rice, 1 cup of black lentils, 3 cups of broth and 1 cup of water in the rice cooker. Hit the button for the rice cycle, and your base will be ready without any fuss.

Protein and Main Component Options

• Falafel: a Mediterranean favorite. I usually make falafel from scratch, but for a quick weeknight meal, frozen falafel with a solid ingredient list is a great shortcut. It bakes up perfectly in about 20 minutes.
• Grilled chicken: marinated in my ultimate Greek marinade for a protein-packed choice.
• Lamb meatballs: these Greek-style lamb meatballs add a traditional touch.
• Roasted veggies: a hearty plant-based option full of flavor.

Toppings and Sauces

As the rice cooks and the falafel bakes, it’s time to prep the toppings and sauces. I always have a jar of homemade pickled red onions in my fridge; they’re easy to make and add a zesty bite to salads and bowls. Here are my favorite toppings for copycat CAVA bowls. Make them at home or grab store-bought versions to save time:

• Cucumber tomato salad: cucumber and grape tomatoes tossed with olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano (similar to my lettuce-less Greek salad).
• Tzatziki: creamy and cool. Store-bought tzatziki is an easy shortcut.
• Harissa: a spicy harissa paste for a fiery kick.
• Hummus: smooth and savory, store-bought or my easy homemade hummus.
• Crunch: shredded kale and cabbage plus pita chips.
• Briny extras: pickled red onions, banana peppers and kalamata olives.
• Crumbled feta cheese: salty and creamy.
• Dressing: a light, flavorful vinaigrette.

Assembling Your Copycat CAVA Bowls

Now comes the best part: assembling your copycat CAVA bowls! Set everything out buffet style and let everyone build their own. For families with younger kids, I’ve found the deconstructed method is a big hit. It turns dinner into a kind of giant snack plate where the little ones can pick and choose what they like, which is a great way to introduce new flavors with no pressure.

For older kids or anyone who loves a good wrap, add some large tortillas to the mix. I’ve noticed they work better than pita for wrapping, but feel free to use pita or naan if you prefer. Everyone can roll up their favorite combination.

Even with the rice cooker time (completely hands-off, or swap in a pouch of microwave rice or frozen rice for a quicker option), the whole meal comes together in less than 30 minutes. It’s not the simplest meal in terms of ingredients, but it feels like such a mid-week luxury.

David and I absolutely love this meal. The hearty base, zesty toppings and bold sauces all come together beautifully. If you enjoy a bit of heat, I highly recommend not skipping the harissa. Yes, it’s spicy, but it adds so much depth and flavor.

Copycat CAVA Bowl Ideas and Recipe Variations

Once you have the components ready, it’s easy to mix and match bowls inspired by the CAVA menu. Here are a few combinations to try:

• Harissa honey chicken bowl: toss grilled chicken with a spoonful of harissa and a drizzle of honey, then pile it over rice with hummus, crumbled feta, cucumber, pickled onions and a harissa vinaigrette.
• Falafel crunch bowl: falafel and roasted veggies over romaine with hummus, tzatziki, shredded cabbage, pickled red onions and pita chips.
• Greek chicken and lentil bowl: Greek marinated chicken over the rice and lentil base with tzatziki, cucumber tomato salad, feta and kalamata olives.

Quick harissa vinaigrette: whisk together 1 tablespoon harissa paste, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey and a pinch of salt. Taste and add more harissa if you like it spicy.

How to Meal Prep Copycat CAVA Bowls

Leftovers are just as delicious the next day, which makes these bowls an easy, tasty lunch. To meal prep, store each component in its own sealed container in the fridge: the rice and lentil base, the protein, the cucumber tomato salad and the sauces. Keep the greens, pita chips and dressing separate until you’re ready to eat so nothing gets soggy. Cooked chicken and grains are best eaten within 3 to 4 days (here’s more on how to store leftover rice).

Copycat CAVA Bowl FAQs

What rice does CAVA use?

CAVA offers saffron basmati rice and brown basmati rice, plus black lentils as a grain base. At home, any long grain rice works. I like cooking rice and black lentils together in the rice cooker for extra protein and fiber.

Can I make CAVA bowls ahead of time?

Yes! Prep the base, protein, toppings and sauces up to 3 to 4 days ahead and store them separately in the fridge. Assemble your bowl right before eating, and add the dressing last.

I hope you love these copycat CAVA bowls as much as we do. And now I’m curious: do you have a favorite restaurant dish you’ve been itching to recreate at home? Let me know in the comments!

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