Name: Homemade CAVA Hummus Bowls with Feta and Avocado
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup Quinoa; 1 3/4 cup Water; 2 cup Cooked Chicken; 1 cup Hummus (homemade or store bought); 1/2 Red Onion; 1 Cucumber sliced and quartered; 1 cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes quartered; 1 Avocado sliced; 1/2 cup Crumbled Feta Cheese; Jalapeno Vinaigrette

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Skip the line and make this Cava recipe at home. Homemade CAVA bowls look impressive but are incredibly simple to make and will have you looking forward to your next meal instead of dreading it. Copycat CAVA bowls are full of bold flavors and fresh vegetables with creamy hummus, juicy tomatoes, cool cucumber, buttery avocado, salty feta, crisp red onions, and gluten free quinoa. The best part is they work really well for meal prep. Full printable recipe card below!

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What is a CAVA Bowl?

To answer this question I first need to tell you about CAVA in case you have never been to one. CAVA is a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain in the United States that specializes in rice and salad bowls. The first time I went I immediately thought of a Mediterranean version of Chipotle or Qdoba.

CAVA specializes in delicious bowls, typically with rice, that are full of fresh ingredients, bold flavors, crazy feta, your choice of protein, and hummus.

I like to make my own CAVA bowls with quinoa since it is very similar in application but is gluten free and contains more nutrients than rice. Quinoa is higher in fiber and protein than rice and contains less carbs. Because of the similar size of quinoa and neutral flavor, it can be used in almost any way you would use rice and makes the perfect vessel for CAVA bowls.

CAVA Bowl Ingredients

This easy yet delicious quinoa grain bowl has so much flavor and makes the perfect recipe for a quick lunch or a lighter dinner. This CAVA quinoa bowl uses simple ingredients and steps but I will share what I used and what can be substituted.

Quinoa – Quinoa is the base of your bowl. It has a neutral earthy flavor and is very filling which makes it the perfect paring for an abundance of fresh ingredients. Quinoa can usually be found near the rice at the grocery store and is cooked in a very similar fashion. If quinoa isn’t for you, any kind of rice can be used in its place. CAVA commonly uses white rice, but brown rice would also work.

Chicken – My favorite CAVA bowl uses their signature harissa honey chicken, but to keep this recipe simple, I used pre-cooked chicken strips that I buy at Costco. You can also use cooked chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, or cooked boneless chicken thighs. Just don’t forget to season the chicken.

Hummus – Hummus is traditionally found in Mediterranean cuisine and it adds an extra bit of flavor and protein to this bowl. I make my own homemade harissa red pepper hummus for this. It is an easy recipe that uses red peppers, chick peas, and does not require tahini or harissa paste. But you can also use store bought hummus if you prefer.

Red Onion – Red onions are the best choice here for the sharper flavor and because they are not cooked. I have used a yellow or white onion in a pinch, but red is definitely better. And if you are feeling ambitious you can pickle them in a little white vinegar which is how CAVA makes them.

Tomato – Tomatoes add freshness and some acidity. Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are ideal because they are consistently flavorful and do not get mushy. If you are using larger tomatoes, Roma tomatoes work best but you can use larger tomatoes as well. Just dice them small and let them drain for a minute so the juice does not pool at the bottom of the bowl.

Cucumber – This one little ingredient adds cool, crisp texture and a clean flavor that balances the richness of the hummus and avocado. I have used both regular cucumbers and English cucumbers and they are equivalent in my opinion. You can also use Persian cucumbers if you like.

Avocado – Avocado is one of my favorite things to add to CAVA bowls. Small pieces of avocado add a bit of creamy texture and buttery richness.

Feta Cheese – Feta is a very common ingredient in Mediterranean dishes and adds notes of salty, tangy, and creamy in a way that punches the flavor up a notch. I normally use crumbled feta cheese because it’s easy. At CAVA they actually add their signature crazy feta to the bowls for a spicy kick. If you want to skip feta, use goat cheese or shredded Parmesan.

Dressing – CAVA uses a hot harissa vinaigrette dressing, but I have found jalapeno lime vinaigrette dressing to be an excellent substitute. If spice isn’t for your taste buds, I also love this lemon basil vinaigrette on these bowls and typically rotate between the two depending on what I have on hand.

Feel free to use your favorite dressing or lemon juice and a few tablespoons of olive oil. Just note that vinaigrette and Greek yogurt style dressings work better than heavy cream based dressings.

Additional Toppings – Depending on what CAVA bowl is your favorite, there are a variety of toppings you can add like baby spinach, pita bread, roasted corn, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or a cup of black lentils. Feel free to customize with your own delicious ingredients.

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Looking for more quinoa bowls? Try my fall harvest apple quinoa bowl or my green apple blue cheese quinoa bowls.

Looking for more copycat recipes? Try my copycat Texas Roadhouse honey butter, copycat Red Lobster Cajun chicken alfredo pasta, copycat Imo’s St. Louis style pizza, or my copycat Crumbl pink sugar cookies.

Looking for more salad recipes? Try my copycat Panera summer strawberry poppyseed salad or my copycat Panera chicken cobb salad with homemade green goddess dressing.

Storage

A great way to meal prep is to make this CAVA quinoa bowl in advance. Prep your ingredients in advance and store them separately. Chop the cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and avocado and keep them in separate containers in the fridge. Cook a batch of grains and portion out the hummus and feta. When you want to eat, you just assemble. The bowl stays fresh and nothing gets soggy or wilted. Ingredients can be stored separately in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

When to Make Cava Hummus Bowls

This delicious CAVA bowl makes a filling lunch, a fresh weeknight dinner, or a healthy side dish. This is my favorite thing to make when I am craving a light and healthy meal when I don’t really feel like cooking a ton. But honestly you can make it anytime you want because it only takes 30 minutes and the whole family will love it!

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Homemade CAVA Hummus Bowls with Feta and Avocado

What is a CAVA Bowl?

CAVA Bowl Ingredients