Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)

Seasoned ground turkey over rice with crisp veggies and creamy spicy Bang Bang sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bang Bang Sauce

01 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
02 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
03 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha, adjust to taste
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

→ Ground Turkey

06 - 1 lb ground turkey
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
10 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Rice Bowls

13 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or long-grain white rice
14 - 1 cup shredded carrots
15 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
16 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
17 - 1/4 cup chopped scallions
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, optional
19 - Fresh cilantro or mint for garnish, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until smooth and well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant and lightly golden.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula into small crumbles. Season with soy sauce, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is no longer pink and has developed a light caramelization.
04 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Layer each bowl with the seasoned ground turkey, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, and red bell pepper.
05 - Drizzle the Bang Bang sauce generously over each bowl. Top with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro or mint if desired. Serve immediately while the turkey is still warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Bang Bang sauce is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything from roasted broccoli to scrambled eggs.
  • It uses one pan and one bowl, which means cleanup is almost nonexistent on a busy night.
  • Ground turkey cooks fast and absorbs the ginger garlic soy combination like a sponge, so every bite is packed with flavor.
02 -
  • Do not rush the turkey browning step because those caramelized bits are where half the flavor lives.
  • The sauce thickens slightly as it sits, so if you make it ahead, give it a quick stir before drizzling.
03 -
  • Let the turkey sit undisturbed for two minutes after adding it to the pan before you start breaking it apart, because that initial contact creates a deeper Maillard crust.
  • Use a microplane to grate the ginger directly into the pan so the fibers melt away completely rather than leaving stringy bits in the meat.

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