Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)
Seasoned ground turkey over rice with crisp vegetables and creamy spicy Bang Bang sauce.
# What You 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
→ Seasoned 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
→ Bowl Assembly
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 leaves for garnish, optional
# How To Make It:
01 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until completely smooth and well combined. Set aside to let the flavors meld.
02 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 1 minute until fragrant and lightly golden.
03 - Add the 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 fully cooked through and lightly caramelized.
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 assembled bowl. Top with chopped scallions and sesame seeds. Garnish with fresh cilantro or mint leaves if desired, and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The bang bang sauce comes together in about sixty seconds and tastes like you spent an hour reducing something complicated.
- Ground turkey is lean, affordable, and cooks fast enough that you can have dinner on the table before your rice even finishes steaming.
- Everything is customizable, so picky eaters and spice lovers can share the same meal without complaint.
02 -
- Do not rush the turkey browning step because those caramelized edges are where most of the flavor lives.
- If you make the sauce ahead and refrigerate it, it will thicken significantly, so let it sit at room temperature for ten minutes before using.
03 -
- Shred the carrots as finely as you can because thin shreds pick up the sauce better and feel more integrated in every bite.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes before sprinkling them on top because that tiny step makes a surprising difference in flavor.