Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)

Savory turkey in chili mayo sauce over rice with fresh vegetables and sesame crunch.

# What You Need:

→ Bang Bang Sauce

01 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
02 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
03 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
04 - 1 to 2 tablespoons Sriracha
05 - 1 tablespoon honey
06 - 1 clove garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

→ Ground Turkey

08 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
09 - 1 pound ground turkey
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
12 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Bowl Assembly

13 - 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
16 - 1/2 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
17 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
19 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
20 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and keep warm until ready to serve.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Taste and adjust Sriracha or honey for preferred heat and sweetness balance. Set sauce aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Season cooked turkey with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice evenly among four serving bowls.
06 - Top each bowl with an equal portion of seasoned ground turkey.
07 - Arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and red cabbage around or on top of the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Drizzle a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables.
09 - Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
10 - Serve bowls with lime wedges on the side. Squeeze lime over the bowls, mix ingredients together if desired, and enjoy immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under 30 minutes, so theres no excuse to order takeout when you can make this faster than delivery.
  • The bang bang sauce is dangerously good: creamy, spicy, tangy, and just sweet enough to balance the heat.
  • You get protein, vegetables, and carbs all in one colorful bowl that feels restaurant-fancy but costs a fraction of the price.
  • Leftovers taste incredible the next day, especially after the flavors soak into the rice overnight.
02 -
  • Don't skip tasting the bang bang sauce before you drizzle it, the heat level of Sriracha varies wildly between brands and you want it just right.
  • If your turkey releases a lot of liquid while cooking, drain some of it off before adding the soy sauce and sesame oil so the meat can brown properly instead of steaming.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking the turkey so you can assemble the bowls quickly while the rice and turkey are still warm.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on top, the nutty aroma is worth the extra step.
  • Use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to get those cucumber slices paper-thin, they taste better and look more elegant.
  • Make a double batch of the bang bang sauce and keep it in the fridge, it lasts for a week and turns boring salads and wraps into something exciting.
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