Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Print version)

Savory turkey in sweet-spicy chili mayo sauce over rice with fresh vegetables

# What You'll 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 Components

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

# How to Make:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and keep warm until assembly.
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 to achieve desired heat and sweetness level. Set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook while breaking it apart with a spatula until no pink remains, 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 cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls.
06 - Top each rice-filled bowl with an equal portion of seasoned ground turkey.
07 - Distribute julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and sliced red cabbage around and over the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Drizzle a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetable mixture in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
10 - Present bowls with lime wedges on the side. Squeeze lime over the bowls immediately before eating and mix ingredients together if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one skillet and one pot, which means fewer dishes and more time to actually sit down and eat.
  • The bang bang sauce is dangerously versatile—you'll want to put it on everything from roasted broccoli to leftover chicken.
  • You can swap out vegetables based on what's wilting in your crisper drawer and it still tastes intentional.
  • It's filling enough to satisfy without that heavy, sleepy feeling some rice bowls leave you with.
02 -
  • Don't skip breaking up the turkey well in the skillet—big clumps cook unevenly and won't absorb the sauce properly.
  • Make the bang bang sauce first and let it sit while you cook; the flavors meld and get even better as they hang out together.
  • If your rice turns out mushy, spread it on a baking sheet to cool and dry out a bit before building your bowls.
03 -
  • Use a hot skillet and don't crowd the turkey—it should sizzle when it hits the pan, not steam.
  • Double the bang bang sauce and keep the extra in a squeeze bottle for drizzling over salads, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables all week.
  • Julienne your vegetables as thin as possible so they integrate into each bite instead of sitting on top like an afterthought.
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