Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)

Tangy-sweet chili turkey over fluffy rice with fresh crunchy vegetables and sesame-scallion topping.

# 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 Steps:

01 - Prepare rice according to package instructions and keep warm until assembly.
02 - Whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a small bowl. Taste and adjust Sriracha or honey to balance heat and sweetness. Set 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 the cooked turkey with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice equally among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned ground turkey and arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and red cabbage around or over the turkey.
06 - Drizzle generous amounts of bang bang sauce over turkey and vegetables. Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl.
07 - Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges. Squeeze lime juice over bowls and mix ingredients if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce is dangerously good, sweet and spicy and creamy all at once, and you will want to put it on everything.
  • It feels like a treat but uses everyday ingredients you probably already have hanging around.
  • The crunch from fresh veggies against warm savory turkey is texturally perfect in every bite.
  • Cleanup is minimal because most of it happens in one skillet and one bowl.
02 -
  • Do not overcook the turkey or it will turn dry and crumbly, pull it off the heat as soon as it loses its pink color.
  • Taste the sauce before you add it to the bowls, every brand of Sriracha and chili sauce is different so adjust until it makes you happy.
  • Prep all your veggies before you start cooking so you can assemble the bowls quickly while the turkey is still warm.
03 -
  • Let the skillet get properly hot before adding the turkey so it browns instead of steaming.
  • Use a microplane to grate the ginger, it practically melts into the sauce and distributes the flavor evenly.
  • If your sauce feels too thick, thin it with a teaspoon of water or lime juice until it drizzles smoothly.
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