Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)

Savory turkey in spicy-sweet sauce over rice with fresh vegetables and sesame crunch.

# 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 It:

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 and honey to achieve desired heat level and sweetness balance. Reserve sauce.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook while breaking apart with a spatula until fully cooked and no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper to cooked turkey. Stir thoroughly and cook for 1 to 2 additional minutes allowing flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice evenly among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with equal portions of seasoned ground turkey.
06 - Arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and red cabbage around and over the turkey in each bowl.
07 - Drizzle generous amounts of bang bang sauce over turkey and vegetables. Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Top with fresh cilantro leaves.
08 - Place lime wedges alongside bowls. Squeeze lime over each serving, mix ingredients if desired, and consume immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like your favorite takeout but comes together in your own kitchen in under an hour, no delivery fee required.
  • The bang bang sauce is dangerously good—you'll want to put it on everything from grilled chicken to roasted vegetables.
  • Each bite gives you a little bit of everything: creamy, crunchy, spicy, tangy, and just enough lime to wake it all up.
  • It's one of those recipes that looks impressive in the bowl but doesn't demand any fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
02 -
  • Don't walk away from the turkey while it cooks—it can go from perfectly browned to dry in a matter of minutes if you're not watching.
  • Make the sauce first and let it sit while you cook the turkey so the garlic and ginger have time to infuse and mellow.
  • If your sauce tastes too spicy after mixing, stir in a little more honey or mayo to bring it back into balance.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking so you can assemble the bowls quickly while the turkey and rice are still warm.
03 -
  • Use a microplane to grate the ginger directly into the sauce—it breaks down completely and distributes evenly without any fibrous bits.
  • Let the turkey rest in the skillet for a minute after you turn off the heat so it stays juicy and doesn't dry out when you portion it into the bowls.
  • If you like extra crunch, add a handful of crushed peanuts or cashews right before serving for texture and a subtle nutty richness.
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