Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable)

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

# 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

→ Rice Bowls

13 - 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - 1 medium 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 - 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 for desired heat and sweetness balance.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook while breaking it up with a spatula until no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper to the cooked turkey. Stir thoroughly and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to integrate. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice evenly among four serving bowls and top each with an equal portion of seasoned ground turkey.
06 - Arrange julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and red cabbage around or on top of the turkey in each bowl.
07 - Drizzle a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
08 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
09 - Squeeze lime juice over bowls, mix ingredients together if desired, and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It delivers big flavor with minimal effort, perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something exciting.
  • The sauce is absurdly versatile and makes leftovers taste even better the next day.
  • You can prep all the veggies ahead and just toss everything together when hunger hits.
  • It's endlessly adaptable, swap the protein, the rice, or the crunch and it still works beautifully.
02 -
  • Don't skip the lime wedge, squeezing it over the bowl right before eating brightens every flavor and makes the whole dish sing.
  • If your turkey releases a lot of liquid, drain some off before adding the soy sauce or the seasoning will get diluted and bland.
  • Taste the bang bang sauce before you drizzle it, everyone's heat tolerance is different and you want it to feel just right for you.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on, it makes them nutty and fragrant and takes the dish up a notch.
  • If you want the turkey extra flavorful, let it sit in the soy sauce and sesame oil for 10 minutes before cooking, it soaks up the seasoning like a sponge.
  • Make a double batch of the bang bang sauce and keep it in the fridge, it lasts a week and transforms boring leftovers into something exciting.
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