Bang Bang Ground Turkey Rice Bowls (Printable Version)

Turkey in sweet-spicy chili mayo over rice with crisp vegetables and sesame crunch.

# The Ingredients 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

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Prepare rice according to package directions 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 balance. Set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, 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 thoroughly and cook for 1 to 2 additional 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 shredded red cabbage around or atop the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Drizzle a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges.
10 - Squeeze lime juice over bowls, mix ingredients together if desired, and serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The bang bang sauce works like liquid gold, transforming plain ground turkey into something youll actually crave, and I often catch myself making extra just to dip random things in throughout the week.
  • Everything comes together in about 40 minutes flat, making this perfect for those nights when takeout tempts but your budget begs otherwise.
02 -
  • Letting the ground turkey develop a proper brown crust before breaking it up completely makes all the difference in flavor, so resist the urge to constantly stir during the first few minutes of cooking.
  • The bang bang sauce thickens slightly as it sits, so if you make it ahead of time, you might need to thin it with a teaspoon of water right before serving.
03 -
  • Cook an extra batch of the seasoned ground turkey mixture and freeze it in portion-sized bags for lightning-fast meal assembly on those nights when even 30 minutes of cooking feels impossible.
  • The real secret to the most flavorful sauce is giving it at least 15 minutes to rest after mixing, allowing the garlic and ginger to fully infuse their flavors into the creamy base.
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