Bang Bang Ground Turkey Bowls (Printable)

Tangy-sweet turkey in chili mayo 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 Assembly

13 - 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - 1 cucumber, thinly sliced into half-moons
16 - 1 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 - Cook 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. Adjust Sriracha and honey to taste preference for desired heat and sweetness balance.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and break apart with a spatula while cooking until no pink remains, 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 to allow flavors to incorporate. Remove from heat.
05 - Divide warm rice evenly among four serving bowls as the foundation layer.
06 - Place equal amounts of seasoned ground turkey atop the rice in each bowl.
07 - Position julienned carrot, sliced cucumber, and shredded red cabbage around or on top of turkey in each bowl.
08 - Drizzle generous amounts of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetable components.
09 - Sprinkle sliced scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Top with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
10 - Squeeze lime juice over bowls at the table. Mix ingredients together if desired and consume immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It pulls together in under 40 minutes without fancy ingredients or complicated techniques.
  • The bang bang sauce is tangy, creamy, and just spicy enough to keep you coming back for more.
  • You get protein, veggies, and rice all in one bowl, which means less cleanup and more balance.
  • Its endlessly adaptable, so you can swap proteins, vegetables, or even the base depending on what you have.
02 -
  • Don't skip tasting the bang bang sauce before assembling, because adjusting the heat and sweetness early saves you from a bowl that's too spicy or too bland.
  • Use a hot skillet for the turkey so it browns instead of steams, which makes all the difference in texture and flavor.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking so everything comes together quickly once the turkey is done.
  • Store leftovers without the garnishes and sauce on the side, or the vegetables will get soggy and lose their crunch.
03 -
  • Grate the ginger on a microplane instead of chopping it, so you get all the flavor without any fibrous bits.
  • If your turkey releases a lot of liquid while cooking, drain some off before adding the soy sauce so the meat stays flavorful and not watery.
  • Let the rice cool for just a minute before adding the hot turkey, or it can get a little mushy on the bottom of the bowl.
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