Bang Bang Ground Turkey Bowls (Print version)

Tender turkey in spicy-sweet chili mayo over fluffy rice with crisp vegetables and sesame crunch.

# 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

→ Bowl Assembly

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 or honey to achieve desired heat and sweetness level. Reserve sauce.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook until no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Season cooked turkey with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly and cook for an additional 1 to 2 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 red cabbage around or on top of the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Pour a generous amount of bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Top with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
10 - Squeeze lime over the bowls at the table. Mix ingredients together if desired and consume immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The bang bang sauce tastes like it took hours but comes together in literally two minutes of whisking.
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like actually enjoying what you're eating.
  • The bowl format means everyone can customize their own, which is perfect for families where people pick at vegetables or want extra heat.
02 -
  • Don't skimp on the sauce—it's meant to be generously drizzled, not timidly applied, because that's where all the flavor lives and it's what makes people ask for the recipe.
  • The vegetables stay crisp and refreshing precisely because they're raw, so resist any urge to cook them down; the contrast between hot rice and turkey and cool, crunchy vegetables is the whole point.
03 -
  • Prep your sauce and vegetables while the rice cooks and turkey browns, and suddenly this feels like a restaurant meal you threw together in your own kitchen without stress.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on—that extra step of warmth releases their nutty flavor and makes the whole bowl taste more intentional.
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