Description
These Ground Turkey Rice Bowls with Bang Bang Sauce are a flavorful and quick weeknight meal featuring seasoned ground turkey cooked to perfection and tossed in a spicy, creamy bang bang sauce. Served over rice with fresh veggies and crunchy toppings, they deliver a delightful balance of spicy, savory, and sweet flavors that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Ground Turkey Mixture
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil, or favorite cooking oil
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp grated ginger
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce, low sodium
- 1-2 Tbsp sriracha
- 2-3 Tbsp chicken broth
- 2 tsp honey
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt, more or less to taste
- 2 tsp corn starch
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp sweet chili sauce
- ½-1 Tbsp sriracha, more to kick up the spice
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
Rice Bowl Options
- rice
- shredded carrots
- sliced cucumbers
- shelled edamame
- pickled onions
- avocado
- shredded cabbage
- sliced green onion
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prep Bang Bang Sauce: Add all the bang bang sauce ingredients—including mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and honey—into a small bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine until smooth. Taste and adjust by adding more sriracha for heat or more honey or sweet chili sauce to reduce spiciness. Refrigerate and chill until ready to serve.
- Prepare the Ground Turkey Mixture: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of sesame oil. Once shimmering, add the ground turkey, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Brown the turkey until fully cooked and it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add minced garlic, grated ginger, smoked paprika, onion powder, soy sauce, sriracha, chicken broth, honey, black pepper, and sea salt. Stir well and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend flavors.
- Thicken the Mixture: Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of corn starch evenly over the turkey mixture and stir well to combine and thicken the sauce. Optionally, stir in two tablespoons of the prepared bang bang sauce into the meat mixture for extra flavor just before serving.
- Assemble Rice Bowls: Arrange cooked rice in bowls and top with desired fresh vegetables such as shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, shelled edamame, pickled onions, avocado slices, and shredded cabbage. Spoon the warm ground turkey mixture over the rice and vegetables. Drizzle additional bang bang sauce over the top, then garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can adjust the spice level of both the turkey mixture and bang bang sauce by varying the amount of sriracha used.
- Using low sodium soy sauce helps control the salt content, but always taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Corn starch acts as a thickening agent; ensure it is evenly dispersed to avoid clumps.
- Feel free to swap the ground turkey with ground chicken or even tofu for a vegetarian variation.
- These rice bowls are versatile and can be customized with any fresh or pickled vegetables you prefer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
