Bang Bang Ground Turkey Bowls (Print-Friendly)

Ground turkey in tangy chili mayo sauce over rice with fresh vegetables, sesame seeds, and lime. Ready in 40 minutes.

# 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 Components

13 - 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned
15 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
16 - ½ 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 level. Reserve sauce.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook while breaking 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 an additional 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to combine. 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 over 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 cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.
10 - Squeeze fresh lime juice over bowls before eating. Mix ingredients together if desired and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and complex but comes together faster than most delivery apps can get to your door.
  • The bang bang sauce is dangerously good, sweet and spicy and creamy all at once, and you'll want to put it on everything.
  • You can prep the vegetables and sauce ahead, then just cook the turkey and assemble when hunger strikes.
  • It's endlessly customizable, so picky eaters and adventurous ones can build their perfect bowl side by side.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the turkey or it will turn dry and grainy, pull it from the heat as soon as it's just cooked through and still glistening.
  • Make the sauce at least a few minutes ahead so the garlic and ginger have time to infuse and mellow.
  • If you're meal prepping, store the sauce separately and only drizzle it on when you're ready to eat, otherwise the vegetables can get soggy.
  • Taste the sauce before serving, everyone's Sriracha tolerance is different, and you can always add more but you can't take it back.
03 -
  • Use day-old rice if you have it, it holds its shape better and doesn't turn mushy under the sauce.
  • Grate the ginger on a microplane for the finest texture, or mince it as small as you can so no one bites into a fibrous chunk.
  • If your skillet is crowded, the turkey will steam instead of brown, so use a large pan or cook it in batches.
  • Let the cooked turkey rest in the skillet for a minute after you turn off the heat, it reabsorbs some of the juices and stays tender.
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