Bang Bang Turkey Rice Bowls (Print Version)

Savor flavorful ground turkey in a tangy-sweet chili mayo sauce, paired with rice and crisp vegetables for a complete, easy-to-make dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bang Bang Sauce

01 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
02 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
03 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
04 - 1 to 2 tablespoons Sriracha, adjust to taste
05 - 1 tablespoon honey
06 - 1 clove garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

→ 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 - 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice or 2 cups cooked rice
14 - 1 small carrot, julienned or shredded
15 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced into half-moons
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

# Steps:

01 - Cook rice according to package instructions. Keep warm until ready to assemble bowls.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, garlic, and ginger. Taste and adjust Sriracha or honey to achieve preferred heat and sweetness. Set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until no longer pink, about 5–7 minutes.
04 - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper to the cooked turkey. Stir thoroughly and cook for 1–2 minutes to blend flavors. 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 - Place carrot, cucumber, and red cabbage around or on top of the turkey in each bowl.
08 - Generously drizzle bang bang sauce over the turkey and vegetables in each bowl.
09 - Sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds over each bowl. Add fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges.
10 - Squeeze fresh lime juice over bowls before eating. Mix ingredients together if desired and serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The sauce hits every craveable note at once: sweet, tangy, creamy, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting
  • You get that takeout satisfaction without the takeout wait time or delivery fees
  • The ingredient list is forgiving enough that you can improvise with whatever vegetables are languishing in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • The sauce thickens as it sits, so if it seems too loose after whisking, give it five minutes before adding more
  • Ground turkey releases a lot of water as it cooks, so do not rush the browning step or you will end up with steamed meat instead of flavorful bits
  • Cutting your vegetables into thin, uniform pieces matters more than you think, it makes every bite balanced instead of getting a mouthful of just cabbage
03 -
  • Cook your rice with a pinch of salt and a drop of sesame oil so it is flavorful even before the sauce touches it
  • Squeeze half the lime over the turkey before adding the sauce, the acid helps the flavors pop
Go Back