Introduction

These Ground Turkey Rice Bowls with Bang Bang Sauce offer a flavorful and satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare on busy weeknights. Packed with savory turkey and a creamy, spicy sauce, they’re perfect for customizing with your favorite veggies.

The dish is served on a white bowl with a white marbled background. It has four main layers: a base of white rice with black sesame seeds sprinkled on top, next to bright green edamame beans, thinly sliced cucumber, and shredded orange carrots arranged separately around the bowl. The central layer features ground chicken covered with a creamy orange sauce, garnished with small chopped green onions and more black sesame seeds. The textures range from soft rice and cooked meat to crunchy vegetables, giving a colorful and fresh look. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

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
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, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, shelled edamame, pickled onions, avocado, shredded cabbage, sliced green onion, sesame seeds, and more for serving

Instructions

Step 1: Prep Bang Bang Sauce by adding mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and honey to a small bowl. Whisk well to combine. Adjust the spice or sweetness by adding more sriracha or honey to taste. Chill until ready to serve.
Step 2: Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and break it into smaller pieces. Cook until browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in minced garlic, grated ginger, smoked paprika, onion powder, soy sauce, sriracha, chicken broth, honey, black pepper, and sea salt. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Sprinkle corn starch over the mixture and stir well to thicken. If desired, mix in about 2 tablespoons of Bang Bang Sauce into the turkey right before serving for extra flavor.
Step 5: Assemble your rice bowls by layering cooked rice, your choice of veggies such as shredded carrots, cucumbers, edamame, pickled onions, avocado, cabbage, and the turkey mixture. Drizzle with additional Bang Bang Sauce and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Tips & Variations

Use ground chicken or pork instead of turkey for a different flavor.
Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to the Bang Bang Sauce for a tangy twist.
For a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with crumbled tofu or cooked lentils.
Include crunchy nuts like chopped peanuts or cashews for extra texture.
Adjust sriracha amounts to control spice level to suit your preference.

Storage

Store leftover turkey mixture and Bang Bang Sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the turkey mixture gently in a skillet or microwave, stirring occasionally. Fresh veggies and rice are best added fresh when assembling your bowl.

How to Serve

A white bowl holds a colorful dish arranged in layers: at the bottom, a bed of white rice is visible on the left; next to the rice, bright green edamame beans form the second layer, followed by thinly sliced fresh cucumber rounds with a deep green skin and light green centers, placed on the right side; shredded orange carrots occupy the top left corner. On top of the rice and edamame sits a layer of cooked crumbled ground meat coated with a creamy orange spicy sauce, sprinkled with black sesame seeds and garnished with sliced green onions scattered over the sauce. The background shows a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the turkey mixture and Bang Bang Sauce in advance and store them separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Assemble the bowls just before serving for the best texture.

What can I use instead of corn starch to thicken the sauce?

You can substitute corn starch with an equal amount of arrowroot powder or flour mixed with a little water, but corn starch provides the smoothest texture.

Ground Turkey Rice Bowls with Bang Bang Sauce Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 145 reviews

This Ground Turkey Rice Bowl with Bang Bang Sauce is a flavorful and satisfying meal perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Ground turkey is seasoned and simmered with a savory mix of spices and sauces, then thickened for a juicy filling. Paired with a creamy, spicy-sweet Bang Bang Sauce and loaded with fresh veggies, this dish offers a delicious balance of taste and texture served over rice.

Author: Ruby
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian Fusion

Ingredients

Scale

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 low sodium soy sauce
1–2 Tbsp sriracha
2–3 Tbsp chicken broth
2 tsp honey
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp sea salt (adjust to taste)
2 tsp cornstarch

Bang Bang Sauce

½ cup mayonnaise
3 Tbsp sweet chili sauce
½–1 Tbsp sriracha (more for extra spice)
1 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp honey

To Serve

Cooked rice
Shredded carrots
Sliced cucumbers
Shelled edamame
Pickled onions
Avocado slices
Shredded cabbage
Sliced green onion
Sesame seeds

Instructions

Prep Bang Bang Sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and honey. Whisk thoroughly until smooth. Adjust the spiciness or sweetness by adding more sriracha or honey as desired. Chill the sauce until ready to serve.
Cook Ground Turkey: Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground turkey, breaking it up into smaller pieces with a spatula. Cook until browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Season and Simmer: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in garlic, grated ginger, smoked paprika, onion powder, soy sauce, sriracha, chicken broth, honey, black pepper, and sea salt. Simmer the mixture for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to combine flavors.
Thicken the Mixture: Sprinkle cornstarch evenly over the turkey mixture and stir well to incorporate. This will thicken the juices and help bind the flavors.
Optional Sauce Stir-In: Just before serving, fold in about 2 tablespoons of the prepared Bang Bang Sauce into the turkey mixture to enhance creaminess and flavor.
Assemble Rice Bowls: In bowls, layer cooked rice and your choice of shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, shelled edamame, pickled onions, avocado, shredded cabbage, or any preferred vegetables. Spoon the warm turkey mixture over the rice, drizzle with extra Bang Bang Sauce, and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.

Notes

Adjust sriracha amounts according to your preferred spice level both in the turkey mixture and the Bang Bang Sauce.
For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Vegetables can be swapped or added to your preference; this recipe is highly versatile.
Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your stovetop and skillet.
Leftover turkey mixture keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop.

Keywords: ground turkey rice bowl, bang bang sauce, easy weeknight dinner, Asian-inspired bowl, healthy turkey recipe, spicy mayo sauce, quick dinner recipe