Have a super delicious dinner on the table in 15 minutes with this Asian ground turkey and rice bowl recipe!
In this recipe, ground turkey is cooked with Asian ingredients (like soy sauce, ginger, and rice wine vinegar) and then instant white rice is used (the 5 minute kind), and everything is cooked and ready to go in 15 minutes!
These days with my newborn baby, I’m all about quick and easy dinner recipes that I can get on the table, fast!
The story behind how this recipe came to be goes something like this: I had had a long day and so had my husband Nick. We were both exhausted and the last thing on our minds was dinner. I took a quick nap while he watched Ben, and then when I woke with a grumbling tummy, I knew I need to make something for dinner that was quick.
We were thinking of maybe getting delivery, but I really didn’t want to wait that long, so I opened the fridge and saw I had some quick pickled Asian vegetables and some ground turkey (as I said when I shared these turkey burgers, I rarely buy ground beef, but instead I love ground turkey!) and thought about how fast ground turkey cooks, so I married the flavors together by cooking the turkey with Asian ingredients that I love having in the house: like rice wine vinegar and gochujang (these items can be found in the Asian or international foods aisle at most grocery stores, or ordered on Amazon.)
I whipped up these incredible Asian ground turkey and rice bowls, and start to finish, they took only 15 minutes!!!
I had the quick Asian pickled vegetables in the fridge. You could use unpickled, regular raw vegetables, or you could whip up a batch of quick Asian pickled vegetables to have on hand. The longer the vegetables marinate, the more heat they develop. I had ones that I had in the fridge for 2 weeks, and they had this great heat to them!
These Asian ground turkey and rice bowls are so flavorful, and make the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner! I’d love to know -what is your favorite meal or dish to make when you’re short on time?
In a large nonstick pan over high heat cook sesame oil and garlic cloves for 30 seconds, then add in the ground turkey and sprinkle with salt. Break up the turkey as it cooks for 5 minutes, then when there's only a little bit of pink showing still, add in the fresh ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili paste and continue cooking, stirring and breaking up the turkey as it cooks, for another 4-5 minutes. Then turn off the heat. Cook rice according to package instructions and set aside. Chop cilantro and get your vegetables ready (drain the liquid from the pickled vegetables or chop the raw vegetables. If making the sauce to go over the finished dish, stir the ingredients together and set aside. To assemble: divide rice between 4 bowls, top each bowl with 1/4 of the turkey, add pickled veggies and top with a pinch of cilantro and enjoyAsian Ground Turkey and Rice Bowls Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 691 Total Fat: 19g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 12g Cholesterol: 148mg Sodium: 3115mg Carbohydrates: 80g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 15g Protein: 49g
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hey girl- this looks so delish!
Thank you so much! I love how quick and easy this recipe is 🙂
This is a great dish, but it was a bit too salty for my taste buds. I think next time I’ll put less soy sauce.
Glad you liked it, sorry to hear it was a little salty for your taste. Do you typically like dishes less salty? I would recommend low sodium soy sauce in that case 🙂
I just made the dish and concur with the saltiness. I added a bag of veggies and cauliflower rice to hopefully make the dish less salty. Next time leave out the salting the ground turkey. I used a low sodium soy sauce. I would cut back to maybe 2 tbsp of soy sauce next. Really fast and flavorful nonetheless.
Thank you for the feedback, I am so surprised by the saltiness comment though, when I tried making it yesterday without the salt to test it again, both my husband and I said it lacked the flavor from salt and ended up adding salt at the end! I guess it is just taste preferences.
Fantastic recipe! We are definitely making this, only replacing the chili with some paprika for reasons you know;) Thanx so much for sharing this sweetie, it’s perfect for the busy days that are ahead!
xoxoxo
I’m not sure I really have a favorite recipe to make when I am short on time. I am still in college and when I do have time, I meal prep so I can be prepared for the times I am busy. Usually the quick meal for me though is grilled chicken with cajun seasoning and brown rice, with any type of veggie I can steam with it. Super plain, but budget and time don’t afford me lots of ideas as it is. I am always looking to find new ones though, and your five ingredient series really helps students like me out, so thank you!
I can definitely relate Jordan, that’s exactly what I made when I was a student! Thank you so much for your kind words about my five ingredient series, truly appreciate it 🙂
When I am short on time, I will often make Naan bread pizzas with lots of different topping combinations depending on what is in the fridge. If I have the ingredients I will make a variation of a salad to go with the pizza.
That’s an awesome idea for a quick meal! I love making different topping combinations too 🙂
When I am short on time, I make a mixed green salad with cooked cold quinoa (I make extra to have some cold) and add veggies – whatever is on hand. Very little clean up, too!
That sounds genius for having a little extra quinoa on hand, I’m going to have to do that! Thank you for your commenting.
This sounds super easy & so yummy. Can’t wait to make up a batch of Asian pickled veggies to keep on hand. As far as a go-to fast meal I take a box of stuffing mix add a little butter and enough hot water to get the stuffing moist. Spread it in a 13×9 baking dish then take a couple boneless chicken breasts and place along side the stuffing. Sprinkle with paprika. Mix a can cream of celery soup, can cream of mushroom soup and a 1/4 cup milk together and pour over the chicken and stuffing. Sprinkle with parsley. Cover and bake 15 minutes at 350. Uncover and cook for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is done. Heat some green beans or peas and you have a complete meal in about 35-40 minutes.
Your stuffing chicken dish sounds super delicious! My husband loves stuffing and chicken casserole type dishes, so I’m definitely going to have to try this!
Pre cooked chicken sausage and veggies is my quick dinner go to!
Amen to that, such a great quick meal!
When I am short on time, I make Swiss cheese chicken, cream of celery soup with veggies. It is fast and taste delicous!
That sounds super good, I’ll have to try that!
I always keep frozen salmon and veggies on hand. On nights when i want a quick but healthy meal, I thaw the salmon, put some jasmine rice in the rice cooker, and then sear the salmon with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. While those are cooking I’ll microwave the veggies with salt, pepper and butter (often frozen broccoli) or maybe some teriyaki sauce if I have an asian mix on hand. Voila! Seared salmon (maybe a little teriyaki or chili sauce on top) with fragrant rice and seasoned veggies. Healthy, satisfying, and ready in ~30 minutes.
This sounds absolutely fabulous, perfect for a quick meal in under 30 minutes!
Most of our meals are planned… but, when we are short on time we’ll pan fry some frozen pre-cooked meatballs with onions and garlic, then make up an alfredo of sorts with butter, cream and whatever cheese we have on hand, let it simmer to fully thaw the meatballs and infuse some of the flavor, and then add in noodles.
That sounds so delicious!!! I just made meatballs and spaghetti last night, it’s just such a great classic delicious meal!
I made this last night and it was fabulous! So quick and easy. I did use red pepper flakes instead of chili paste because I didn’t have any. My kids will eat it next time and I will just add the heat after i’ve dished their plates.
That’s so awesome to hear, so glad you liked it, and that sounds awesome for the kiddos!
Recipe is quick and easy, we had a extra turkey from tg that needed to be thawed and cooked so my husband smoked the dark me at and I got creative w the breast and found your great recipe. Next time I’ll double the sauce. I added sesame seeds. I’m looking forward to cooking w more ground turkey, it’s much healthier
Thank you so much for your feedback, so glad you loved this recipe, I love ground turkey too 🙂
Just made this and it turned out great! Didn’t have the picked veggies but used some fresh carrot, coriander, green onion and kimchi. Basically, whatever we had in the fridge. No need for the sauce as the turkey is already tasty enough. Thanks for the great recipe!
So happy to hear you liked this Jenn, thank you so much for coming back and commenting, really appreciate it! This is one meal I make all the time because it is so versatile. Love that you added green onion and kimchi!
Thank you for this. It is delicious and so easy to make! My kids and hubby loved it and I will definitely add to my repertoire of meals. We ate as lettuce wraps and rice on the side.
I’m so happy to hear that, thank you so much for commenting! I love how you made it into lettuce wraps and had rice on the side!
The recipe was delicious and easy. Family loved it and it was quick, I added some veggies and it was all good.
I’m so glad to hear you liked this, it’s one of our faves!!
I needed a new simple quick recipe to add to my list. I made this recipe tonight and it turned out so well. I used green been for veg and some of my homemade pickled carrots. It all went very well together. Thanks for posting this!
You’re so welcome, thank you so much for coming and leaving feedback!!
I’m always looking for new turkey recipes and this one was a hit with my family!