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Teriyaki Turkey Rice Bowl - Easy, Flavor-Packed Weeknight Dinner

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • Ground turkey: 1 pound (93% lean recommended)
  • Cooked rice: 4 cups (jasmine, sushi rice, or brown rice)
  • Vegetables: 2 cups broccoli florets, 1 red bell pepper (sliced), 2 green onions (sliced), 1 carrot (matchsticks)
  • Garlic and ginger: 3 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
  • Soy sauce: 1/3 cup (low-sodium preferred)
  • Mirin: 3 tablespoons (or use 2 tbsp rice vinegar + 1 tbsp extra brown sugar)
  • Brown sugar: 2–3 tablespoons, to taste
  • Sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
  • Cornstarch: 2 teaspoons (for thickening)
  • Water: 1/2 cup (for the sauce and slurry)
  • Neutral oil: 1 tablespoon (canola, avocado, or grapeseed)
  • Sesame seeds: 1 tablespoon (for garnish)
  • Optional extras: Sriracha or chili flakes, pickled ginger, cucumber slices, edamame

Method
 

  1. Cook the rice: Start your rice according to package directions. Keep it warm and fluffy. Leftover rice works great if you reheat it with a splash of water.
  2. Make the teriyaki sauce: In a bowl, whisk soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, 1/3 cup water, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. In a separate small cup, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to make a slurry. Set both aside.
  3. Prep the veggies: Slice the bell pepper and green onions, and cut broccoli into bite-size florets. Julienne the carrot. Keep everything within reach.
  4. Brown the turkey: Heat neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until no longer pink and lightly browned at the edges, about 5–7 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  5. Stir-fry the vegetables: Push turkey to one side of the pan. Add broccoli and bell pepper to the other side. Stir-fry 2–3 minutes until crisp-tender. If the pan is dry, add a splash of water to steam the broccoli.
  6. Add the sauce: Pour the teriyaki mixture over the turkey and veggies. Stir to coat everything evenly. Let it simmer for 1–2 minutes.
  7. Thicken: Give the cornstarch slurry a quick stir and pour it in. Simmer another 1–2 minutes, stirring, until the sauce turns glossy and clings to the turkey. Taste and adjust sweetness or salt as needed.
  8. Assemble: Spoon warm rice into bowls. Top with teriyaki turkey and vegetables. Finish with green onions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of sriracha if you like heat.