Ground Turkey Banh Mi Bowl

What Makes This Bowl a Must-Make

I’m all about that meal bowl life and this banh mi bowl is a good one!

• A complete meal. You get carbs, protein, and veggies, all in one convenient bowl. (You also get spicy mayo, which may be worthy of its own food group.)
• Customizable ingredients. One of the best things about meal bowls is that they’re easy to customize to your tastes and diet. Make it lower carb with cauliflower rice, add more protein by swapping in quinoa, etc.
• Great for meal prep This banh mi bowl is perfect for meal prep because each element keeps well in the fridge and you can put it all together for an easy lunch or dinner.

What You’ll Need

Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll need to make these banh mi bowls. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

Ground Turkey:

• Ground turkey – For lean protein to make your bowls satisfying.
• Sesame oil – Adds a rich, nutty flavor to the recipe. 
• Tamari – A gluten-free alternative to soy sauce; you can swap in low-sodium soy sauce if you’re fine with gluten. 
• Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce for a glossy finish and stickiness that clings to the meat.
• Garlic and ginger – Adds depth, aroma, and a little bit of warmth.
• Green onion – For a fresh, mild onion flavor. 
• Cilantro – Adds brightness and a fresh herbal note. 

Pickled Carrots:

• Carrots – You can adjust the texture by changing how finely the carrot is grated. For more crunch, cut it into thick matchsticks.
• Rice wine vinegar – For a bright, tangy flavor.
• Sugar – To balance the acidity.  
• Salt – Sea salt or kosher salt are great options.

Spicy Mayo:

• Mayo – Adds creaminess to the sauce. For more richness, use Japanese mayo.
• Sriracha – Feel free to adjust the amount to your tastes.

Bowl:

• Rice – I use cooked brown or jasmine rice. You can shave off some prep time by using a microwavable pouch of rice.
• Cucumber and avocado – Sliced cucumber adds a refreshing crunch, while avocado adds some richness and a creamy texture.
• Cilantro or jalapeño – Optional, for garnish.

How to Make a Banh Mi Bowl With Ground Turkey

Here’s how easy it is to make these banh mi bowls:

• Make the pickled carrots. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, and salt, then pour the mixture into a bowl with the carrots. Toss to coat and marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Mix the spicy mayo. Stir together the mayo and sriracha in a small bowl.
• Make the sauce. Whisk the tamari, cornstarch, ginger, and garlic in another bowl.

• Cook the turkey. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the sesame oil and ground turkey. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the turkey with a wooden spoon, then stir in the green onion, cilantro, and sauce.
• Assemble. Divide the rice, turkey, pickled carrots, and fresh veggies into bowls and drizzle with mayo.

Variations

Here are some variation ideas to customize this recipe and make these banh mi bowls your own.

• Swap out the ground turkey. You can use any ground meat in this recipe, including as ground chicken, beef, pork, or even plant-based ground meat.
• Add more veggies. Feel free to add in more vegetables to play with the colors and textures in these bowls. Radishes and snap peas add more fresh crunch, or swap the rice for romaine to make a salad bowl.
• Play with toppings. Customize your bowls by adding different toppings like crushed peanuts, roasted cashews, chili crisp, or a squeeze of lime juice.

Meal Prep Ideas

If you’re making this banh mi bowl recipe for meal prep, here’s how I’d do it:

• Prep the cold ingredients. Make the pickled carrots and mayo, take the cilantro off the stems, slice the cucumbers and jalapeño. I recommend leaving out the avocado for meal prep or adding it just before serving.
• Prep the hot ingredients. Cook the rice and ground turkey.
• Store separately. I put the rice and ground turkey in one container and the toppings in another container. They’ll keep for 3 to 4 days.
• Put it together. When I’m ready to eat, I warm the rice and turkey together in the microwave, then add the toppings.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate leftover banh mi bowls for up to 4 days. I recommend removing the carrots, cucumber, and other fresh ingredients before warming the rice and turkey in the microwave or storing the fresh elements separately.

More Meal Bowl Recipes

• Blackened Shrimp Bowls
• Taco Salad Bowl
• High Protein Burger Bowls
• 20-Minute Eggroll in a Bowl