Orange Sesame Ground Turkey Bowls

Sweet & Savory Orange Sesame Ground Turkey Bowls

If you loved my Orange Ginger Salmon Bowls or Orange Chicken Meal Prep Bowls, I know you’re going to love these orange sesame ground turkey bowls, too! I’ve always loved sweet and savory orange flavors, but I wanted to find a way to use them in something totally new.

So, I started playing around with different combinations, and oh my goodness, these bowls came together SO well! The slaw might be my favorite part because it adds such a fresh, crunchy element that balances out the sweetness of the sauce. Honesly, though, every component is incredible. The ingredients might be an unexpected combination, but trust me, they work!

You’ll Also Love: Healthy Ground Turkey Taco Salad

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Minimal Equipment – Whisk the sauce and combine the slaw in separate bowls. Then, all you need is a large skillet. 
• Quick & Easy – With very little prep time and a quick cooking time, these bowls only take about 30 minutes to prepare. They’re a true weeknight winner! 
• Meal Prep-Friendly – Leftovers stay fresh for days and reheat super well for a meal prep option I actually look forward to eating. 
• Healthy & High-Protein – Ground turkey, colorful veggies, brown rice, and avocado create a well-rounded meal with 49 grams of protein. Thanks to the orange sauce, my littles even eat the veggies! 

Need help with meal planning and getting healthy meals on the table quickly? Join my FREE 7-Day Meal Planning Secrets course to learn how to confidently put a weekly meal plan together in 10 minutes or less!

Watch How to Make Orange Sesame Ground Turkey Bowls

Ingredients

Orange Sesame Sauce

• Fresh Orange – I use both orange juice and orange zest to give the sauce a bright, punchy flavor with just enough sweetness. Feel free to add more orange juice if you prefer a stronger citrus taste! 
• Honey – This sweetens the sauce and creates a sticky base so that it clings to the meat and veggies. Agave or maple syrup also work, but your sauce will likely be a little thinner. 
• Garlic – Save time by using pre-minced garlic from the grocery store. 
• Toasted Sesame Oil – A little goes a long way to add a subtle nuttiness to the sauce. 
• Tomato Paste – This adds a touch of acidity and depth and helps thicken the sauce. 
• Tamari – Adds savory, salty, umami notes that balance the sweetness nicely. Soy sauce works well, too.
• Salt, Pepper, Ground Ginger 
• Toasted Sesame Seeds – See my notes below on how to make toasted sesame seeds! 
• Cornstarch – This helps thicken the sauce. 

Turkey & Veggies

• Avocado Oil
• Ground Turkey – I prefer lean ground turkey, but any ground turkey you like will work.
• Salt
• Fresh Veggies – Broccoli, red bell pepper, and chopped red cabbage. 

Radish Slaw

• Red Radishes – Thinly sliced, these form the base of the slaw. 
• White Vinegar – This adds a bright tartness that balances the sweetness. 
• Olive Oil – I recommend using extra-virgin olive oil rather than avocado oil because its fruity, slightly peppery flavor to the slaw.
• Honey – Maple syrup or agave also work. 
• Salt/Pepper

Bowls

• Rice – I usually use Instant Pot brown rice or microwave rice pouches. Jasmine rice tastes great, too. 
• Garnishes – Avocado, orange slices, scallions, toasted sesame seeds

How to Make Orange Sesame Ground Turkey Bowls

These bowls come together quickly. So, I always make sure to gather all my ingredients before I begin. You’ll need two mixing bowls and a large skillet. Here’s how to make Orange Sesame Ground Turkey Bowls: 

1. Prepare the sauce – Whisk the orange sauce ingredients in a bowl, and set the mixture aside. 
2. Cook the turkey – Next, add the ground turkey and salt to a large, oiled skillet over medium heat. Cook, breaking the turkey into pieces, until it’s mostly cooked through. Make sure to stir often to promote even cooking! 
3. Add the veggies – Stir in the broccoli, peppers, and cabbage, and cook until the veggies begin to soften. 
4. Add the sauce – Give the sauce a quick whisk to redistribute the ingredients. Then, pour it over the turkey and veggies, and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens. 
5. Make the slaw – Combine all the radish slaw ingredients in a bowl, tossing to coat everything evenly. 
6. Assemble the bowls – Divide warm cooked rice among bowls. Then, add the turkey and veggie mixture, radish slaw, avocado, orange slices, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. Spoon any remaining sauce from the skillet on top, and enjoy!

How to Toast Sesame Seeds

It takes a few extra minutes to toast the sesame seeds for the bowls, but it’s so worth it, if you ask me! Here’s how: 

1. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. 
2. Add the sesame seeds. There’s no need to grease the skillet! 
3. Cook, stirring often, until the seeds are lightly golden and fragrant. Sesame seeds go from perfectly toasted to burnt really quickly, so be sure to keep a close eye on them! 
4. Turn off the heat, and transfer the seeds to a plate to cool. 

Tips

• Don’t overcook the veggies. Cook just until the veggies are tender-crisp so they keep some crunch and don’t become mushy once the sauce is added.
• Use fresh orange juice. Since orange is one of the main flavors, freshly squeezed juice makes such a difference! 
• Adjust the sauce consistency. Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes to thicken and coat the turkey and veggies. If it gets too thick, add a splash of water to loosen it up.
• Save any extra sauce! There should be some sauce left in the bottom of the skillet. Spoon it over the assembled bowls for even more orange sesame flavor.

RELATED: Turkey Taco Bowl Recipe

Variations

Use different veggies. Broccoli, bell pepper, and cabbage are my go-to combination, but snap peas, carrots, zucchini, edamame, or green beans would all be delicious.

Change the grain. Use jasmine or white rice instead of brown rice, or try quinoa for something different.

Make salad bowls. Swap the rice for fresh greens for a flavorful salad if you want a lighter option. 

Make it spicy. Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha to the orange sesame sauce for a little heat.

Skip the slaw. Not a fan of radishes? Leave off the slaw or replace it with a different slaw, like the cabbage slaw I use on my Carne Asada Sweet Potato Bowls. 

Make gluten-free orange sesame ground turkey bowls. Use tamari instead of soy sauce and double-check the labels on your remaining sauce ingredients to make sure they’re certified gluten-free.

How to Store

Store: Let everything cool completely, then transfer the turkey and veggies, rice, and radish slaw to separate airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat: Warm the turkey, veggies, and rice in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. Add the radish slaw, avocado, orange, scallions, and sesame seeds after reheating.

Freeze: The cooked turkey and veggie mixture and rice can be frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend leaving out the slaw, avocado, fresh orange, and garnishes and adding those fresh when serving.

Healthy Meal Prep Bowl Recipes

• Carnitas Bowl
• Steak Couscous Bowls
• Miso Glazed Salmon Bowls
• Asian Tofu Rice Bowls
• Teriyaki Chicken Pineapple Bowls
• Chicken Shawarma Grain Bowls

More Easy Turkey Recipes

• Easy Turkey Casserole
• Turkey Sage Meatballs
• Healthy Turkey Swedish Meatballs
• Paleo Turkey Meatballs Meal Prep Bowls
• Buffalo Ranch Turkey Crispy Rice Salad
• Phyllo Topped Ground Turkey Casserole