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Honey Garlic Ground Turkey

Honey garlic ground turkey cooked into glossy, caramelized crumbles and coated in a thick honey garlic soy sauce. Serve it over white rice with sesame seeds and green onion for an easy weeknight dinner that tastes sticky-sweet and savory.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Honey garlic turkey
  • 1.5 lb lean ground turkey Use 93% lean or leaner for a healthier turkey dinner.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil For browning and caramelizing the crumbles.
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced Minced fresh for best flavor.
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated Grated fresh for a bright, aromatic heat.
Honey garlic sauce
  • 0.25 cup honey Sweet base for the sticky glaze.
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce Adds savory umami to balance the honey.
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar Tart lift to keep the sauce from tasting too sweet.
  • 1 tsp sesame oil Toasted aroma for an Asian-inspired profile.
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes Adjust to taste for heat.
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch Thickens the sauce into a glossy coat.
  • 2 tbsp water Mixed with cornstarch to make a slurry.
To serve
  • Sesame seeds Sprinkle on top right before serving.
  • green onions Slice and garnish for fresh crunch.
  • cooked rice Serve as a rice bowl base (white rice as written).

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook the turkey
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles.
  2. Add the garlic and grated ginger and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir constantly so the aromatics don’t burn.
Make and thicken the sauce
  1. Whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. Pour the mixture over the turkey and stir to coat.
  2. Stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) and cook for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the turkey. Keep the heat at medium-high for a glossy finish.
Serve
  1. Spoon the honey garlic turkey over cooked rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions right before eating.

Notes

Pro tip: mince the garlic finely and grate the ginger to distribute flavor through the crumbles. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet with a splash of water until saucy. Freeze yes—freeze turkey and sauce for up to 2 months, then thaw and rewarm. For a lighter option, use 99% lean ground turkey and reduce soy sauce slightly to control sodium.