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Honey garlic ground turkey bowl with jasmine rice green onions and sesame seeds easy high protein dinner recipe

Honey Garlic Ground Turkey Recipe

A sticky, sweet-savory honey garlic ground turkey skillet ready in just 25 minutes. Perfect served over jasmine rice, in lettuce wraps, or prepped ahead for the week.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Calories: 285
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the turkey

  • 1 lb ground turkey 93/7 lean preferred — 99% lean can dry out
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil avocado or canola — not olive oil
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced fresh
  • salt and black pepper to taste

For the honey garlic sauce

  • ¼ cup honey raw or regular both work
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce use tamari for gluten-free
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar do not skip — balances the sweetness
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil adds nutty depth
  • ¼ tbsp red pepper flakes optional — adds a gentle heat
  • ¼ tbsp cornstarch optional — mix with 1 tbsp cold water for thicker glaze

To serve

  • steamed jasmine or brown rice or butter lettuce cups for low-carb
  • green onions sliced, for garnish
  • sesame seeds for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet or cast iron pan
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Wooden spatula

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high until shimmering before adding the turkey.
  2. Add turkey in a single layer. Let it brown 2–3 min undisturbed, then break apart.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add minced garlic and stir for 60 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Whisk honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil together in a small bowl.
  5. Pour sauce over turkey. Simmer 3–5 min until glossy. Add cornstarch slurry if needed.
  6. Stir in green onions. Serve over rice or in lettuce cups. Garnish with sesame seeds.

Notes

Tip 1 — Don't crowd the pan: if doubling the recipe, cook the turkey in two batches. Too much meat at once traps steam and prevents browning.
Tip 2 — The vinegar is essential: it cuts the sweetness of the honey and lifts the entire sauce. Do not skip it.
Tip 3 — Use low-sodium soy sauce: regular soy sauce becomes very salty after reducing. If that's all you have, reduce to 3 tablespoons.
Substitutions: swap honey for maple syrup or agave, soy sauce for tamari (gluten-free), rice vinegar for a squeeze of lime, or ground turkey for ground chicken.
Storage: refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pan with 1–2 tbsp of water. Freeze for up to 2 months.