Korean-Style Ground Turkey (Print Version)

Quick, flavorful ground turkey with Korean-inspired spicy-sweet glaze, fresh aromatics, and nutty sesame finish. Perfect weeknight dinner.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Sauce

01 - 1/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium preferred
02 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
03 - 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
04 - 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

→ Turkey Base

05 - 2 tablespoons sesame oil
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 15 ounces ground turkey

→ Garnish and Finish

09 - 6 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
10 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

→ Serving Accompaniments

11 - Steamed white or brown rice
12 - Steamed or sautéed vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, or carrots

# How-To:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, and red chili flakes until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add sesame oil. Once hot, add minced garlic and grated ginger, stir-frying for approximately 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook while breaking it up with a spatula until no longer pink and fully cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Pour the prepared soy sauce mixture into the skillet with the cooked turkey. Stir thoroughly to coat evenly. Cook on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and develop a glossy finish. If sauce becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon water.
05 - Stir in the chopped chives, reserving some for garnish. Remove from heat.
06 - Transfer to serving dishes. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and reserved chives. Serve immediately over steamed rice with your selection of vegetables.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than most delivery apps and tastes like you spent an hour in the kitchen.
  • The sauce clings to every bit of turkey with a glossy, spicy-sweet coating that makes plain rice suddenly irresistible.
  • Cleanup is mercifully simple, just one skillet and a small bowl, which matters more than anyone admits on a weeknight.
  • It reheats beautifully, so leftovers actually feel like a gift to your future self.
02 -
  • Don't skip dissolving the cornstarch fully in the sauce, lumps are impossible to fix once they hit the hot pan.
  • Ground turkey can dry out fast, so resist the urge to overcook it; pull it off heat as soon as the sauce thickens.
  • If your skillet isn't hot enough, the sauce will pool instead of cling, so give it a proper preheat.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes, it takes almost no time and the flavor difference is noticeable.
  • If you want deeper color and flavor, let the turkey brown undisturbed for a minute before stirring, those crispy bits add complexity.
  • Taste the sauce before adding it to the pan and adjust the sugar or chili flakes to your preference, it's easier to fix now than later.
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