Sweet and Sour Turkey Rice Skillet (Printable)

Korean-spiced turkey with pineapple and peppers over rice in one pan.

# What You Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Vegetables & Fruit

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
04 - 1 green bell pepper, chopped
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or canned and drained
07 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Rice & Pantry

08 - 2 cups cooked jasmine or long-grain rice, preferably day-old
09 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
10 - 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon gochujang
12 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
13 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
14 - 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
15 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil

→ Garnish

16 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, optional

# Directions:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
02 - Add diced onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables reach tender-crisp consistency.
03 - Stir in pineapple chunks and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to warm through and release juices.
04 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, gochujang, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and sesame oil until well combined.
05 - Pour prepared sauce into the skillet and stir thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Fold cooked rice into the skillet, breaking apart any clumps. Stir-fry all components together for 2 to 3 minutes until flavors meld and rice heats completely.
07 - Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning with additional soy sauce or gochujang as desired.
08 - Remove from heat. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if using. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in under 45 minutes and cooked entirely in one pan, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your food.
  • The balance of sweet pineapple, savory soy, and spicy gochujang creates a flavor profile that keeps you coming back for another bite.
  • Leftover rice becomes the hero instead of a afterthought, and ground turkey stays lean and flavorful when cooked this way.
02 -
  • Using day-old rice is non-negotiable, because freshly cooked rice will turn gluey and stick together no matter how much oil you use.
  • Gochujang can vary wildly between brands in terms of heat level and saltiness, so start with the amount listed and adjust to your preference.
03 -
  • A wok gives you more control and even heating than a skillet, but a large nonstick skillet works perfectly fine if that's what you have.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for 30 seconds before sprinkling them on top, which deepens their nutty flavor and makes them sing.
Return