If your love for rice bowls runs deep.
If it were socially acceptable to eat a rice bowl at every meal, I would do it in a heartbeat. And this Greek ground turkey version would be at the top of the list!
This recipe initially came about when I saw a half-eaten carton of tzatziki in the fridge and immediately started craving our favorite Mediterranean food truck.
Cooking ground turkey with my go-to homemade Greek seasoning gave it the BEST flavor. Fresh tomatoes and cucumbers tossed in lemon juice and good quality EVOO (a must!) added that fresh bite. Everything was loaded into a bowl with Greek Lemon Rice as the base, tons of tzatziki and homemade hummus.
You guys… it truly is everything you’d get from a food truck and more!
Plus, keeping the components separated makes it perfect for meal prep and picky eaters since everyone can choose their favorite toppings.
The ONE thing that will make it a Winner
You must, I repeat MUST, make the Greek seasoning from scratch. Pre-making seasoning mixes (you’ve gotta’ check out this taco seasoning, blackened seasoning, and chili seasoning next!) is my secret for quickly cooking flavor-packed meals at home with almost ZERO extra effort!
Ingredients and Substitutions
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.
- Ground Turkey. I prefer 85/15 for more flavor, but 90/10 or 93/7 works too. Ground beef, chicken, or lamb can also be substituted.
- Greek seasoning. Making this from scratch is a MUST! It may seem like a lot of ingredients, but if you have common dried herbs and spices, you’re all set.
- Tomatoes. Cherry or grape tomatoes are best for more flavor.
- Cucumbers. Mini cocktail cucumbers or seedless English cucumbers work great.
- Olive Oil. This gives the vegetables a lot of flavor, so opt for a high-quality one with a good taste.
- Red Wine Vinegar. Don’t substitute this with any other vinegar; it gives the dish a distinctive Mediterranean flair.
- Fresh Herbs. A mix of fresh dill and parsley adds a light, bright flavor to the rice.
- Lemon. Fresh lemons are best for flavor. Bottled lemon juice can be very bitter.
- Rice. Basmati rice was used in testing, but long-grain white rice can be substituted if necessary. You’ll need to adjust the amount of liquid you add if you choose to use brown rice.
- Feta Cheese. This may seem optional, but it adds a lovely salty bite to the bowl.
- Tzatziki Sauce and Hummus. Both can be easily bought at the store or made from scratch for extra flavor. (Try my super simple homemade tzatziki, classic hummus or this delicious roasted red pepper hummus for a unique spin!)
How to Make Greek Ground Turkey Rice Bowls
Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
Cook the basmati rice.
Toast rice in a pot with a bit of oil for 1 minute. Add broth and salt, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 16-18 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs.
Cook ground turkey with Greek seasoning.
Cook ground turkey in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Sprinkle with Greek seasoning and add another tablespoon of olive oil. Stir well and cook for 3-4 more minutes, until the turkey is cooked through.
Mix up the Cucumber Tomato Salad.
Toss together the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, and Greek seasoning. (Remember, a good quality EVOO is best as it gives this dish a ton of it’s flavor!)
Serve ’em up and dig in!
When you’re ready to dig in, add some cooked rice to a bowl along with the ground turkey and tomato cucumber salad. Top with crumbled feta cheese, olives, Tzatziki sauce, hummus, and some fresh parsley and dill.
FAQs
For the best results, keep the ground turkey mixture, rice, and cucumber-tomato salad separate for storage. Everything should keep for up to 3 to 4 days in airtight containers in the fridge.
Absolutely! In fact, ground lamb would taste more like an authentic Greek gyro, while ground chicken is a great, lighter option. Ground beef will work, but might be a bit heavy compared to the other lighter components in the bowl.
What to Serve with these Bowls
When you’re ready to dig in, don’t miss out on these sides to round out dinner:
As mentioned, you can’t go wrong with Classic Hummus or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. Or, switch it up with a side of homemade Baba Ganoush!
Add some extra veggies with Steamed Broccoli or Herb Roasted Carrots.
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Greek Ground Turkey Rice Bowls
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Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ¾ teaspoon salt divided
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice divided, from 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill plus more for serving
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons Greek seasoning
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 3 cocktail cucumbers thinly sliced
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey optional
For Serving
- 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 4 ounces pitted kalamata olives
- Tzatziki sauce store-bought or homemade
- Hummus store-bought or homemade
Instructions
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a medium pot over medium heat along with the basmati rice. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, or until evenly coated with oil. Pour in the broth and ½ teaspoon salt, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Once the mixture begins to boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 16-18 minutes, or until the rice is tender and fluffy. Turn off the heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon each of chopped parsley and dill. Mix until just combined.1 cup basmati rice, 1 ½ cups chicken broth, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- While the rice is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking apart, for 3-4 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning, another 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine and cook for 3-4 more minutes, or until the turkey is no longer pink.1 pound ground turkey
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, red wine vinegar, the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, honey, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 2 teaspoons Greek seasoning. Toss until well mixed.1 pint cherry tomatoes, 3 cocktail cucumbers, ½ cup thinly sliced red onion, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey
- Serve ground turkey over cooked rice with the tomato cucumber salad, crumbled feta cheese, olives, tzatziki sauce, hummus, and a sprinkle of additional fresh parsley and dill.4 ounces crumbled feta cheese, 4 ounces pitted kalamata olives, Tzatziki sauce, Hummus
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Notes
- Greek Seasoning. Making your own from scratch will give the dish the most flavor. This mix is what I used when testing the recipe. If you substitute with other spice blends, you will need to adjust to your taste preference.
- EVOO. use a high-quality oil for the best flavor.
- Nutrition. Information is calculated without olives, tzatziki sauce, or hummus.
- Storage. You can store the ground turkey-rice mixture together and keep the cucumber-tomato salad separate in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Mediterranean Recipes
Greek food is SO delicious, and perfect any night of the week.
It’s packed with so much flavor and perfect for meal prepping!