Creamy Korean Turkey Rice Skillet (Print version)

Ground turkey simmered in gochujang sauce with rice, vegetables, and creamy topped with soft-boiled eggs for an easy weeknight dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 pound ground turkey

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
06 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped

→ Sauce

07 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
12 - 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
13 - 1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut cream

→ Rice & Toppings

14 - 3 cups cooked white rice, preferably day-old
15 - 4 large eggs
16 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
17 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Optional

18 - Kimchi for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sesame oil, then sauté onion, garlic, and ginger for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
02 - Add ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Stir in carrots and cook for another 2 minutes.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together gochujang, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and broth. Pour sauce into skillet and stir to coat meat and vegetables.
05 - Reduce heat to low; add spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and cooked rice until everything is well combined and creamy. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to heat through.
07 - Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Gently add eggs and simmer for 7 minutes for jammy yolks. Transfer eggs to ice water, peel, and halve.
08 - Serve skillet mixture in bowls, topped with halved jammy eggs, green onions, and sesame seeds. Add kimchi on the side if desired.

# Tips from the pros:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one skillet, which means your cleanup is almost as painless as your dinner prep.
  • The sauce strikes that perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and savory without ever tipping into overkill.
  • Those jammy eggs on top aren't just pretty—they're the creamy element that transforms rice and turkey into something restaurant-worthy.
02 -
  • Day-old rice is non-negotiable—I learned this the hard way when I tried using fresh rice and ended up with a mushy mess instead of distinct grains swimming in sauce.
  • The jammy egg timing is exact because 6 minutes gives you too-runny yolks and 8 minutes gives you hard-boiled disappointment; 7 minutes is the only answer.
  • Resist the urge to skip the ice bath for the eggs—it stops the cooking immediately and gives you that perfect creamy center.
03 -
  • Mince your aromatics small because they cook faster and distribute more evenly, which means every bite has garlic and ginger instead of just some bites.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for thirty seconds right before serving—it makes them taste twice as intense without any extra effort.
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