Golden Turmeric Rice Bake with Ground Turkey, Fajita Peppers and Lime Crema

This golden turmeric rice bake brings together layers of savory ground turkey, colorful fajita peppers, creamy refried black beans and melted cheese for a comforting and satisfying meal. The turmeric-infused rice adds a warm, earthy flavor and a beautiful golden hue, while the tangy lime crema and fresh scallions provide a bright finish.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish comes together in under an hour and can easily be doubled for leftovers. Serve it family-style with crunchy tortilla chips on the side for added texture. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to become a regular in your dinner rotation.

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Ingredients

1 unit Green Bell PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

20 ounce Ground TurkeyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

16 ounce Refried Black BeansView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 cup White RiceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 ounce Blue Corn Tortilla ChipsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon TurmericView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Fajita Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Beef Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Garlic PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 cup Mexican Cheese BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon (tbsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add turmeric and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add rice, 2 1/4 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to use.
2. While rice cooks, prepare the vegetables: trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites and greens. Halve, peel and thinly slice the onion. Halve, core and slice the bell pepper into strips. Zest and quarter the lime. Place refried beans in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and microwave until warmed through, 1-2 minutes. Keep covered.
3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add scallion whites and ground turkey. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned, 2-3 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed. Add garlic powder, half the fajita spice blend, beef stock concentrates and pepper. Cook until turkey is cooked through, 2-3 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl and wipe out the pan.
4. In the same pan, heat a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, remaining fajita spice blend, 1 teaspoon sugar, salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup water. Cook until butter melts and water mostly evaporates, 2-3 minutes. Stir in juice from half the lime and remove from heat.
5. Preheat broiler to high. In an 8×8-inch baking dish, layer the refried beans, bell pepper mixture, cooked rice, half the cheese and the turkey mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese evenly on top. Broil on top rack until cheese is melted and browned, 3-5 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine sour cream, a pinch of lime zest and juice from the remaining lime. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the bake from the oven, top with lime crema and scallion greens. Serve family style with tortilla chips on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey?

Yes, ground beef works well in this recipe. Simply substitute an equal amount of ground beef for the turkey and follow the same cooking instructions.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Absolutely! Assemble the casserole (without broiling) up to a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, broil as directed, adding a few extra minutes if needed.

What can I use instead of refried black beans?

You can substitute with regular canned black beans (drained and rinsed) or pinto beans. Mash them slightly with a fork to mimic the refried texture.