Ground turkey sloppy joes in a homemade sauce that’s great for weeknights. A low fat, healthier version with a ton of flavor and ready in no time.
Is there anything better than a classic sloppy joe sandwich? Imagine savoring a mouthwatering, tangy, and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce paired with tender ground turkey, all piled high on a soft, fluffy bun. It’s a crowd-pleasing recipe that the whole family will love!
I’ll show you how to make the best ground turkey sloppy joes. Not only is ground turkey a healthier alternative to ground beef, but it also adds a unique flavor to the dish. You’ll be surprised at how delicious and satisfying these turkey sloppy joes can be!
The are step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, you’ll learn how to create a perfectly balanced sauce that’s packed with flavor. Whether you’re cooking for picky eaters or trying to incorporate more lean protein into your diet, this family-friendly recipe is a winner.
How To Make Turkey Sloppy Joes
Ingredients needed for the recipe
- Ground turkey
- Tomato paste
- Tomato sauce
- Brown sugar
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Green bell pepper
- Onion
- Molasses
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt & black pepper
- Hamburger buns
Variations for the recipe
- Turkey sloppy joes are very versatile. You can add many ingredients into the mix to add sneak in more veggies or just to amp up the flavor. In the photos, I used corn because it added a natural sweetness that everyone enjoyed.
- Using bbq sauce, a simple trick if you do not have molasses on hand is to swap it out with your favorite barbecue sauce. This is very popular to do and a trick used in baked beans that make a perfect side dish to your sloppy joes.
- This is also a recipe that can be cooked in your slow cooker or crockpot. You’ll need to cook the ground turkey on the stove top but add all the ingredients in a crockpot and allow it to slow cook until all the flavors come together.
Making the sloppy joes using ground turkey
- First, before starting you want to prepare and cut up all the ingredients.
- Now, in a pot brown the ground turkey then remove once everything is cooked. Be sure to season the turkey lightly with salt and pepper.
- Next, add in the diced onion and green bell pepper. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Once the onion and green bell have softened add in the tomato paste and cook with the sautéed veggies for about 30 seconds.
- Then, add the cooked ground beef back in and pour in the tomato sauce. Lower the heat to medium to avoid slashing as the sauce heats up.
- Next, add in the brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and molasses. Cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes on a medium low heat to allow the flavors to come together.
- Lastly, taste for seasoning before serving. Serve with a classic buttered hamburger bun.
Other family recipes using turkey you’ll love
- Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
- Smothered Turkey Wings
- Crockpot Turkey Wings
- Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
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Turkey Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 3 ounce tomato paste
- 15 ounce can of tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup molasses (sub with barbecue sauce)
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, before starting you want to prepare and cut up all the ingredients.
- Now, in a pot brown the ground turkey then remove once everything is cooked. Be sure to season the turkey lightly with salt and pepper.
- Next, add in the diced onion and green bell pepper. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Once the onion and green bell have softened add in the tomato paste and cook with the sautéed veggies for about 30 seconds.
- Then, add the cooked ground beef back in and pour in the tomato sauce. Lower the heat to medium to avoid slashing as the sauce heats up.
- Next, add in the brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and molasses. Cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes on a medium low heat to allow the flavors to come together.
- Lastly, taste for seasoning before serving. Serve with a classic buttered hamburger bun.