Turkey Sloppy Joes
Need an easy weeknight meal that is loaded with flavor and full of protein? Then make these amazing turkey sloppy joes. They're a bit more lean and healthy than classic sloppy joes, but equally as tasty!
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Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe
There's a reason that sloppy joes are a family favorite! Those savory flavors of that classic ground beef mixture loaded onto hamburger buns, seriously it's just so tasty. But these days, I try to add in some more lean meats, so I figured out how to make the most amazing sloppy joes with ground turkey instead of beef.
This is the perfect recipe to throw together for an easy dinner after a busy day. It's packed full of protein and wowza does it have incredible flavor. Just pair with some sautéed zucchini or roasted root vegetables and you've got a tasty meal ready to go!
Turkey sloppy joes are a healthier twist on the sloppy joes that we all know and love. The sauce ingredients are all pretty much the same, but with turkey being more lean, the meat mixture is far less greasy.
My family are huge fans of this dinner! And if you're anything like me, then more often than not you're going to turn to recipes that you know your family will eat. I promise, this tasty sloppy joe recipe is one of those for sure!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
What's not to love about a healthy sloppy joes recipe. Just simple ingredients and minimal effort to make the most incredible meal for the whole family:
- There is no added sugar to this recipe! So if you're watching your sugar intake, this is the perfect dinner for you.
- It only takes about 20 minutes to make this sloppy joe mixture. The best quick dinner when you're busy.
- Lean ground turkey still has tons of protein. Keep up your protein intake with this easy sloppy joe recipe.
Ingredients
You only need a few basic ingredients to make the best sloppy joes. Everything can be found in any major grocery stores. Here is what you need:
- diced onion
- diced bell peppers
- minced garlic
- ground turkey
- tomato sauce
- tomato paste
- white vinegar
- dijon mustard
- dried parsley
- salt
Substitutions and Variations
I like to use green and orange bell pepper in this recipe but you can use yellow or red if you want. Use yellow or white onion!
While this recipe specifically calls for lean ground turkey meat, you can use lean ground beef or some ground chicken if you prefer.
Don't have dijon mustard? Stone ground mustard and regular mustard will both work.
If you like a little bit of sweetness in your sloppy joes, mix in a bit of brown sugar or coconut sugar.
Add a little kick to the homemade sloppy joe sauce with some chili powder or red pepper.
How to Make Turkey Sloppy Joes
There are so many different versions of sloppy joes, but this one is my favorite. Here's how to make it:
In a large skillet, sauté the diced onion, diced bell pepper, minced garlic for 3 minutes.
Add in ground turkey cook until turkey is browned, breaking it apart as you cook it.
If necessary, drain and remove excess grease from the pan.
Return turkey to pan and add remaining ingredients. Stir. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Serve on a hamburger bun and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Turkey Sloppy Joes
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container or plastic zip top bag. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.
What to Serve with Turkey Sloppy Joes
We love serving sloppy joes on fluffy hamburger buns — it's especially good on a toasted bun. You can also serve it over white rice or brown rice. Pair it with side dishes like potato salad and broccoli ranch slaw.
It's also a great meal to serve alongside mac and cheese and parmesan risotto. The whole family is going to love it, no matter how you serve it. Sloppy joe meat is versatile and pairs well with so many different dishes!
Tips for Success
Check out these simple tips to ensure your sloppy joes are the best that they can be:
- Dice the onion and bell pepper small enough so that there aren't super large chunks in the sloppy joe mixture and they are evenly distributed throughout.
- Feel free to double or triple this recipe and make an extra large batch of sloppy joes. They store well, so it'd be great meal prep.
- Don't place the sloppy joe mixture onto a hamburger bun until just before serving. Otherwise, the bun will get pretty soggy!
FAQ
Ketchup, mayo and mustard are all great condiments to add to the bun before serving sloppy joes. You can also add toppings like red onion, pickles, coleslaw, sliced jalapeño, sliced cheese and chopped cilantro.
Yes, always drain excess beef before adding the rest of the ingredients that make the sloppy joe sauce. Even though ground turkey is really lean, there will be some grease to drain off.
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Turkey Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced bell peppers green/orange
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large skillet, saute onion, bell pepper, garlic for 3 minutes.
- Add in ground turkey and garlic. Cook until turkey is browned.
- If necessary, drain and remove excess grease from pan.
- Return turkey to pan and add remaining ingredients. Stir. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition
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