30-Minute Turkey Sloppy Joes Bowls

Serve Turkey Sloppy Joes Bowls for a healthier, gluten-free dinner for the whole family. Made with ground turkey and peppers, these bowls bring tons of flavor to the table.

Sloppy joes are certainly a classic family dish. I have tons of memories of eating these sandwiches as a kid. They're easy to make, so delicious and... well, what kid doesn't like them?

We don't eat a lot of buns around here anymore, so serving sloppy joes over rice is the perfect solution!

When I decided to make Turkey Sloppy Joes Bowls for my son for the first time, I wanted to make them homemade so I could feel good about what exactly was in them.

Turkey Sloppy Joe Rice Bowls recipe

If you are looking for a gluten-free, healthy sloppy joe recipe for the whole family, these from-scratch Turkey Sloppy Joes Bowls include no added sugar or extra ingredients.

Bonus? They come together in under 30 minutes, so they are the perfect weeknight meal.

I've only included ingredients that pack in tons of flavor. Ground turkey, green and orange bell peppers, onions and spices are all served over a bed of white rice, which makes this a perfect family-friendly, healthy meal.

Sometimes I hit the nail on the head with the first recipe, but I'm actually glad to report that that wasn't the case with this recipe. I really wanted to create something as flavorful as your classic can of Manwich, but without the unnecessary added ingredients and sugar.

Sugar-free sloppy joes

A lot of sloppy joes recipes call for ketchup, which is loaded with extra sugar. I'm definitely not anti-sugar, I just don't like it in things where it is unnecessary, like savory food. (Though I do love a sugar-free muffin made with natural sweeteners.)

It took me a few tries to get the flavor right, but along the way, I discovered that making homemade sloppy joes is actually super easy.

Ingredients

Instead of canned sloppy joe sauce or adding ketchup to this recipe, this recipe for Sloppy Joes includes the ingredients that are in homemade ketchup, like tomato sauce, vinegar, and a bit of honey for sweetness (instead of sugar!).

This recipe also packs in a bunch of spices which adds a ton of flavor to this recipe.

Here's what you will need to make turkey sloppy joes over rice:

• uncooked rice
• diced onion
• diced bell peppers (I used half orange and half green, but any kind will work)
• minced garlic
• ground turkey
• tomato sauce
• tomato paste
• white vinegar
• dijon mustard
• dried parsley
• salt
• water

If you're ready to make these easy Turkey Sloppy Joe Rice Bowls for your family, scroll down for the recipe!

How to make turkey sloppy joe bowls

First you will need to make your own rice. Most often, I make this recipe with Instant Pot brown rice, but sometimes we use white rice. You can also use cauliflower rice or simply serve the sloppy joes on your favorite buns.

Then saute the onion and peppers in a large skillet until soft, about 3 minutes.

Next, add the garlic and turkey. Cook until browned. Drain off any grease and return to the pan.

Then stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, white vinegar, dijon mustard, dried parsley and water. Season with salt and pepper.

Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens, which is about 10 minutes. Spoon over your prepared rice, cauliflower rice or even on a bun!

Variations

There are a number of ways you can make these Turkey Sloppy Joes Bowls all your own.

Use your favorite meat: My kids love turkey, but you are welcome to use ground chicken or ground beef in this recipe.

Make it vegan: Feel free to sub out the turkey for lentils, mushrooms, tofu or a plant-based meat substitute (such as Beyond Meat or Impossible).

Make it grain-free: Cauliflower rice is a great healthy option. You could also serve the sloppy joes on gluten-free buns.

Make lettuce wraps: My kids love eating sloppy joes as lettuce wraps. Simply spoon the mixture into romaine or butter lettuce leaves and enjoy like a burrito or wrap.

Serving suggestions

This recipe is filling enough on its own, especially since it contains hidden vegetables for the kids.

Sometimes I will serve it with a simple fruit salad either on the side or for dessert.

Sloppy joes are often served with potato chips, and if I'm in the mood I will serve the kids homemade kale chips. Sometimes I'll make roasted broccoli or green beans with a dipping sauce.

If you love turkey recipes, check out these easy dinners: Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet, Spinach Turkey Orzo or Sweet Potato Turkey Burgers.