These Easy Turkey Sloppy Joes are a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner made with simple ingredients. It is a lighter twist on a classic favorite, ready in under 30 minutes, and a tried-and-true favorite.
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These Easy Sloppy Joes are quick, easy, and perfect for busy weeknights when you need something in a hurry that everyone will eat. My wife wanted something with a little fewer calories, but still packed with that classic sweet flavor we all love, and this recipe delivers.
We love serving this up with our creamy mac and cheese or potato salad for a perfect meal.
Reader Review: "I made this and it so much better than Manwich" - Mary
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fast and Easy - Ready in about 30 minutes
- Family -friendly - Even picky eaters love it
- Lighter option - Ground turkey helps keep it lean but still satisfying
- Simple ingredients - Pantry staples you probably already have
- Easy to make ahead - This recipe tastes even better the next day.
- Great for leftovers - Reheats beautifully for lunch the next day
What are sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a classic American comfort food made with ground meat cooked in a sweet, tangy tomato-based sauce, served warm on a hamburger bun.
The name saucy came from the fact that the filling is "loose and saucy." They became popular in the U.S. as an easy, budget-friendly meal that's quick to make and feeds a crowd.
Tim's Tip: Don's skip draining the turkey after cooking. This will keep your sauce rich and thick instead of greasy.
Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: A lean protein that is the star of the show.
- Onion: Adds a savory, slightly sweet base.
- Yellow Bell Pepper: Brings a mild sweetness and a pop of color.
- Chili Powder: Adds a warm, smoky flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Gives a smooth garlic flavor that fits perfectly.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors.
- Pepper: Adds a subtle kick and balances sweetness.
- Yellow Mustard: Provides a tangy bite that cuts through the richness.
- Ketchup: The base of the sauce, adding sweetness and classic sloppy joe flavor.
- Tomato Paste: Thickens the sauce and adds rich tomato flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to the savory and tangy elements.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Brings a deep, savory flavor to make the sauce pop.
- Water: Helps loosen the sauce and allows everything to simmer.
- Red Pepper Flakes (optional): Adds a little heat; adjust to your spice preference.
How to make Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
1. Cook the Turkey: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground turkey and let it brown for a couple of minutes. Add the salt, pepper, yellow bell pepper, and onion. Cook about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the turkey is fully cooked through. Transfer to a colander to drain.
2. Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add chili powder, garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, water, and red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined.
3. Combine: Add the drained turkey mixture back into the skillet and stir until everything is well combined.
4. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let cook for 8-10 minutes, allowing flavors to combine and sauce to thicken.
5. Prep the Sandwich: Transfer meat onto buns and enjoy!!!
Substitutions and Variations
- Sneak in extra veggies - Finely chopped carrots or zucchini blend right in and are great for picky eaters.
- Other Proteins - You can use ground beef or ground chicken.
- Other sauce base- Replace ketchup with BBQ sauce.
- Brown Sugar Swap - Try honey or maple syrup
- Sloppy Joe Sliders - Use Hawaiian rolls for an appetizer version.
- Kick up the spice level - Add hot sauce or fresh jalapeño slices.
Tims Tips
- Don't skip the simmer - This is where the flavor really develops and thickens up perfectly.
- Adjust the sweetness - Like it less sweet? Cut back slightly on the brown sugar.
- Dice the veggies evenly - Keep the onion and bell pepper about the same size so they cook evenly and blend perfectly into every bite.
- Taste and adjust - Before serving, give it a quick taste. Add a pinch more salt, a little extra brown sugar, or a little more heat with more red pepper flakes.
- Choose your favorite type of bun - This is up to you, I love a brioche like in this recipe, but a pretzel bun is also fun.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
- Mac and Cheese (tastes good to mix it)
- Serve with my favorite Smoked Cornbread
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Make loaded fries - Top your crispy air-fried new potatoes with cheese and sloppy joe filling.
- Coleslaw
- Always pickles on the side
Equipment
- Flint and Flame Knives - A sharp knife is needed for cutting the onions and peppers.
- Skillet - I love this skillet for browning the meat.
- Wooden Spoon - I can't have enough of these in my kitchen.
Storage
Refrigeration: Store leftovers (separate from buns) in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Let cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.
FAQs
You can! Just brown the beef and add all the remaining ingredients, and cook on low for about 4-6 hours. They will have a softer texture, but still be delicious.
The sloppy joe recipe is homemade and made from scratch. Manwich is a pre-made sauce brand used to make sloppy joes.
Yes, you can use a low-sugar ketchup and a Lakanto Monkfruit brown sugar, and use a whole wheat bun.
More Delicious Sandwiches
What are the "must-haves" on your family menus? Let me know your family's favorite recipes in the comments! I love gathering ideas from fellow cooks!
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Recipe
Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Turkey
- ½ cup Onion Diced
- ½ cup Bell Peppers We used Yellow, Diced
- ½ teaspoon Chili Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Yellow Mustard
- ½ cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ cup Water
- ¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes Optional
For Serving
- 4 Hamburger Buns Of your Choice
Instructions
- Cook the Turkey: In a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey, and let it brown for a couple of minutes. Add the salt, pepper, yellow bell pepper, and onion. Cook about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the turkey is fully cooked through. Transfer to a colander to drain. 1 lb Ground Turkey ½ cup Onion ½ cup Bell Peppers ½ tsp Salt ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add chili powder, garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, water, and red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined. ½ tsp Chili Powder ½ tsp Garlic Powder 1 Tbsp Yellow Mustard ½ cup Ketchup 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce ½ cup Water ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Combine: Add the drained turkey mixture back into the skillet and stir until everything is well combined.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let cook for 8-10 minutes, allowing flavors to combine and sauce to thicken.
- Prep the Sandwich: Transfer meat onto buns and enjoy!!! 4 Hamburger Buns
Notes
Tim's Tip
- Don't skip the simmer - This is where the flavor really develops and thickens up perfectly.
- Adjust the sweetness - Like it less sweet? Cut back slightly on the brown sugar.
- Dice the veggies evenly - Keep the onion and bell pepper about the same size so they cook evenly and blend perfectly into every bite.
- Taste and adjust - Before serving, give it a quick taste. Add a pinch more salt, a little extra brown sugar, or a little more heat with more red pepper flakes.
- Choose your favorite type of bun - This is up to you, I love a brioche like in this recipe, but a pretzel bun is also fun.
Storage
Refrigeration: Store leftovers (separate from buns) in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Freezing: Let cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months. Reheating: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.Nutrition
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