Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

Are you a fan of beefy sloppy joes for dinner? Well, prepare to turn a classic family-favorite into a healthy and tasty dish that’s made using ground turkey and other ingredients you probably already have. Best of all, these turkey sloppy joes are ready in 30 minutes or less, so it’s perfect for those hectic weeknights!

Ground turkey sloppy joes are one of my favorite dishes to make for the kids (okay, for me too). Not only do they love how it tastes, but I feel good giving it to them because it’s healthy and packed with hidden veggies.

Sloppy joes became popular with the introduction of that famous canned version several decades ago. It was quick and easy to make and tasted addictively good, so kids scarfed it down and asked for more. I know I did growing up when my mom would make it for dinner.

Unfortunately, that canned version is filled with ingredients that are far less than ideal which gave sloppy joes a reputation for being unhealthy. But, not anymore!

This version of sloppy joes is packed with lean ground turkey meat and veggies in a tomato sauce that’s loaded with flavor and tastes every bit as good as the canned version that shall remain nameless.

My favorite part is that this whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes, and you probably already have everything you need to make it in your kitchen already. Plus, it’s easy to make and quick to disappear!

Key Ingredients For Turkey Sloppy Joes

Besides the apparent ground turkey, here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this mouthwatering recipe for ground turkey sloppy joes at home:

• Onion and Garlic: I highly recommend mincing up fresh onion and garlic because the flavor is superior. However, if you’re in a time crunch or need to get to the store, just use dried minced onion and garlic. It’ll still taste great!
• Bell Peppers: Some kids don’t like peppers’ flavor, so I tend to mince these pretty small so they get soft and the flavors blend perfectly. I used red and green bell peppers but use whichever colors you like. Also, feel free to adjust the amount of pepper you include based on your family’s preferences.
• Tomato Sauce: I used a can with no sugar added since it’s just not necessary when the recipe calls for additional brown sugar already. We don't want the sauce to be overly sweet.
• Sauces: In this sloppy joe recipe, I like to add ketchup sauce (low sugar ketchup tastes great here) as well as some barbeque sauce. It adds a rich, peppery flavor with smoky notes that brings this entire recipe together into one lip-smacking good dish. Also, don't forget the Worcestershire sauce because it adds incredible flavor to almost any meat dish! It’s a subtle addition but well worth it.
• Brown Sugar: This sweetener lends a delicious sweet flavor to the turkey sloppy joes while also cutting the acidity of the tomato sauce.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Provides a nice tangy flavor to this dish, so try not to leave it out.
• Yellow Mustard: No sloppy joes recipe is complete without some tangy yellow mustard!

Note: For a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this turkey sloppy joe recipe, check out the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Recipe Tips and Ideas

Here are some ideas for variations you can make to this recipe so that it always feels fresh and exciting!

• If you don't like ground turkey, you can swap it out for some ground beef instead.
• Make this dish vegetarian by swapping out the meat for a plant-based option.
• Add extra veggies with diced zucchini, cauliflower rice, diced carrots, or some shredded carrots.

Side Dish Ideas

Anytime I make this dinner recipe, I like to serve it two different ways:

• As a traditional sloppy joe sandwich between two hamburger buns. For a healthier option, use a whole regain bun. Sloppy Joes also taste delicious served open-faced on toast, wrap in low carb wraps, or on a slice of garlic bread.
• Over rice, couscous, baked potatoes, polenta, or spaghetti squash.

Any way you choose will taste delicious!

Now, when it comes to the side dish, all you need is something simple to pair with this sloppy joe recipe to make a complete meal you’ll love.

Here are a few of our favorite side dishes to serve:

• Chips: Great for when you want something really simple. Try my recipe for homemade baked potato chips or baked rosemary carrot chips.
• Vegetables: Some roasted green beans or grilled veggies would be delicious with this dish!
• Fries and onion rings: Classic accompaniments for sloppy joes! I usually like to make these crispy parsnip fries or a batch of these baked sweet potato fries. Don't forget to try these baked barbecue onion rings too. They pair nicely with the hint of barbeque sauce in the sloppy joe sauce.
• Salad: A green salad complements the flavors of turkey sloppy joes like a champ. I highly recommend making this quick and healthy kale caesar salad to serve alongside the ground turkey sloppy joes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

Here are some common questions I get asked by some readers…

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! If you like to meal plan and prep for the week, this is a terrific recipe that will last and taste just as delicious when you reheat it (maybe even better!) as it did the day you made it.

You can either cook this entire recipe for the sloppy joes in advance and freeze it or you can prep all of the ingredients to have on hand when you are ready to make this dinner recipe. It's up to you!

How long will this sloppy joe recipe last?

If you store this recipe in an airtight container in your fridge, it will stay fresh for up to 7 days.

Can I make this turkey sloppy joes in the slow cooker?

Absolutely!

To make this recipe in the slow cooker:

1. Simply saute the veggies and brown the meat in a pan.
2. Then, transfer all of the ingredients to the slow cooker.
3. Cook on high for about 3 hours or on low for about 6 to allow all those flavors to come together.
4. Serve and enjoy!

More Delicious Family-Favorite Recipes You’ll Love

• Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
• Crock Pot Korean Beef Tacos
• Healthy Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
• Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork
• Crock Pot Turkey Tacos