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Turkey sloppy joes are a delicious twist on an American classic. Ground turkey and zesty tomatoes become perfectly saucy in 30 minutes, making them great for family dinners and game-day gatherings!
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Why you'll love ground turkey sloppy joes
Turkey sloppy joes are the epitome of American comfort food, satisfying the palate and the budget. They are often called healthy sloppy joes since turkey has less saturated fat than beef used in a classic sloppy joe.
The simplicity of this 30-minute dinner makes it friendly for any cooking level. It's as simple as saute, simmer, and serve! Turkey sloppy joes are also customizable, which makes them a perfect match for any taste buds. Bonus – the leftovers are even better the next day!
These crowd-pleasers are loved by all and perfect for game-day gatherings and family get-togethers. Sloppy turkey joes are even better served alongside smashed baby potatoes or potato salad.
Ingredients you'll need
- Ground turkey: A lean protein base for turkey sloppy joes. I recommend 93% lean 7% fat for the leanest option.
- Onion: Adds sweet, savory flavor and texture.
- Garlic: Infuses aromatic richness.
- Water: Thins and balances the sauce without adding more salt, fat, and calories.
- Canned crushed tomatoes - Adding these creates a saucy foundation and zesty tomato flavor.
- Tomato paste: Intensifies tomato flavor and thickens the sauce.
- Apple cider vinegar: Offers tangy acidity.
- Worcestershire sauce: Enhances the umami taste of this savory dish, making it even more satisfying.
- Dijon mustard: Adds mild tang and complexity to the sauce.
- Chili powder: Provides subtle heat and depth of flavor.
- Salt and pepper: Enhances overall seasoning.
How to make this turkey sloppy joes recipe
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until tender, stirring as needed. Add ground turkey and continue cooking until browned.
Add the rest of the ingredients. These include crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, dijon, and chili powder. Stir to combine, and be amazed at how delicious they already look!
At this point, you'll bring everything to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the sloppy joe sauce thickens to your liking. At any point in the simmering process, you can add a splash of water to adjust the consistency if needed. Season your turkey sloppy joes with salt and black pepper, and you are ready to serve! Look at how juicy and saucy this is!
Serve this saucy goodness warm over hamburger buns. As you may notice in my photos, I'm using brioche buns, which are divine!
Recommended toppings
Sloppy turkey joe's are delicious enough to hold their own on a bun with nothing else. But the topping options can elevate the experience, depending on your flavor and texture preferences. Here are some ideas:
- Shredded cheese
- Sliced dill pickles or onions
- Coleslaw
- Fresh or pickled jalapeños
- Juicy ripe tomatoes
- Avocado slices
- Crispy bacon bits
- Hot sauce
Recipe tips
- To thicken the sauce, extend the cooking time to reduce the liquid. To achieve a thinner consistency, add more cooking liquid whenever needed.
- I prefer to add salt to taste just before serving because salted canned ingredients often add enough sodium to the entree.
- When serving, I recommend toasting the buns because it adds texture and structure to the sandwich, which prevents it from falling apart too quickly.
- Add cooking liquid as needed to revive the saucy, juicy texture when reheating.
Recipe variations
- Ground beef can be used for a classic version of this recipe.
- Diced bell pepper can be sauteed with the onions for flavor, volume, and texture.
- Crushed tomatoes can be substituted with other canned tomatoes such as diced tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes. I recommend slightly blending them with their juice to resemble as similar texture.
- Soy sauce is a great alternative when Worcestershire sauce isn't an option.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar or any sweetener during the simmering stage to add a touch of sweetness.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes to these turkey sloppy joes if you're looking for a kick of heat.
More dinner recipes
📖 Recipe
Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
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Note about scaling
When scaling (2x or 3x), the light gray ingredient amount doesn’t scale. Please adjust those accordingly.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ large Onion, diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 pound 93% Lean Ground Turkey
- ¼ cup Water, or more as needed
- 1 (14.5-ounce can) Crushed Tomatoes
- ⅓ cup Tomato Paste, about half of a 6-ounce can
- 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat saucepan over medium heat. Add OLIVE OIL and heat until shimmering.
- Saute ONION and GARLIC until tender, stirring as needed.
- Add GROUND TURKEY and continue cooking until browned.
- Drain excess grease, if needed.
- Add a splash of WATER and loosen any browned bits from the pan (I call this flavor gold).
- Add CRUSHED TOMATOES, TOMATO PASTE, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, WORCESTERSHIRE, DIJON, and CHILI POWDER. Stir to combine.
- Bring everything just to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens to your liking, stirring as needed.
- Add SALT and BLACK PEPPER to taste.
Serving and storage
- Serve warm on toasted buns with your favorite sloppy joe toppings.
- To store, cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days or freeze up to 90 days.
- When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to revive the moisture.
Recipe Notes
- To thicken the sauce, extend the cooking time to reduce the liquid. To achieve a thinner consistency, add more cooking liquid whenever needed.
- I prefer to add salt to taste just before serving because salted canned ingredients often add enough sodium to the entree.
- When serving, I recommend toasting the buns because it adds texture and structure to the sandwich, which prevents it from falling apart too quickly.
- Grab the recipe variations for ingredient swaps.
Jeannine says
We loved this! So quick, easy, and tasty! Thanks for sharing!
Traci says
Absolutely! I'm so glad this one caught your eye. Thank you for taking the time to leave this feedback. Enjoy! xoxo
Rosalee Adams says
THIS sounds lovely
I would even consider it over pasta or perhaps like a taco salad.
Traci says
Heck ya! You can do many things with sloppy joes. Thanks so much and enjoy!
Rose says
Under recipe variations it mentions, "The brown sugar can be swapped with another sweetener of your choosing." However, I don't see brown sugar in the recipe. What am I missing? Thanks!
Traci says
Hi Rose, thanks so much for letting me know. I just made the correction to say that brown sugar is optional. Thanks again!! Enjoy the recipe!
sandra says
Served at a family gathering....made it ahead of time and then just reheated it in the crockpot...easy peasy...very good.
Traci says
Yay!! This is a great make-ahead recipe for sure! I'm honored to be part of your special event. Thanks so much for this feedback. Enjoy!!
Jeff says
So good and 10/10 recommend! I can't believe how quick, easy, and downright scrumptious these turkey sloppy joes are as evidenced by the fact that they completely disappear every single time we make them! Another winner TKG!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe. They really do pull a disappearing act, don't they LOL. Thanks for sharing your experience! Enjoy!