Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
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Homemade Sloppy Joes are the best! They’re quick, easy, and always a crowd pleaser. And these Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes have all the same great flavor in a slightly healthier, but no less messy, form.
My entire family loves sloppy joe sandwiches- like really, REALLY loves them -my husband scrapes the pot clean every time I make them.
This recipe was originally inspired by Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joes, but over time, I adapted it to use ground turkey for a lighter option and scaled it down for my smaller family.
I’m so happy with these, and they are in a steady rotation at my house!
This recipe has everything you love about classic sloppy joes. They’re quick and easy, freezer and budget friendly, and of course absolutely delicious with just the right blend of sweetness and spiciness.
Serve them on burger buns with pickles, homemade french fries, or veggie tots. Add a side of creamy coleslaw or slow cooker baked beans—and watch the sauce-smeared smiles spread across your family’s faces. Just don’t forget the napkins!
Why You’ll Love This Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Quick, Easy & Customizable – Ready in 30 minutes with simple ingredients and made in one pan! Swap the meat, adjust the spice, and add extra veggies for extra nutrients!
- Budget and Freezer Friendly – These use everyday pantry staples and budget-friendly protein. You can even make a batch ahead of time to freeze for easy weeknight dinners.
- Kid-Approved Crowd-Pleaser – Super saucy and messy in all the best ways. These are great for casual parties, potlucks, or feeding a hungry group.
Ingredients for Turkey Sloppy Joes
This easy recipe uses pantry staples and affordable protein for a truly delicious and fun family meal.
Full recipe amounts and instructions are listed on the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Ground turkey – I like to use an 85% lean, 15% fat ground turkey blend. It has the best flavor and doesn’t dry out as quickly as super lean ground turkey.
- Onion – Diced small or grated (if you don’t like chunks). Use a sweet white or yellow onion. You can also use a teaspoon of onion powder if you prefer.
- Green bell pepper – Diced small. Red bell pepper, or any color, will also work.
- Fresh garlic – Minced or run it through a garlic press. To save time, feel free to use prechopped garlic or swap in 1/2 a teaspoon of garlic powder (I do this all the time).
- Ketchup – This is the base of the sloppy joe sauce. It adds a ton of flavor, tang, and consistency. You can use all ketchup or swap in a little BBQ sauce or flavored mustard for extra flavor! I have a blueberry BBQ Sauce and a sweet cranberry mustard sauce that would be SO DELICIOUS with the ground turkey in this recipe.
- Water– For consistency, you can totally use broth if you have some that needs to be used up.
- Mustard – Dijon or yellow mustard work great—I’ve used and loved both! You can also use dry mustard powder; just swap in 1/2 teaspoon. Use whatever you have on hand—it’s all delicious!
- Brown sugar – Light or dark brown sugar works. Dark brown sugar will be a touch sweeter and smokier.
- Worcestershire sauce– This adds a tangy, salty, and “meaty” flavor, perfect to balance out the sweetness of the ketchup.
- Salt and black pepper – These are added at the end to adjust the sauce and bring the flavor to just how you like it.
Step by Step Instructions
This Sloppy Joe recipe comes together quickly and easily and is a great weeknight dinner option.
Step 1
Cook the ground turkey, onions, and peppers in a 2-quart saucepan (or high-sided skillet) over medium heat until the meat is cooked and the veggies have softened, about 8-10 minutes.
Tip
Now’s the time to decide how chunky or crumbly you want your filling. I make mine chunky, but you can use a meat chopper to break it up finer—just do it before the meat is fully cooked.
Step 2
Stir in the garlic and add the remaining ingredients. Lower heat to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until the sauce mixture reduces and gets thick and syrupy. Adjust the heat accordingly to keep it at a simmer.
Remove the sloppy joe mix from the heat when it’s finished and allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes while you toast the buns.
Step 3
Toast 5 bulky rolls or thick hamburger buns and scoop ½-¾ a cup of the sloppy joe mix on each bun.
Top with pickles or coleslaw if desired. Add the top bun, grab lots of napkins, and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
- Toast the bun or bread you’ll be serving the sloppy joes on. The filling is super runny (sloppy), and toasted bread will absorb the extra juices and sauce. This leaves your hands slightly cleaner.
- For a thicker sloppy joe sauce, simmer the mixture longer to reduce the excess liquid.
Substitutions & Variations
- Protein: Lean ground beef, ground chicken, or meatless crumbles for a vegan version (I use these all the time and love them!)
- Hidden Veggies: You can hide extra veggies like carrots, diced tomatoes, and zucchini in the filling! Just add it to the meat while it’s cooking.
- Bread Options: Instead of a hamburger bun, serve sloppy joes on thick slices of garlic bread or toasted Texas Toast.
- Spice It Up: Add a dash of hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or chili powder for a little kick.
Storage and Reheating
Allow the leftover sloppy joe filling to cool and transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat on the stovetop in a saute or sauce pan for about 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring often, or microwave for 2-3 minutes. Spoon heated mixture onto burger buns.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
The sloppy joe mixture itself can be served over hamburger buns, Texas toast, Hawaiian Rolls for sliders, and even over garlic bread or a baked potato!
Serve these ground turkey sloppy joes with Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Air Fryer French Fries or Tater Tots. Other great serving options are a green salad, Coleslaw, or Homemade Baked Beans.
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Homemade Sloppy Joes With Ground Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 lb ground turkey 85/15 blend
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- ¾ cup diced green bell pepper
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 5 Bulkie Rolls
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a 2-quart saucepan or high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey, onions, and peppers. Cook for 8–10 minutes, until the meat is fully cooked and the veggies are soft.
- Stir in the garlic, then add the rest of the ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes, until the sauce thickens and reduces. If it starts bubbling too much, lower the heat a bit. The sauce is ready when it looks syrupy and you can see the meat clearly in the mix. Taste the sauce and adjust with salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture rest for 5–10 minutes while you toast the buns.
- Toast 5 bulky rolls or thick hamburger buns. Scoop 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the sloppy joe mix onto the bottom bun. Layer on some pickles or coleslaw if you like, and top with the other half of the bun. grab some napkins, and enjoy!
Notes
- Lean ground beef, ground chicken, or plant based crumbles can be used in place of the ground turkey.
- Add hidden veggies like shredded carrots or zucchini to the sloppy joe mix for extra nutrients.
