How To Make Mouthwatering Turkey Sloppy Joes

These turkey sloppy joes (I also like to call them turkey sloppy janes), are a fun, nutritious take on one of my favorite childhood recipes! I create the base with ground turkey and sneaky vegetables. Then, instead of adding ketchup, I flavor the meat mixture with a homemade sloppy joe sauce infused with BBQ flavor.

I love to serve them on brioche buns and an optional slaw for a satisfying crunch. However, they taste just as yummy plain without the slaw. With minimal prep time and a total time of just 30 minutes, these ground turkey sloppy joes are an easy weeknight meal for the whole family. The kids always ask for seconds and don’t even realize they’re eating their veggies! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make these sloppy janes today.

For the Sloppy Joes:

• Oil – I recommend using avocado oil or olive oil
• Ground turkey – you can also substitute ground chicken 
• Yellow onion – white onion also works well here 
• Bell pepper – use yellow, red, orange, or green bell pepper
• Carrot – for the best taste and texture, use whole carrots, shred the skin, and dice them into small pieces 
• Garlic – for the best flavor, use whole garlic cloves instead of pre-minced varieties 
• Tomato paste – be sure to use tomato paste, not tomato sauce. This forms the base of the sauce, adding a rich tomato flavor and helping caramelize the veggies, enhancing their naturally sweet taste
• Broth – beef broth or chicken broth works well. Or, substitute water if preferred 
• Coconut aminos – also called coconut liquid aminos, this ingredient has a similar savory taste to soy sauce but is slightly milder and sweeter
• Brown sugar
• Mustard – I like to use Dijon mustard for a bit of extra tang, but regular yellow mustard also works 
• Apple cider vinegar – may sub white vinegar 
• Fine salt
• Smoked paprika
• Black pepper

For the Optional Slaw:

• Shredded coleslaw mix – to save time, I buy pre-shredded coleslaw mix from the grocery store. Broccoli slaw will also work 
• Mayonnaise – I like Primal Kitchen avocado oil mayonnaise
• Apple cider vinegar 
• Honey – may sub maple syrup 
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper

Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.

Making Sloppy Janes, Step By Step

1. Sauté the turkey, onions, bell pepper, carrots, and garlic in oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the turkey is no longer pink and the veggies are tender, stirring occasionally. 
2. Combine the remaining sloppy joe sauce ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking until smooth. 
3. Pour the sauce into the skillet, and stir to combine. 
4. Bring the liquid to a simmer, and continue to cook until the sauce is thickened. 
5. If preparing the slaw, add all the ingredients to a medium bowl, and toss to combine. 

Read One Of Our 5-Star Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This was so so good!! I usually really don’t like ground turkey, let alone super lean ground turkey, but this was phenomenal. So easy to make, the sloppy joes were delicious, and everything went so well together. Thanks so much!”

Reader Vikki

How To Store

Store any leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Transfer the slaw to a separate airtight container, and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days. Give it a good stir to redistribute the ingredients before serving.

You can also freeze the meat mixture for up to 4 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to eat. 

Variations To Try

Feel free to experiment with this homemade turkey sloppy joe recipe to make it your own! Some of my favorite ways to switch it up include: 

• Using lean ground beef in place of turkey 
• Serving it over baked potatoes instead of buns 
• Adding even more veggies like zucchini or mushrooms
• Incorporate diced jalapeños for extra heat
• Add Worcestershire sauce for extra depth and a subtle smokey taste

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The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.

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