Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce is stirred into healthy, ground turkey to create the ultimate Turkey Sloppy Joes.
Turkey Sloppy Joes are a very flavorful take on the traditional sloppy joe sandwich. What makes them even better is that turkey meat is low in fat and also very absorbent – meaning it’s the perfect type of meat to take on all those flavors from the sweet and spicy sauce.
It’s also high in protein content making it a filling meal, keeping you satiated for longer. This is especially important for young people so they can focus at school and not get distracted by the hungries.
How to Make These Turkey Sloppy Joes Extra Nutritious
I like to sneak a wide variety of ground vegetables into these Turkey Sloppy Joes because that tangy sloppy joe sauce is the perfect disguise, turning everything it touches into tangy barbecue deliciousness. You can finely slice up some carrots with a cup of chopped orange peppers for a full day’s supply of eye-protective nutrients and good for you antioxidants like vitamins C and A, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Your family will never know that hiding under that bun and perhaps a slice of melted American or cheddar cheese is sheer health.
On Working With Ground Turkey
The first time you cook with ground turkey, you may be surprised at the amount of water that is released from the meat as it cooks. Don’t be alarmed and take a paper towel and soak all that moisture off, though. You want that liquid to act as a steaming agent for the meat.
The longer you cook ground turkey above a low flame, the more of this moisture will cook off, and eventually, you’ll begin to see a touch of browning to the meat as well. That said, you’re never going to get a ton of those crispy brown bits with ground turkey that chefs call “fond.” This is why ground turkey is more suited for dishes where you have a flavorful spice mixture or sauce added to compensate for the flavor you won’t get from simply browning this meat.
How to Make Ahead and Store?
Turkey Sloppy Joes are a perfect freezer meal. Why? Because turkey is a very wet meat, and some people complain about this while it cooks (but it reduces, you just have to be patient and simmer). But that extra moisture makes ground turkey one freezer-friendly meat. So freeze and enjoy without sacrificing flavor or texture for up to three months!
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve my Turkey Sloppy Joes with fries and my equally Tex-Mex Mexican Coleslaw, which my husband and kids like to put right on top of their sandwiches and eat on the side as well. Pair with some Grilled Asparagus and follow up with this Grilled Peach Vanilla Ice Cream for a satisfying dessert.
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 6 whole wheat hamburger buns toasted
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add ground turkey to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the turkey is browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and mustard. Reduce heat to low and simmer the mixture until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve the turkey mixture on toasted whole wheat hamburger buns.
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