Description
This Turkey Sloppy Joes recipe features lean ground turkey cooked with onions and green bell peppers in a savory and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce. Served on toasted hamburger buns with optional toppings, it’s a family-friendly meal that’s both comforting and healthy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 1 large green bell pepper (cored, seeded and finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon oil (for frying)
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 14 ounces can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or liquid aminos for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 hamburger buns (sliced in half and toasted, if desired)
Optional Toppings
- Sliced onions
- Pickles
- Jalapenos
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Finely chop the onion and core, seed, and finely chop the green bell pepper. These will add flavor and texture to the sauce.
- Sauté onions and peppers: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and swirl in the oil to coat the bottom. Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper and sauté for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened and fragrant.
- Cook the ground turkey: Add the ground turkey to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Cook for approximately 5 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces with a spatula and stirring constantly until browned and cooked through.
- Add sauces and seasonings: Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, soy sauce (or liquid aminos), brown sugar (or alternative sweetener), white vinegar, yellow mustard, salt, and black pepper. Mix everything well to combine the flavors.
- Simmer the mixture: Cover the skillet with a lid and bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat. Then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 20 minutes to thicken and deepen the flavors. Stir occasionally during this time.
- Finish and serve: Turn off the heat and give the sloppy joe mixture a final stir. Spoon the flavorful turkey mixture onto toasted hamburger buns. Add optional toppings like sliced onions, pickles, or jalapenos if desired. Serve immediately, perhaps alongside coleslaw or your favorite side dish.
Notes
- This recipe uses lean ground turkey and a simple, healthy sauce cooked in one skillet for easy cleanup.
- It’s perfect served over hamburger buns or even mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
- Kids especially enjoy the slightly sweet and savory flavors.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute regular soy sauce with liquid aminos and ensure buns are gluten-free.
- Adjust sweetness or tanginess by modifying the amount of brown sugar and vinegar to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 sandwiches
- Calories: 412 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 657 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.02 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg
