These ground turkey Sloppy Joes deliver all the comfort food vibes without the extra calories—weeknight win! It’s great for a quick and easy dinner.
This recipe for lightened-up ground turkey Sloppy Joes uses ingredients that you likely stock in your fridge and pantry. If you have a decent supply of dried spices, some king of ground turkey (preferably lean or extra-lean), a couple of carrots and a bit of tomato and barbecue sauce, then you can pull this off with your eyes closed.
While traditional Sloppy Joes are served on hamburger buns, there’s not reason why you couldn’t serve the mixture over rice or even pasta. My motto for weekday meals…use what you have. It will always turn out if you have a decently stocked pantry and a somewhat forgiving family.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Ground turkey: I used extra lean (99%) ground turkey. Feel free to swap in lean (93%) ground turkey or lean ground beef.
- Vegetables: Onions and carrots add a good base of flavor and extra fiber.
- Seasonings: Fresh garlic cloves, dried thyme, dried oregano, red pepper flakes (to taste), salt and pepper.
- Tomato sauce: Use a can of tomato sauce.
- Tomato paste: Look for the tubes of tomato paste at the grocery store. They’re handy when you just need a tablespoon or two. Store in the refrigerator.
- Barbecue sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade bbq sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a layer of flavor.
- Honey: Swap out with agave nectar, if preferred.
- Hamburger buns: Whole wheat hamburger buns are a good higher fiber option. My favorites are the ones made by Dave’s Killer Bread.
How to make ground turkey Sloppy Joes
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- Sauté the vegetables and seasonings until the vegetables are tender.
- Cook the ground turkey, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, bbq sauce and other seasonings. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Serve on hamburger buns.
Make-ahead and storage
The ground turkey mixture can be made up to 3 to 4 days ahead of time. Once cooled, transfer it to airtight containers and store in the refrigerator.
Alternatively, scoop the turkey mixture into a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost it overnight in the fridge, and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
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Printable Recipe
Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
This ground turkey Sloppy Joe recipe delivers all the comfort food vibes without the extra calories—weeknight win! It’s great for a quick and easy dinner.
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 225kcal
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Instructions
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Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the carrots and sauté until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Pour in an additional teaspoon of olive oil. Add the onion, thyme and oregano and sauté until the onions are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
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Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil, then add the ground turkey. Cook, breaking up the turkey with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through. Drain the accumulated liquid.
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Return the vegetable mixture to the pan with the turkey, and stir in the tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and honey (or agave nectar). Simmer for 5 minutes.
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Divide the turkey mixture evenly between the 4 hamburger buns. Serve.
Notes
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the built-in recipe card calculator. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Sloppy Joe (Without Bun) | Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 640mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g
This post was first published on March 21, 2014 and updated on March 25, 2025.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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