Using lean ground turkey instead of ground chuck lowers the overall fat content of this savory Turkey Sloppy Joe recipe. The tangy, tomato based sauce is packed with fresh vegetables. Quick and easy, this recipe can be on your table in under 20 minutes.
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As y’all already know, I am big on comfort food. So it should come as no surprise that I love Sloppy Joes.
There is just something about them that calls to me. I think it’s a mixture between all the flavor in the sauce and how quick they are to make!
Plus they remind me of that Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen movie “It Takes Two”. Come on, don’t pretend like I am the only one who remembers that movie. ๐
Anyways, a girlfriend of mine is famous for eating the Sloppy Joes out of a can. Last week I was at the grocery store and happened to stop by where the Sloppy Joes in a can are.
I stared at it for a few seconds and just couldn’t make myself grab it. Sure – it probably would have tasted ok.
I’m sure it’s perfectly good…but I just can’t bring myself to eat meat that has come out of a can.
There is just something about meat that has been preserved in a can that makes me gag.
Except for tuna — it gets an exception and I have absolutely no good reason why.
I decided that I would make some Sloppy Joes with some ground turkey I already had in my freezer.
For starters, it’s healthier than ground beef…plus I already had it on hand.
Then I added in a big handful of carrots, an onion and an orange bell pepper for extra veggie goodness.
These Turkey Sloppy Joes are quick (under 30 minutes from start to finish!) and full of flavor…with an added benefit of some “hidden” veggies.
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 small orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped
- ยฝ cup julienned carrots
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 8 whole wheat buns
- 1 tablespoon Dixie Crystals Light Brown Sugar
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Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, tomato sauce, sugar, worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sautรฉ until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion, bell pepper and carrots and cook, stirring as needed, for 5 minutes.
- Add turkey and cook until browned through, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Add the ketchup mixture, stirring to evenly coat turkey and vegetables.
- Simmer for 10 minutes more, or until thickened. Divide turkey mixture evenly among buns and serve immediately.
Nutrition
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I’m with you meat from a can other that tuna or salmon grosses me out! These sloppy joes look healthy and delicious! Love that you added “hidden” veggies to them!
Yummmm! This is a great way to healthy up the sloppy joe!
I adore sloppy joes, too! I haven’t made them in so long. I need to fix that! Off to find the recipe ๐
I love sloppy joes! My mom always made them. I need to try this healthier version they look delicious!
Holy sexy sloppy Joes! These look incredible, Jessica. Perfect game day or weeknight food!
sloppy joes were my favorite meal when I was a kid, I requested them every birthday like the total chubster I was ๐ brings back lots of happy memories – this looks delish!
This is so funny…I received this email this morning, but made it last night with exact ingredients as you did (just doing my own thing), but I added about 1 1/2 c broccoli slaw, 2 finely chopped carrots and 1 finely chopped small zucchini. It’s quick and easy. I have a more complex flavoured Sloppy Joe recipe that we love, but this is just as yummy and a lot less complicated! Thank you for sharing!
These look perfect Jessica!! Love your healthy sloppy joes!! ๐
I’m totally with you on meat from a can, weird and I just can’t do it. But yes tuna gets a free pass! Sloppies look great..