These turkey sloppy joes are a lightened-up version of the classic family favorite! Ground turkey is simmered in a zesty homemade sauce and served on a toasted bun with shredded cheese. It’s an easy 35-minute meal that everyone will love!
On busy weeknights, I rely on a short list of easy dinners I know everyone will actually be excited to eat. These sloppy joes are one of those recipes. I swap ground beef for turkey and keep all the classic flavors, so they’re cozy, familiar, and perfect for getting dinner on the table without much fuss.
The homemade tomato sauce comes together with simple pantry staples and simmers into a rich, saucy dish in just one pot. I spoon the mixture onto toasted brioche or hamburger buns, add a handful of shredded cheese, and serve everything with plain chips on the side for a little salty crunch. It’s casual, comforting, and exactly what sloppy joes should be.
This recipe is ready in about 35 minutes, makes minimal mess, and freezes beautifully, so I often double or triple the batch for future dinners. Like my chipotle mushroom sloppy joes , they’re a little messy (in the best way), totally kid-approved, and one of those reliable meals I’m always glad to have in my back pocket.
Why toasting the buns is optional (but not really)
Toasting the buns is optional, but not really. They taste much better on a toasted bun, so you should do it. Butter or oil the cut sides of the buns, then place them face down in a pan on medium heat. In just a few minutes, you’ll have deliciously toasted buns, and the crunch is totally worth the extra effort.
Make ahead and slow cooker
Can I make sloppy joes in the slow cooker? Definitely! This is a great recipe for a crockpot. Simply add the cooked ground turkey and the sauce ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
How long does it keep in the fridge? When stored in an airtight container, the ground turkey mixture will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze it? Absolutely! This is a great recipe to make ahead and freeze. It will keep in a sealed container for up to 3 months!
What to serve with turkey sloppy joes
It’s not often I’ll open a bag of chips at dinner, but with sloppy goes, I love a handful on the side. Some fries, like my carrot fries or dill French fries are great options. And a simply spring mix salad or a Caesar salad round out the meal with some veggies.
Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1 small onion (minced)
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ▢ ½ medium red pepper (diced small)
- ▢ 1 lb ground turkey
- ▢ ½ cup tomato sauce
- ▢ ¼ cup ketchup
- ▢ 1 tablespoon EACH: Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar
- ▢ ½ cup chicken stock (or water)
For Serving
- ▢ 4 brioche buns (see notes)
- ▢ ½ cup shredded cheese (I like pepper jack or cheddar)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, until it’s soft. Add the garlic and red pepper to the pan and let them cook for 2 minutes. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, ½ medium red pepper
- Add the ground turkey to the pan and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. 1 lb ground turkey
- Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar to the pot and let it cook for 5 minutes, until it becomes sweet-smelling. Stir the chicken stock or water into the pan and let it cook for another 5 minutes. You want it to be saucy but not soupy. ½ cup tomato sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon EACH: Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar, ½ cup chicken stock
- Divide the sloppy joe meat between the buns and top with some pepper jack cheese. 4 brioche buns, ½ cup shredded cheese
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Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion , minced
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- ½ medium red pepper , diced small
- 1 lb ground turkey
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon EACH: Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar
- ½ cup chicken stock , or water
For Serving
- 4 brioche buns , see notes
- ½ cup shredded cheese , I like pepper jack or cheddar
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, until it’s soft. Add the garlic and red pepper to the pan and let them cook for 2 minutes. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, ½ medium red pepper
- Add the ground turkey to the pan and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. 1 lb ground turkey
- Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar to the pot and let it cook for 5 minutes, until it becomes sweet-smelling. Stir the chicken stock or water into the pan and let it cook for another 5 minutes. You want it to be saucy but not soupy. ½ cup tomato sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon EACH: Worchestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar, ½ cup chicken stock
- Divide the sloppy joe meat between the buns and top with some pepper jack cheese. 4 brioche buns, ½ cup shredded cheese
