By Becky Hardin
Published Oct 21, 2020
Weeknight dinners don’t get much easier and tastier than a classic sloppy Joe, and these Turkey Sloppy Joes are no exception. Made with simple ingredients and ready to serve in 30 minutes, these ground turkey sloppy joes are the perfect simple meal!
What’s in This Turkey Sloppy Joe Recipe?
If you are trying to cut down on your red meat intake, this turkey sloppy joes sandwich is an excellent alternative for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Made with just 5 ingredients, it all comes together in the skillet in minutes– perfect when you are short on time after a busy day!
- Turkey: Ground turkey makes this dish healthier than traditional sloppy joes .
- Onion : Creates a sweet and earthy base of flavor. White, yellow, sweet, or Vidalia all work for this recipe, but avoid red onion.
- Ketchup: Adds a touch of acidity and sweetness. We used Heinz Simply Ketchup, but any brand will work.
- Mustard: Adds a bit of tang! We like classic yellow mustard, but feel free to try out different kinds for a different flavor profile.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a savory, salty, and umami flavor to the meat that mimics ground beef.
- Hamburger Buns: We like sesame seed buns. Try our homemade hamburger buns recipe if you’re feeling fancy.
Variations on Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
This turkey sloppy joe recipe is easy to adapt to any taste! We think it has a great balance of sweet and savory flavors, but for a more savory flavor profile, swap the ketchup for tomato paste and add a splash of red wine vinegar. For a sweeter option, add some brown sugar!
How to Store and Reheat
These turkey sloppy joes are super quick and easy to make, but if you like you can make a bigger batch to enjoy later in the week. Let the turkey cool to room temperature and transfer to an airtight container. It will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated on the stovetop.
How to Freeze
Let the turkey sloppy joe meat cool and place it in Ziplock bags to freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stovetop.
Serving Suggestions
We like to serve these turkey sloppy joes with a few zingy pickles or some pickle relish . The meat is also great by itself, without the buns. Serve it over some egg noodles or mashed potatoes . Yum!
Notes from the Test Kitchen
Turkey is a great healthy alternative to beef. It’s lower in fat and calories but still high in protein, and it has such a great flavor when combined with the sloppy joe sauce!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound ground turkey
- ▢ ½ onion chopped
- ▢ 1 cup ketchup we used Heinz Simply Ketchup
- ▢ 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ▢ 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a skillet set over medium heat, brown the ground turkey and chopped onions. 1 pound ground turkey, ½ onion
- Once the meat is brown and no longer pink and the onions are tender, add the ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well. 1 cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Turn the stove down to medium-low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. As it simmers, it will thicken and allow the flavors to meld together.
- Get your favorite bun toast it or don’t, and fill it up with the delicious sloppy Joe meat and enjoy! 4 hamburger buns
Becky’s Tips
- When cooking ground turkey, there won’t be much if any grease to drain.
- For a sweeter filling, add some sugar to the ketchup mixture; however, we don’t feel this is necessary.
- We like to serve these with toasted sesame seed buns!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Turkey Recipes To Try
- Turkey Sliders
- Turkey Rice Casserole
- Smoked Turkey Breast
- Deep Fried Turkey Breast
- Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
- Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 cup ketchup we used Heinz Simply Ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a skillet set over medium heat, brown the ground turkey and chopped onions. 1 pound ground turkey, ½ onion
- Once the meat is brown and no longer pink and the onions are tender, add the ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well. 1 cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Turn the stove down to medium-low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. As it simmers, it will thicken and allow the flavors to meld together.
- Get your favorite bun toast it or don’t, and fill it up with the delicious sloppy Joe meat and enjoy! 4 hamburger buns
Notes
- When cooking ground turkey, there won’t be much if any grease to drain.
- For a sweeter filling, add some sugar to the ketchup mixture; however, we don’t feel this is necessary.
- We like to serve these with toasted sesame seed buns!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
