Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

Making ground turkey sloppy joes is easy and fun! This simple recipe for homemade sloppy joes will put smiles on all the faces around your dinner table tonight. We have plenty of ground turkey recipes to fill your meal plan.

Sloppy Joes are a classic dinner staple and by using ground turkey to make this version you will save some calories and fat along with some money in the grocery budget.

Ground turkey is a great alternative to ground beef because It has the same taste and texture as ground beef in a recipe like Sloppy Joe which also makes it an easy swap that even picky eaters won’t notice.

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If you have never made ground turkey sloppy Joes from scratch you will love this easy to follow recipe. There are a few more ingredients in this one but all the seasonings and spices are necessary for making this the delicious, messy, indulgent dinner that we all know and love.

Keep in mind that you can add more / less of whatever you like to give it an extra boost of flavor. If you like a little more spice, bump up the chili powder and peppers. You can’t go wrong with the recipe for ground turkey sloppy Joes, it’s very forgiving and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd!

A great side dish to pair with this meal would Dill Roasted Radishes. They are so flavorful and can be made quickly with a few simple ingredients.

What’s the difference between ground turkey and ground beef?

Ground turkey is a leaner option than ground beef, so it’s a healthier choice for sloppy Joes. It’s essentially the same style of meat because it’s ground up and when it is cooked up in your skillet the texture and appearance will be very similar.

Ground beef will have more fat than ground turkey and ground beef is usually a little more expensive as well. Other than that in a recipe like this you really won’t be able to tell the difference between ground beef and ground turkey.

Why are they called “sloppy” joes?

The term “sloppy” refers to the fact that the meat is cooked with onions and green peppers until it’s very soft, so it falls apart easily when you take a bite. Sometimes you may hear it called BBQ

They’re kind of a mess to eat…which makes them all the more fun to serve up for dinner! It’s a great recipe that everyone enjoys and you can have a little fun getting your hands dirty for an indulgent meal.

Does Ground Turkey BBQ have to be on a bun?

Sloppy joes can be served on a bun or over rice, potatoes, or even pasta. Some people like to add cheese or other toppings to their sloppy joe, but it’s not necessary. Just add your favorite condiments and enjoy!

You can also make a sloppy joe casserole if you would like to serve your BBQ in a baking dish!

What do I need to make this easy ground turkey recipe?

This recipe uses olive oil, leann ground turkey, onions, garlic, pepper, green peppers, chili powder, salt, ground mustard, sugar free bbq sauce, tomato paste, white granulated sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. You will also need some water and some buns for serving! 

That might seem like a lot but it really is easy to whip this recipe up so be sure to give it a try before you give up because of the ingredients list. Most of these seasonings and sauces you probably already have on hand anyway.

Here are a few easy sides for sloppy joes to help you make a complete meal.

Here are some kitchen essentials to have on hand for recipes and meal prep:

Making healthy meals is a breeze with these kitchen essentials. Keeping things like this on hand makes my life so much easier in the kitchen.

Some things that are great to have on hand when prepping meals like this are a cutting board, sharp knives, and storage containers.

You can also benefit from a good skillet, a kitchen scale, and measuring cups.

How to make sloppy joes with ground turkey:

Let’s dive into this super easy sloppy Joe recipe that is made with ground turkey. In just a few simple steps you will have a homemade version of your favorite childhood dish. This messy but fun meal is great for weeknights.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over MED-HIGH heat.  Add turkey, onion, garlic, and bell pepper and cook. Break the turkey apart as it cooks. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through and vegetables are beginning to soften.  Transfer to a colander to drain.

Mix in chili powder, salt, pepper, sugar and ground mustard.

Mix in the barbecue sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and water. Stir well to combine. 

Simmer on low for 10-12 minutes, or until mixture has thickened, stirring often.  Remove from heat and serve on buns.

Looking for more delicious ground turkey recipes to try?

Make sure you give some of these other ground turkey recipes a try. They’re all delicious, easy to make, and perfect for sharing. They are lightened up and great for anyone to enjoy.

• Ground Turkey Pizza
• Ground Turkey Soup With Beans
• Ground Turkey Stuffed Potato Skins
• Ground Turkey Potato Casserole
• Ground Turkey Unstuffed Peppers

Can I have this recipe on Weight Watchers?

Yes, absolutely! This recipe is 2 WW points per serving with 99% fat free ground turkey breast. We recommend that you use the recipe creator on the app or the website to create the recipe based on the ingredients/brands you use and then you’ll know for sure how to track this recipe accurately.

Which WW Program are these points for?

In 2023, WW is using just plain old “POINTS.”

• Be sure to calculate the points value of the foods and recipes you eat in the app.
• Always add ingredients and serving sizes and don’t rely on the nutrition facts in the recipe.
• Accuracy will come from the information you input on the app.

Printable Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe: