These easy Sloppy Joes made with Turkey (aka Sloppy Janes) are a lighter, flavorful twist on the classic! Made with ground turkey, veggies, and a tangy homemade sauce. Perfect in a bun or stuffed in a sweet potato!
I’ve started a new series on my instagram called Throwback Thursdays; recipes we grew up eating, made with better ingredients. I knew I had to share a version of the Sloppy Joe, made with turkey instead of beef, and a homemade sauce with way less sugar than the canned stuff; Sloppy Janes if you will.
And what’s not to love? Tangy, sweet, saucy, sloppy ground meat on a sandwich bun. I love serving these Turkey Sloppy Joes with my radish coleslaw on the side with a batch of French fries and pickles.
You could also serve with a side of cornbread muffins and my classic coleslaw as well.
ingredients for turkey sloppy joes
I like to make this Sloppy Jane recipe with ground turkey and a homemade sloppy Joe sauce with tomato paste – that’s sweet, but not nearly as sweet or processed as the canned stuff we grew up eating.
- ground turkey: the base for your sloppy janes. Or ground chicken is also okay. Make sure to use 93% or 94% fat-free. 99% is too lean for this recipe.
- olive oil: for sautéing aromatics and ground turkey. You can also use avocado oil.
- aromatics: yellow onion, green pepper, and garlic. Adds flavor.
- sloppy Joe sauce: recipe below
recipe for sloppy joe sauce
- tomato paste: the base for sloppy Joe sauce.
- coconut aminos: to add an umami flavor that’s also gluten-free. You can also use tamari.
- dijon mustard: to add a nice, zippy tang to the sauce. Yellow mustard is also okay.
- apple cider vinegar: tangy flavor and help to thin the sauce out. Can also use white vinegar.
- brown sugar: or coconut sugar, for a touch of sweet.
- spices: salt, pepper, smoked paprika – you can also use chili powder or regular paprika if needed.
- water: to thin out the tomato paste and make a proper sloppy Joe sauce.
Can I make sloppy joes without sugar?
I’ve tested this recipe without any sweetener, and I’ve tested it with maple syrup and honey, and honestly 1-tablespoon of brown sugar was the only thing that was comparable in taste to the OG canned stuff. Coconut sugar is also acceptable for the sloppy Joe sauce.
If you want to make the sauce without sugar, mix all the sauce ingredients together and then season to taste, starting with 1-teaspoon at a time before adding to the skillet.
how to make this recipe
These turkey sloppy joes come together in under 30-minutes making them perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, or just because you’re craving a comfort food; and it’s gluten-free!
- Sauté aromatics in skillet with olive oil, and cook until soft and translucent.
- Add ground turkey or ground chicken and brown until no longer pink. Avoid overcooking since this is a leaner meat and you still need to add the sauce to simmer.
- Mix sloppy Joe sauce ingredients to a bowl or large measuring cup and then pour over skillet.
- Let the sloppy Joe sauce with tomato paste simmer with the ground turkey for 10-ish minutes.
- Let skillet cool slightly before serving – this will allow the sauce to thicken.
- Serve and enjoy!
what to eat with sloppy joes
If you want to go the classic route, you can’t go wrong with a proper sandwich. If you want to elevate this Sloppy Jane, you could add provolone or pepper-jack cheese to a toasted Brioche or gluten-free bun with homemade pickles and pickled red onions, and a side of fries.
What can I serve sloppy joes on instead of buns
- You could also stuff into a baked potato or sweet potato with a side salad or radish slaw.
- Or in a bowl with cubed, roasted sweet potatoes and coleslaw.
how to store
You can meal prep sloppy joes for meals during the week for easy grab and go. The meat also freezes beautifully if you want to batch this for future meals.
- to store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-days.
- to reheat: Rewarm leftovers in a skillet or saucepan on the stovetop on medium heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water to loosen the sauce up.
- to freeze: Freeze leftover meat in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag/vacuum sealed bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
more ground turkey skillet dinners
Easy Sloppy Joes made with Turkey (Sloppy Janes)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1- lb. 94% lean ground turkey or chicken - or 93%. I do not recommend 99% as it's too lean for this turkey skillet
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 6 oz canned tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons Dijon or yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika - or regular paprika, or chili powder
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos - or 1 tablespoon tamari or Worcestershire sauce (if not GF)
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar - or can use white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- for serving: hamburger buns - pickled onions, coleslaw, or stuff into a sweet potato!
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add oil over medium heat. Once hot, sauté diced yellow onion and bell pepper until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ground turkey and season with salt and pepper. Cook ground turkey until no longer pink and just done. Do not overcook as the turkey will then simmer with the sloppy Joe sauce in the next step.
- To a mixing bowl, add tomato paste, mustard, brown sugar – if using, smoked paprika, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar and water. Whisk until well combined, and pour mixture over ground turkey skillet.
- Stir well to combine and bring to a low simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for 8-10 minutes, until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and let skillet cool for 5-minutes, The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Serve in your favorite bun, in a baked sweet potato or baked potato. Add your favorite toppings like coleslaw, pickled onions, etc.
Notes
Nutrition
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