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Turkey Sloppy Joes

January 11, 2019 by Michelle | 2 Comments

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Ready in about 30 minutes, these homemade Turkey Sloppy Joes are a little sweet, a little spicy, and a lot of delicious! A great recipe when you need to get dinner or lunch on the table fast!

sloppy joe and potato chips on a white plate with a pan of sloppy joe meat in the background this recipe

For most of my childhood, Sloppy Joes were not on my list of favorite things to eat. We didn’t have them at home much, so my dislike of them was most likely due to the ones they inevitably served once a week for lunch at school.

Is anyone else singing Lunch Lady Land in their head right now?

When I started teaching myself how to cook, I decided to give Sloppy Joes another try. At the time, I was totally into watching as much Food Network as I could in my free time, and I saw Rachael Ray make Sloppy Joes on 30-Minute Meals. They looked delicious and so easy!

So off to the kitchen I went. I made them…they were easy. I ate them…they were delicious. And it really did only take me about 30 minutes.

Hey, I do like Sloppy Joes after all!

Brown sugar makes them a little sweet, and the “secret” ingredient that gives them a little spice and a great flavor punch? Montreal Steak Seasoning!

There’s some vinegar in there for a little tang and some Worcestershire sauce for a little bit of meaty richness. It’s a delicious balance of flavors!

Plus, they’re full of peppers and onions, so you get some veggies in there too!

pan of turkey sloppy joes with a serving spoon and plates and buns in the background

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO MAKE TURKEY SLOPPY JOES:

  • Olive oil
  • Ground turkey (93% lean)
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Montreal Steak Seasoning (or your favorite steak seasoning)
  • Onions
  • Red bell peppers
  • Garlic
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Tomato sauce
  • Tomato paste
  • Sandwich buns (I use potato buns)

HERE’S A QUICK LOOK AT HOW TO MAKE TURKEY SLOPPY JOES:

three photos showing steps to make turkey sloppy joes with text that says brown ground turkey in olive oil, add brown sugar, steak seasoning, onions, peppers, and garlic, cook until onions and peppers have softened
three photos showing steps to make turkey sloppy joes with text that says add vinegar, Worcestershire, tomato sauce and paste, stir, then simmer 5 minutes or until sauce thickens a bit, serve and enjoy

Like I said, EASY (and QUICK)!

Over the years, I made only a few minor changes to Rachael’s original recipe, the biggest one being that I use ground turkey instead of ground beef (just because I happen to like ground turkey better).

I also make a bigger batch (enough for about 8 sandwiches) because…leftovers! It gets even better as it sits!

This freezes really well too, so even if you don’t think you need to make enough for 8 sandwiches for dinner tonight, I would suggest making the whole batch anyway so you could freeze some. Future dinner in the bank!

They are also a crowd-pleaser and are great to make for parties, picnics, and potlucks.

sloppy joe and potato chips on a white plate and red napkin

COMMON QUESTIONS:

  • Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey? Yes, absolutely! Use 2 pounds of ground beef.
  • Does it freeze well? Yes!

I hope you try this recipe for Turkey Sloppy Joes and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!

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turkey sloppy joe on a white plate with potato chips

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ready in about 30 minutes, these homemade Turkey Sloppy Joes are a little sweet, a little spicy, and a lot of delicious! A great recipe when you need to get dinner or lunch on the table fast!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8 Sandwiches
Calories: 413
Author: Michelle | Now Cook This!
(prevent your screen from going dark)

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
  • 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
  • 8 sandwich buns, I use potato buns

Instructions

  • Brown the ground turkey in the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain off any excess fat.
  • Add the brown sugar, steak seasoning, onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers have softened.
  • Add the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes or until heated through and the sauce thickens a bit. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  • Place turkey mixture on sandwich buns and serve.

Notes

  • You can substitute 2 pounds of ground beef for the ground turkey.
  • Freezes well.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see it!Mention @nowcookthis or tag #nowcookthisrecipes!

Recipe adapted from Rachael Ray.

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Previous Post: « Instant Pot Beef Stew
Next Post: Sausage, Potato & Kale Soup (Zuppa Toscana) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. le partageur

    September 24, 2019 at 5:38 am

    very nice recipe , i ll try it soon !

    Reply
    • Michelle

      September 24, 2019 at 7:55 am

      Thank you!

      Reply

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Welcome to my kitchen where something good is always cooking! I want us all to cook and eat at home more, so I’m here to share my favorite simple and delicious recipes that are perfect for the everyday home cook. I hope you will be inspired to get in the kitchen and try these recipes, and I hope they become some of your favorites too! Read more…

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