Turkey Sloppy Joes

These healthy, turkey Sloppy Joes are made from scratch using simple ingredients. Ground turkey is simmered in a sweet, homemade sauce and served on thick slices of homemade sourdough bread.

You all know I like to keep our family meals pretty basic and simple. I normally make the same things over and over again.

One thing is consistent: I like to use good ol’ fashioned whole ingredients. While hanging out with my mom the other day, I was telling her that I really only have a handful of meals that I make with ground meat. 

You know… meatballs, meatloaf, burgers, chili, cheeseburger soup, skillet dinners. That’s about the extent of it.

“What about Sloppy Joes?” she said. Right away, my mind was off and away dreaming up a way to make it more nutritious than the traditional “seasoning in a packet” or “sauce in a can” way. I also knew I wanted to swap out the beef.

When my husband and I were first married, I grabbed ground turkey from the store all the time. Somehow, over the last ten years, I have basically overlooked it as a protein source. 

In these Turkey Joes, I love that the ground turkey is lighter, leaner, and still really tasty.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Farmhouse on Boone sandwich if it wasn’t piled high on freshly made sourdough bread and smothered in melty cheese. And, why not? It’s so delicious!

Turkey Sloppy Joe Tips:

• If you don’t have ground turkey, you can easily substitute it with ground beef, ground pork, or even shredded chicken.
• Don’t cook at too high of heat. This can cause the garlic to burn and turn bitter while also charring everything else.
• Wait to add the turkey until after the sauce comes together. This gives you a more moist finish.
• Make a double batch and then use it for other variations (seen below) throughout the week.

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Are sloppy Joe’s healthy for you?

This is all relative on what you consider healthy. To me this recipe is made from real, whole food ingredients and includes veggies and protein.

While there is a little bit of added sugar, you could a more natural sugar like honey or maple syrup which tend to have more nutrients compared to regular sugar.

Tools you may need:

Cast iron skillet

Measuring spoons and liquid measuring cup

Knife

Cutting board

Spatula

Ingredients

Olive oil

Garlic

Onion

Bell pepper – any color will work.

Tomato paste

Mustard

Organic brown sugar or honey – While you can use regular brown sugar, I like to use organic since most sugar is made from GMO sugar beet.

Apple cider vinegar

Salt and black pepper

Water

Oregano

Cumin

Ground Turkey

Variations:

• Use a different ground meat, like chicken, beef, bison, or pork.
• Make them spicy by adding some crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
• Substitute brown sugar for maple syrup for a lovely, subtle maple flavor.
• Add a fried egg, avocado, and even bacon for a seriously delicious and decadent dish.
• For a vegan or vegetarian version, use cooked lentils or beans in place of the meat.
• Sloppy nachos, anyone? Top tortilla chips with this Sloppy Joe meat, top with cheese and beans, then bake. Serve with your favorite nacho toppings.
• Slice baked potatoes in half and add some of the meat and cheese. Bake for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

Sides To Go With Sloppy Joes:

• Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Green salad with homemade salad dressing
• How to Make Crispy Potatoes in a Cast Iron Skillet
• Fermented Carrots Recipe
• Homemade Sauerkraut Recipe
• Potato salad
• Fermented Pickles
• Mac and cheese
• French fries
• Coleslaw
• Green beans
• Corn on the cob
• Sweet potatoes
• Asparagus
• Baked beans

How To Make Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

Add the olive oil, garlic, onion, and bell pepper to a skillet over medium heat. Allow it to sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the veggies start to soften. 

Add in all the rest of the ingredients, except the turkey. Stir them together to combine the sauce. Once combined, add the ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up with your spatula and bring it to a simmer. 

Allow it to cook uncovered for about 10 minutes, or until the turkey reaches 165 degrees. (For safe cooking and handling of raw meat, make sure to sanitize and clean surfaces, utensils, and your hands to prevent cross contamination.) 

Grab a thick slice of homemade sourdough bread and scoop on a  generous serving of the Sloppy Joe meat. 

Top it with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and throw it back in the skillet with a bit of butter or olive oil. 

Toast it a bit and allow the cheese to melt. 

Serve alongside some homemade cast iron fried potatoes. Of course, you don’t have to do that last step, but it’s pretty darn delicious! I just had a whole plate of this for dinner and, my oh my, I’m sure glad we have a bit of leftovers!

Sloppy Joes recipe are nearly always kid-friendly, but my kids devoured this more nutritious version. 

My three year old son kept asking for more! It has all that good saucy flavor that kids love, without all of the bad stuff. They’ll never know the difference.

Find More Delicious Farmhouse Dinners:

• Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup
• Beef Carnitas – Instant Pot, Slow Cooker Or Oven
• Greek Chicken With Orzo Pasta
• Pork Steaks With Creamy Onion Gravy
• Beef Stew with Einkorn Sourdough Bread

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you!