These deliciously sweet, tangy, and messy Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes are a little more healthy than typical sloppy joes because they are made without ketchup or refined sugar, they have additional veggies added (in the form of shredded zucchini) and they are made with lean ground turkey instead of beef.

three ground turkey sloppy joes pictured on a slate surface with parchment underneath the one in front, and an orange beverage out fo focus in the back left

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Why We Love This Recipe For Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

If homemade healthier versions of chicken fingers, oven fries, and fish sticks are the only healthy foods your kiddos will eat, give these Turkey Sloppy Joes a try. They’re sure to become a family favorite too!

These turkey sloppy joes, sometimes referred to as Sloppy Janes, have simple ingredients, are lower in added sugar, and are made with lean turkey. In other words, they are lighter than a traditional sloppy joes recipe. They take less than a half hour to make and they’re great meal prepped too. 

Recipe Highlights

  • Fast and easy to make for weeknight dinners
  • Can be prepped ahead or double batched and frozen for later
  • Kid-friendly and picky eater approved
  • Get extra nutrition with several cups of hidden veggies (zucchini and onion)

If you like this recipe be sure to check out our healthy beef sloppy joes and chicken taco sloppy joes!

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Ingredients for Turkey Sloppy Joes

zucchini, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, tomato sauce, avocado oil, Worcestershire sauce, ground turkey, soy sauce, dry thyme, onion, and garlic powder laid out for healthy ground turkey sloppy joes
  • Ground Turkey:  Many packages of ground turkey meat are 20 ounces, but if yours happens to be 16 ounces, this recipe works just fine too. We recommend 93% lean or 7% fat. 
  • Cooking Oil: Avocado oil or organic canola oil
  • Vegetables: Zucchini and sweet yellow onion
  • Canned Tomato Sauce: This will be with the marinara sauces, pasta sauce and canned tomato products (for pasta) but it doesn’t have the same seasonings as jarred spaghetti sauce- and the consistency is perfect for using in sloppy joes sauce.   
  • Soy Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce: These are two flavor-boosing ingredients that amp up the savory sauce and add umami to the sloppy joes meat.
  • Maple Syrup: Instead of ketchup (with corn syrup) or brown sugar- we opted for unrefined pure maple syrup. It adds a bit of sweetness naturally!
  • Kitchen Staples: Apple Cider Vinegar, dried thyme, garlic powder.
  • Hamburger Buns: Take your pick and buy whatever your family will enjoy. White, Whole wheat, gluten-free or brioche buns all work equally well and is a matter of preference.

How To Make Easy Sloppy Joes with Ground Turkey

step one shows chopped onion caramelizing in a skillet while step 2 on the right side is turkey browning in the skillet

Step 1: Caramelize Onions

Swirl the oil in the bottom of a non-stick large skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Add the onion, and let it cook, stirring often until the onions are softened. They should become lightly caramelized and golden brown, and start to become translucent. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 2: Brown Ground Turkey

Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until the turkey is browned and no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. 

on the left is step three where the zucchini is added and on the right is step 4 which is when the tomato sauce is added

Step 3: Add Zucchini

Stir in the zucchini, thyme, and garlic powder and cook until the zucchini has released its juices and is very soft. This will take 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 4: Add Sauce Ingredients

Add the tomato sauce, maple syrup, Worcestershire, soy sauce, and vinegar and cook, stirring often until the sauce is thick and the zucchini is broken down. This should take 3 to 5 minutes. 

in the top right corner is a bowl full of ground turkey sloppy jane mix and filling the rest of the photo are several bun halves with some of them topped with the mixture

Step 5: Add to Buns

Spoon the sloppy joe meat mixture onto a toasted bun and serve immediately. Enjoy!

a healthy ground turkey sloppy jane on a bun sitting on a plate with broccoli and an orange beverage in the background
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FAQs for Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

What’s the difference between Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Janes?

The difference is in the meat! Classic sloppy joes are made with ground beef and sloppy janes are made with ground turkey.

Can I sub ground chicken for ground turkey?

Yes, you can substitute ground chicken for ground turkey in this sloppy joe recipe, but keep in mind that the texture is a little less dense and slightly softer. 

Can you make this recipe in a slow cooker?

You can definitely make homemade sloppy joes in a slow cooker! Just prepare through step two on the stovetop and then combine the browned meat, cooked onions, and the remaining ingredients in the insert of a medium slow cooker. Cook everything on low for 4 to 6 hours. {If your Crockpot runs hot, cook the turkey filling for only 4 hours.)

Expert Tips for Sloppy Janes

Serving Suggestions and Tips

Make Ahead, Storage, Freezing

This recipe is so simple to meal-prep ahead of time and then enjoy later in the work week when you are too busy to cook.

  • Refrigerate: Your sloppy joe mixture can be prepared through step 4 up to three days in advance. Keep the turkey mixture in the fridge in a resealable container and then reheat and add the meat to the bun when you’re ready to serve. 
  • Freeze: You can double the batch and freeze half in an airtight container. Be sure to let the meat mixture cool before putting the lid on the container and putting it in the freezer. It can be frozen for up to three months.

How to Reheat

  • Re-heat refrigerated sloppy joes in a non-stick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until it’s steaming hot.
  • Alternatively, reheat the turkey mixture in the microwave, about 1 min 30 seconds per serving. Make sure it is steaming hot. (You may have to stir if necessary and continue heating to ensure it is evenly heated.)
  • If you’re reheating from frozen, we recommend allowing it to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours or overnight. For the best texture reheat the thawed turkey mixture on the stovetop. Simmer to thicken the gravy/sauce if the mixture seems watery.

Variations To Try and Substitutions

  • Use gluten-free buns or sandwich rolls if you follow a wheat-free diet.
  • Add yummy toppings like pickles or jalapeno slices.
  • Make it vegetarian by using a plant-based meat alternative, like Beyond Meat.
  • Add additional veggies like red bell pepper or green pepper, or swap out the zucchini for shredded carrots.
  • Top your sloppy joe with sliced avocado for a variation in texture and some additional healthy fats.
  • Put your sloppy joe mixture inside roasted bell peppers for a delicious take on stuffed peppers.
  • Sprinkle some of your favorite cheese on top of your turkey mixture while it’s still warm so you get a sloppy joe melt.
  • Add provolone, chopped green bell pepper, and mushrooms to make a Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe.

Additional Ground Turkey Recipes To Try

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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ground turkey sloppy joe meat on a bun with lettuce and an orange beverage in the background

Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

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5 from 3 reviews

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Description

These deliciously sweet, tangy and messy Turkey Sloppy Joes are a little more healthy than typical sloppy joes because they are made without ketchup or refined sugar, they have additional stealthy veggies added in (in the form of shredded zucchini) and they are made with lean ground turkey instead of beef.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 teaspoons avocado oil or organic canola oil
  • 1 cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
  • 20 ounces ground turkey, preferably 7% fat
  • 1 small zucchini, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon dry thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 14 ounces canned tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 8 toasted hamburger buns, whole wheat or gluten-free if desired

Instructions

  1. Swirl oil in the bottom of a large non-stick skillet and place over medium-high heat. Add onion, and let cook, stirring often until the onions are softened, lightly caramelized and browned and starting to become translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add turkey and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon until the turkey is browned and no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. 
  3. Stir in zucchini, thyme and garlic powder and cook until the zucchini has released its juices and is very soft, 4 to 5 minutes.
  4. Add tomato sauce, maple syrup, Worcestershire, soy sauce and vinegar and cook, stirring often until the sauce is thick and the zucchini is broken down, 3 to 5 minutes. 
  5. Spoon the meat mixture onto buns and serve immediately.

Notes

Ingredient Note: Many packages of ground turkey are 20 ounces, but if yours happens to be 16 ounces, this recipe works just fine too. Use a small can of tomato sauce (8-ounces) and you will get about 1 ½ cups of the meat mixture (6 servings.) 

Make Ahead: Can be prepared through step 4 up to 3 days ahead. Keep the turkey mixture refrigerated in a re-sealable container. Re-heat in a non-stick skillet over medium heat stirring occasionally until steaming hot. Serve on toasted buns. Alternatively reheat the turkey mixture in the microwave, about 1 min 30 seconds per serving. Freeze up to 3 months. We recommend reheating thawed turkey mixture on the stovetop. Simmer to thicken the gravy/sauce if the mixture seems watery.

  • Active Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4.5 cups
  • Calories: 395
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Fat: 11 g
  • Carbohydrates: 49 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 28 g

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