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These turkey sloppy joes are a quick, family-friendly meal made with lean ground turkey simmered in a sweet and tangy homemade sauce. Melted Colby-Jack cheese and bread and butter pickles take them over the top, creating an easy dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes.
They’re a great option for busy weeknights when you want something hearty without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. The homemade sauce comes together with pantry staples and coats every bite of turkey perfectly.
If you’re looking for more classic comfort food recipes, be sure to try my Burger Bowls, Sloppy Joe Sliders, and Glazed Meatloaf.
Why You’ll Love Turkey Sloppy Joes
- Easy weeknight dinner: A meal the whole family will love that’s ready in about 30 minutes.
- Simple pantry ingredients: Most of the homemade sloppy joe sauce ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.
- Family favorite: A lighter and healthier twist on classic homemade sloppy joes that’s still full of flavor.
Ingredients
Find the full ingredient list in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Lean ground turkey – A lighter alternative to ground beef that still makes a hearty sandwich.
- Sweet onion and garlic – Build a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce – Create the classic sweet and tangy sloppy joe flavor.
- Brown sugar – Balances the tanginess with a touch of sweetness.
- Colby-Jack cheese and hamburger buns – Finish each sandwich with melty cheese on a toasted bun. You can also use these Sourdough Hawaiian Rolls.
How to Make Turkey Sloppy Joes
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making these Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 500°F on the broil setting. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic.
Step 2: Cook until the onion is softened and fragrant.
Step 3: Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it into crumbles, until it is no longer pink.
Step 4: Stir in the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and about half of the chicken broth.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook until the ground turkey mixture is hot and well combined. Add the remaining broth if you’d like a thinner sauce.
Step 7: Arrange the hamburger buns on a baking sheet and place a slice of Colby-Jack cheese on each bottom bun.
Step 8: Broil for 1½ to 2 minutes, just until the cheese melts and the buns are lightly toasted.
Step 9: Spoon the turkey mixture onto the buns and top with bread and butter pickles before serving.
Tips for Success
- Don’t overcook the turkey to keep it tender and juicy.
- Add the chicken broth gradually so you can adjust the consistency of the sauce.
- Watch the buns carefully under the broiler since they brown quickly.
- Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted.
What to Serve with Turkey Sloppy Joes
These sandwiches pair well with:
- Potato chips
- French fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Coleslaw
- Pasta salad
- Fresh fruit
- Homemade pickles
How to Store
- Store leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the mixture thickens during storage, stir in a splash of chicken broth before serving.
- The filling also freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Ground chicken works well and can be substituted in equal amounts.
Absolutely. The filling reheats well, making it great for meal prep.
Yes. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or American cheese are all good options.
No, but the sweet and tangy flavor of bread and butter pickles pairs especially well with the sloppy joe filling.
Yes. Freeze the cooled meat mixture in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
More Easy Dinner Ideas
If you make this turkey sloppy joes recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment with a 5-star recipe rating and let me know! Thank you!
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6-8 slices Colby-Jack cheese
- Bread and butter pickles for topping
- 6-8 hamburger buns of choice, a brioche bun works well
Instructions
- Preheat the oven on the broil setting to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and onions to the skillet and saute until the onions are softened and aromatic.
- Add the ground turkey to the skillet and cook until no longer pink, breaking the meat up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Add the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, about ½ the broth, and worcestershire sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste, and continue cooking until the sauce is fully heated through. Add the remaining broth if you like a slightly thinner sauce, but be careful not to make it too runny.
- Arrange the buns on a baking sheet and place a slice of cheese on the bottom half of each one.
- Broil the buns in the preheated oven for 1 ½ to 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and the buns are very lightly browned.
- Remove the buns from the oven and top with the sloppy joe meat and a few pickles.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the turkey to keep it tender and juicy.
- Add the chicken broth gradually so you can adjust the consistency of the sauce.
- Watch the buns carefully under the broiler since they brown quickly.
- Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted.
- Store leftover turkey sloppy joe filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. If the mixture thickens during storage, stir in a splash of chicken broth before serving.
- The filling also freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
