Turkey Sloppy Joes on Bun (Printable)

Lean ground turkey with savory-sweet tomato sauce on toasted buns. A lighter take on a beloved classic, ready in just 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb lean ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 small green bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
08 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
09 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ To Serve

14 - 4 hamburger buns, toasted

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground turkey. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
02 - Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables are softened.
03 - Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
04 - Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes until the sauce reaches desired thickness.
05 - Taste the mixture and adjust salt, pepper, or other seasonings as needed.
06 - Spoon the turkey mixture onto toasted buns and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce thickens to this perfect consistency where it clings to the meat but still creates that delicious messiness that makes sloppy joes so fun to eat.
  • Using turkey instead of beef gives you all the satisfaction without the heavy feeling afterward, which means you can absolutely go for seconds.
02 -
  • Toasting the buns isnt optional if you want to prevent them from turning to mush within seconds of adding the sloppy joe mixture.
  • The sauce might look too thin at first, but trust the process and keep simmering, as it thickens beautifully in those last few minutes.
03 -
  • If the mixture ever looks too dry during cooking, add a splash of chicken broth rather than water to maintain flavor intensity.
  • Let the finished sloppy joe mixture rest off the heat for 5 minutes before serving, which helps the sauce cling better to the meat.

Go Back