Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes are saucy, flavorful, and loaded with hidden veggies. They’re quick to make and ready in 30 minutes or less.
author’s note
The Sloppy Joes My Kids Ask for Every Week!
Sloppy Joes always remind me of being a kid. They were one of those quick dinners my parents could throw together, and we were all happy to eat them. Now that I’m cooking for my own family, I wanted to bring that same idea back but in a version that I can sneak some veggies in.
These Turkey Sloppy Joes use lean ground turkey instead of beef and are packed with finely chopped veggies that blend right into the sauce. My kids don’t even notice them, but I like knowing they’re in there. The end result is saucy, hearty, and messy in the best way. My husband is all about them, the kids clean their plates, and I love that dinner is done in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients Turkey Sloppy Joes
| Ingredient | Swap/Tip |
|---|---|
| Ground Turkey | Use ground chicken or beef if preferred. |
| Onion & Garlic | Swap onion with shallot for a sweeter taste. |
| Carrot, Red Pepper & Mushrooms | Use a food processor to finely chop for picky eaters. |
| Ketchup + Tomato Sauce + BBQ Sauce | Swap BBQ with extra ketchup for a milder flavor. |
| Worcestershire, Mustard, Vinegar, Brown Sugar | Skip sugar for less sweetness. |
| Beef Bouillon Powder | Use chicken bouillon if that’s what you have. |
Featured Comment
“These are my “go-to” sloppy joes. So tasty and a great way to make a healthier version of an old favorite. Thank you for sharing this great recipe!”
– Tammy
How To Make Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
- Veggies: In a skillet, sauté onion, garlic, carrot, and bell pepper until softened.
- Add Mushrooms: Cook until tender and moisture has evaporated.
- Brown the Turkey: Push veggies aside, add turkey, and cook until no longer pink.
- Sauce: Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, BBQ, Worcestershire, mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, and bouillon.
- Simmer: Let the mixture simmer until thickened, then spoon onto buns and enjoy.
Storage
- Fridge: Store meat mixture in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Reheat Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes in the stove or microwave.
- Freeze: Cool completely, then store in freezer bags for up to 3 months.
- Meal Prep Tip: Keep the filling and buns separate until ready to serve to avoid soggy sandwiches.
More EASY Ground Turkey Recipes:
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup grated yellow onion 1 small onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 cloves
- 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot 1 medium carrot
- 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper 1 bell pepper
- 1 cup finely chopped baby bella mushrooms 6 ounces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon powder
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 to 1 cup freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese depending on how cheesy you’d like it, optional
- Brioche buns for serving
Instructions
- Peel onion and grate it on the large holes of a grater. Mince the garlic, finely chop (or grate on the large holes) a carrot, finely chop red pepper, and finely chop mushrooms. Alternatively, add a coarsely chopped carrot, coarsely chopped red pepper, and garlic to a food processor and pulse into diced pieces. Add mushrooms separately and pulse into diced pieces.
- Add olive oil to a large cast-iron pan and place over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, carrot, and bell pepper. Sauté 5–7 minutes or until liquid from the veggies has evaporated. Add mushrooms and sauté another 2–3 minutes or until all veggies are mostly tender. Press veggies to the edges of the pan and add turkey in the center. Crumble the meat into small pieces and cook until no longer pink (but not cooked through all the way), about 5–8 minutes. As you crumble it, incorporate the veggies into the meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Whisk this sauce in a different bowl or add it right into the pan. Add ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar (see note 1), yellow mustard, beef bouillon powder, and BBQ sauce. Stir well, then simmer meat until fully cooked and sauce has thickened, about 3–5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. If desired, add some freshly shredded cheese on the meat and let stand (covered with a lid) 2–3 minutes or until melted. Spoon the mixture on top of toasted buns (see note 2) and enjoy immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Side Dishes To Serve Alongside
Pair these with easy sides with Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes for a full meal:
- Potato chips or French fries
- Onion rings
- Dill pickles
- Elote (Mexican street corn) or grilled corn
- Potato salad, cucumber salad, or potato salad
- Roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts
- Baked beans
Quick Tip
Serve Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes on toasted brioche buns. Here’s how to toast buns—on a grill, in a pan, or in the oven.
*I originally shared this recipe February 11, 2020. Updated the post, not the recipe, on September 23, 2025.
These are amazing! Will never make any other sloppy joes!
So happy to hear that! Thank you for the comment 🙂
This was a very tasty and healthy meal! A nurse came to my house and smelled what was cooking and took the recipe with her! Yummy!
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment 🙂
This is very similar to another Sloppy Turkey Joe recipe that I have used for years. That recipe included a make your own “No Cook BBQ Sauce” which can be used in this recipe. What I love about your recipe is the addition of the mushrooms and the beef bouillon. I also like that you grated the onion, it does make a difference. Definitely a keeper recipe!
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks so much Donna! 🙂
A little work involved in this one, but totally worth it! Delicious!
So happy you enjoyed! 🙂
I didn’t have any barbecue or beef bullion so I swapped with about a half tablespoon of Johnny’s French Dip Au Jus concentrate. I had to calculate the nutrition count due to my husband’s restricted diet. Here it is for anyone interested. Btw, he liked it and we’ll be making it again. The nutrition count does not include a roll. Calculated on Spark recipes but not saved there to protect your content. I wish bloggers would break out the nutrition content, trying to cook for him now is very, very time consuming.
Calories231.0
Total Fat7.9 g
Saturated Fat2.1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat0.3 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.7 g
Cholesterol53.3 mg
Sodium394.3 mg
Potassium119.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate24.0 g
Dietary Fiber3.5 g
Sugars11.3 g
Protein17.5 g
Vitamin A31.1 %
Vitamin B-120.1 %
Vitamin B-64.8 %
Vitamin C33.0 %
Vitamin D2.2 %
Vitamin E1.4 %
Calcium3.7 %
Copper3.2 %
Folate2.0 %
Iron5.5 %
Magnesium1.5 %
Manganese3.7 %
Niacin3.4 %
Pantothenic Acid2.4 %
Phosphorus2.2 %
Riboflavin3.7 %
Selenium3.5 %
Thiamin2.3 %
Zinc1.0 %
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000
Also time consuming for the author and not everyone needs the level of detail you do.
Is there a substitute for beef bouillion powder?
Not that I know of that will have the same effect, sorry. You can leave it out, but it gives it a really great flavor and makes the turkey taste more like beef 🙂 You may need some extra salt without it.
I always use the Better Than Boullion that I always have on hand. If I don’t have beef (which I ususally do), vegetable or chicken work well, too. I prefer the extra bit of flavor that beef adds.
My husband and I love this recipe. So much so, that I have shared it with my family and several friends. I grated the carrot (much faster than finely chopping), and added a 1/4 tsp of Smoked Paprika which gives it a mild Smokey flavor. Thanks for a delicious recipe!
I am so happy to hear this Theresa! Thanks so much for sharing and for your kind comment! 🙂
Is there something I can use in place of the red wine vinegar?
You could try rice wine vinegar or 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. If you don’t want any vinegar, you can leave it out. (I like the way it balances flavors and sweetness!)
I made this for dinner tonight and followed recipe exactly (ok, almost exactly!! We have a lot of ground venison in the freezer so I used that instead of the ground turkey). It as DELICIOUS!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! The only thing I find is that my prep time is always at least double any website prep time listed!! I guess I’m a slow chopper! Lol. I did use my mini food processor for all the veggies and it was a big time saver. My husband said, “you can make this meal every week and I’d be happy!”
I am SOOO happy to hear this!! Yay!! And thanks for the tip on the food processor! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
Omg, I feel your pain!!! I’m 41 & have been cooking since I was about 12, and it still takes me forever to chop!! Lol. I look at the times listed for recipes and double it in my mind because I know there’s no way I’ll get it done faster.
what a great reminder of a long forgotten favorite, or at least it can become one again with healthier ingredients like ground turkey, very nice, thank you!