I cannot adequately express my love for sloppy Joe’s. I love the slow simmered bold flavors, the comfort they evoke, even the total messiness. It’s such a classic and such a family favorite in my house! I’ve tweaked the recipe a bit and use ground turkey for my sloppy Joe’s. It’s leaner, doesn’t require draining off any grease and we just love the flavor! (I also use ground turkey for my tacos, spaghetti, chili and meatloaf recipes. I think I may be harboring a little turkey bias.) The ground turkey is mixed with peppers and a slew of ingredients that simmer together to make that scrumptious sauce. I love to make mine a bit on the spicy side unless I’m serving it to the kiddos, too. I’ve made the spicy parts optional in the recipe below so you can adjust it to your liking. But let’s walk through how to make turkey sloppy Joe’s.
Easy Instructions:
Step 1. Cook the turkey. Heat the oil then cook the green pepper, jalapeño (if using one) and ground turkey until the turkey is cooked through. Add the garlic and chili powder Step 2. Make the sauce. Meanwhile combine the beer (or broth or water), ketchup, sriracha or chili sauce and the Worcestershire sauce.I like to do this in a large measuring cup so that I can measure and mix all at once. (Less dishes for later too!) Step 3. Simmer the sauce. Add the sauce to the pan and let it simmer over medium-low heat until it’s thickened, about 15 minutes. Step 4. Finish and serve. Stir in the green onions and adjust the seasonings. Add more salt or pepper if needed. Then serve it up! Those deep flavors and thickened sauce is seriously swoon-worthy. Oh, if you need a meat-free version, try these veggie sloppy Joe’s that are vegan and gluten-free. Now, one valid complaint against the sloppy Joe is that it can be a sloppy mess. All that saucy goodness comes with a price. I’ve learned a few tips and tricks over the years that I wanted to share with you.
How to avoid a soggy bun:
My bonus third trick is what I often do myself for sloppy Joe night. I eat my sloppy Joe mix over a quick and easy microwave baked potato. I’m one of those people who eats the whole potato, skin and everything, and so it acts as an edible bowl. Totally delicious! It’s always a good night when turkey sloppy Joe’s are on the menu. I hope you have them soon. Enjoy! XO, Kathryn P.S. You may also want to check out cheesy Sloppy Joe casserole for a twist on this favorite! Spicy: You can adjust the level of heat in this recipe to make it spicy or not. For more spicy, use the jalapeño and opt for all of either the sriracha or spicy chili garlic sauce (or a combination of the two). For less spicy, omit the jalapeño and use a scant tablespoon of a mild chili sauce. Tricks on how to avoid a soggy bun:
