Messy, and oh so delicious! You'll love this kid friendly and super healthy version.
Messy, sweet, and oh so delicious! Sloppy Joes are a favorite of both children and parents alike. Unfortunately, they’re not exactly the healthiest meal around. They’re usually full of unhealthy saturated fats from the beef, and that ketchup-laden sauce is packed with refined sugars (or, worse, high-fructose corn sugar). We decided it was time to take this meal back with our Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes recipe.
We make our sloppy Joes with 100% clean ingredients, so it won’t damage to your waistline like traditional recipes. You’ll be happy to learn that we managed to do it without sacrificing taste a bit, either! No one in the family may even notice that these Joes are made with turkey instead of beef–they have that much flavor. Enjoy them for lunch or dinner and give the whole family something to smile about. We even have a way to make these low-carb, which we’ll tell you about in a bit.
The Slow Cooker: The Savior of Weeknight Dinners
The slow cooker is one of my favorite appliances in the kitchen. It makes it so easy to create healthy lunches and dinners without putting in too much work! This Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes is especially convenient when made in the slow cooker because you can hold it hot until you’re ready for dinner. If you have any leftovers, they can easily be heated up later for lunch.
This recipe is possibly our most popular slow cooker turkey dish because it is so easy to make and it tastes delicious. To gain an extra layer of flavor, we recommend sautĂ©ing the ground turkey, onions, and peppers in a skillet before tossing it into the slow cooker. I know, I know, that dirties up an extra dish! If you don’t have time, no worries: It’ll still taste delicious without that extra step. But, it’s totally worth it when you taste the depth of flavor it brings to the dish.
Between the healthy homemade ketchup (which is low-sugar, of course), the spicy yellow mustard, and the tangy barbecue sauce, these Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes have all the flavor of your comfort-classic favorite. And, without the bun, they clock in at less than 200 calories a serving! If you want to keep things low-carb, you could even serve them on lettuce leaves instead of whole-wheat buns. Check out this recipe for Low-Carb Philly Cheesesteaks to learn more about making the lettuce cups.
Serve these turkey sloppy Joes with a side of our favorite Plant-Based, Old-Fashioned Potato Salad. Your kids will never know this meal is healthy, and it’s tasty enough to serve to dinner guests. Quick, easy, and delicious: what more could you ask for?
Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey breast raw
- 1 cup onion diced
- 1/2 cup green pepper diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup ketchup natural
- 8 ounces tomato sauce can, no salt added
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1 to 2 packets Stevia optional, if you want to make it on the sweeter side
Instructions
- Mist a skillet with oil and brown raw turkey, onions and green pepper over medium heat. (You could skip this step, but you will get a better flavor.)
- Place turkey meat, onions & green pepper in the slow cooker. Add all the other ingredients and mix well.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. If you don't brown the meat first, then cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Serve with a whole grain bun, toasted.
Nutrition Information
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Recipe contributed by Kristine Fretwell from Busy But Healthy.
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This was AMAZING!!! And my husband Loved it! It is so good in fact that the 1lb of turkey is just barely enough for two people. I'll double the recipe for sure next time!!
Hi! I am excited to try this tomorrow. I was reviewing the comments and there are a lot of questions about Worcestershire sauce but, I don’t see it in the recipe. Am I missing something? Thanks!
Penny, That may have been an older recipe. This one doesn’t have Worcestershire Sauce.
Thank you!
I made this for dinner tonight and it was very good!Definitely beats the canned stuff.Will be making this again!
Chassidy,
YAH!!! Thanks so much for letting us know. 🙂
What kind of BBQ sauce is needed?
Myriah, Look for a brand that’s made with honey or molasses and not refined sugar. Here’s a recipe https://skinnyms.com/skinny-ms-barbecue-sauce/
I made this for a quick and easy supper for working nights. I added red peppers along with the green peppers, red onion instead of yellow onion and some pepper. I also browned the meat like suggested. My house smelt amazing!! Ate it with a baked potato instead of a bun. This a recipe that will be used again.
That sounds delicious, Ashley 🙂
Do you have to slow cook it or can you jus simmer and then eat?
Debbie, Definitely can cook on top of the stove.
Such a great recipe to have on hand! I love using my crock pot and making a giant batch of food. I’m not always crazy for sloppy joes, but I enjoyed this one!
We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Colleen!
Hi! We make these all the time and they are awesome. Ordered the ingredients today and going to make them tomorrow!
Just wondering if you’ve ever frozen these before. If so, how long can you freeze them for, and what do you think is the best way to reheat?
Thank you!
Kathleen, Yes, this Sloppy Joes recipe can be frozen. I would recommend using within a month. To reheat, place in the fridge until thawed then heat in a pan.