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 sautéing 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
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @skinnyms on Instagram or hashtag it #skinnyms
Recipe contributed by Kristine Fretwell from Busy But Healthy.
Don’t miss out on the latest and greatest from Skinny Ms…
Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. Also, like our Facebook page and follow us on Pinterest for tasty recipes, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.
For more delicious and nutritious recipes from Skinny Ms., check out our Skinny Ms. Recipe Collection of 101 Fan Favorites.
Do you have a favorite Skinny Ms. recipe? We’d love to hear about it. Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Can't wait for this recipe to come together! I am making it now and realize I forgot to buy all the ingredients but the turkey, green pepper and onion! Hence – I forgot all the seasonings and buns! Will report back when it comes together! 🙂
Ashleigh – Fantastic! Hope you enjoy it!
Which kind of onion – yellow or white? I couldn't bring up or see the acceptable worcestershire sauces so I bought Lea & Perrins. What kinds are acceptable?
Unbelievably, Lea & Perrins has high fructose corn syrup. French's does not, and is inexpensive. So, go with French's Worcestershire sauce!
Just wanted to let you know that these were THE BEST sloppy joe's we've ever had! I have been dying to make my own "Manwich" sauce and didn't think it would be possible, but let me tell you, this blew away Manwich! I made my own ketchup & BBQ sauce (Gracious Pantry recipes) and just added them as the recipe called for. I also made it all in the skillet since I didn't have time to wait for the slow cooker, and they were amazing! I cannot wait to make these again!!! Thanks again so much! Your recipes make eating clean so easy!
Sandy, That's what we like to hear. So glad you enjoyed the recipe!!! 🙂
Where do you find natural katup?
Crystal, Just emailed you the link to our recipe. Thanks!
Yum! Just tried this recipe tonight and it was a hit with me, my kids, and my neighbor's kids. So easy to throw together, this will become a regular on my recipe rotation! 🙂
Kelly, Great!!! We're so happy the kids enjoy. Thanks for keeping us posted! 🙂
Sounds yummy & has great reviews. We love slopy joes!!
Lynn, I really is yummy! Enjoy!!!
so i am in the process of cooking this tonight and well, i have a dutch oven and didn't want to cook in a slower i think it is truning out well (well smells good ) and i am pairing it with baked sweet potatoes fries…. all new items i haven't cook so, i hppe they both turn out well…. 😀
wondering if you'd advise freezing. I'd love to make a double batch and freeze 1/2
Erica, I think freezing this after being completely cool would be fine…up to a few weeks anyway.
what kink of worchester should i use?
could you send me the link for the natural ketchup
Yes… https://skinnyms.com/homemade-healthy-ketchup/
I've been looking for a turkey sloppy joes recipe and this sounds perfect and not too high in sugar, thank you!
I don't care for green peppers, so I left that out. And I didn't have a can of tomato paste on hand, so I used a half jar of Prego Veggie Smart smooth spaghetti sauce. I will definitely be making this again. I only made a half batch for myself, but can't wait for my extended family to try this recipe.
This was sssooo yummy! The only thing I would change the next time I make it will be to use an 8oz can of tomato sauce, instead of 15oz… It was a bit to liquid based (not firm enough to load on a hamburger bun for a sandwich) so I toasted a bun and had it as an open faced sloppy joe. It was fantastic!!
I LOVE this recipe! It is so delicious! Even my husband asks me to make it and he doesn't even like sloppy joes 😉 I will never buy that nasty canned stuff again!
Liz, Thanks so much for letting us know. 🙂