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Healthy Sloppy Joes

Healthy sloppy joes with lean ground turkey and a thick tomato-worcestershire sauce simmered until saucy and clinging. Deep red-orange flavor with tangy-sweet balance served on toasted whole wheat buns.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Healthy Sloppy Joes
  • 1 lb lean ground turkey Lean ground turkey keeps the filling light.
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.25 salt and pepper Season to taste.
  • 1 whole wheat buns for serving Toast before assembling.

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the turkey
  1. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and cook the lean ground turkey until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat afterward for a lighter filling.
Build the savory base
  1. Add the diced onion, diced green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring, until the vegetables soften and smell fragrant.
Simmer into a thick sauce
  1. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, cumin, and chili powder. Mix until the sauce looks evenly red-orange and the paste dissolves.
Finish and serve
  1. Simmer the mixture for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to cling to meat. Serve warm over toasted whole wheat buns.

Notes

Pro tip: Simmer 2-3 extra minutes if you want a thicker, spoon-coating texture. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days in a sealed container; reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Freezing is yes—freeze up to 3 months, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat. For a lighter veggie-forward option, add diced zucchini when cooking the onion and pepper.