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    Home » Recipes » Lunch

    Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

    Published: Aug 17, 2020 · Modified: Jan 26, 2022 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Consider this a healthier and tastier version of old fashioned sloppy joes. These old fashioned sloppy joes are made with ground turkey, lots of veggies (4 cups!), and a traditional, sweet and savory ketchup-based sauce. These are such a hit with kids!

    Sloppy Joe sandwich on a white roll.

    Besides being healthy, these sloppy joes are super easy to make and cleanup is a breeze (one skillet!).

    This recipe makes a lot and reheats well. Use the leftovers for your kids' lunches (just be sure to pack the bun separately) or serve it for dinner another night!

    Serve these healthy sloppy joes with a kale salad or lettuce salad with my favorite strawberry balsamic dressing, baked beans and/or chips and homemade guacamole - dinner will be set!

    This healthy sloppy joe recipe is slightly adapted from the one my sister originally emailed to me back in 2009! Yes, I still have the email! I have no idea who she got the recipe from but I've been making it ever since! It really is a timeless healthy meal that your family will love!his recipe makes a lot. Thankfully, leftovers reheat easily and make the perfect lunch!

    What I Love About This Recipe

    • This recipe makes a lot. Thankfully, leftovers reheat easily and make the perfect lunch!
    • All of the ingredients are easy to find and easy to measure.
    • The kids love the sweet sauce and get loads of nutrients from the veggies.
    • It is a super simple, 30-minute meal.

    What Are Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes?

    Also known as 'loose meat sandwiches' or 'barbeque' sandwiches, sloppy joes are sandwich made of ground of minced meat. They are traditionally made with onions and a tomato-based sauce that contains Worcestershire sauce. There are many variations, some made with pork, but most commonly, sloppy joes contain ground beef.

    What Makes These Healthier?

    Like traditional old fashioned sloppy joes, the sauce in this recipe is both sweet and savory... just the way kids like it!

    • In this recipe I substitute lean ground turkey for ground beef because it is lower in saturated fat than beef and pork, but provides a similar taste.
    • I serve this to my kids on buns made by Dave's Killer Bread, which is a healthier, whole grain option.
    • This recipe contains 4 cups of vegetables which add fiber and micronutrients to the mix!

    Ingredient Notes

    Ingredients for sloppy joes.
    • Ground Turkey I like lean ground turkey in this recipe but it can be substituted with ground beef or TVP (textured vegetable protein) for a vegetarian option.
    • Bell Pepper Full of fiber, vitamins (especially vitamin C and vitamin A), and minerals.
    • Celery Adds perfect texture, flavor, and fiber to these sloppy joes.
    • Worcestershire Sauce Makes this sauce so savory. It has a vinegar base which adds the perfect touch of tang and it contains molasses which adds sweetness.
    • Onion For texture and flavor.
    • Garlic For flavor.
    • Cumin Added for flavor.
    • Chili Powder Added for flavor.
    • Brown Sugar Just a little, haha!
    • Cooking Oil I use avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil because they contain healthy fats. The type of oil I use depends on which skillet I'm cooking with because avocado oil has a higher smoke point.

    How To Make This Recipe

    Here’s a quick overview of the steps to make these sloppy joes. For the full list of ingredients and specific instructions, scroll down to the recipe.

    1. Use a large skillet to sauté all of the vegetables in a small amount of oil for five minutes.
    2. Add garlic, chili powder, and cumin to the skillet. Stir well.
    3. Add ground turkey to the skillet and cook until meat is browned.
    4. Add the remainder of the ingredients and stir well. Simmer on low heat for an additional 5 minutes.
    5. That's it!

    Expert Tips

    • Use a good quality food chopper for chopping the onions, bell peppers, and celery to save you time and to get the vegetables to a size that appeals to kids.
    • When bell peppers are in abundance (like in the summer months here in the East Coast), chop them up and freeze in a resealable bag. This way, you can pull them out of the freezer to use in recipes like this all year long.
    • Place leftovers in a sealed container or resealable bag and store in the refrigerator. According to the USDA, refrigerated leftovers should be consumed within three to four days.
    • Reheat sloppy joes (at least the meat and veggie mixture) in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can you freeze this recipe?

    Yes. Let the sloppy joe mixture cool completely then store in an airtight container in the freezer. Reheat it on the stovetop or in a microwave.

    Are these sloppy joes for school lunches?

    Yes! I heat up the sloppy joe meat in the morning and send it with my kids in a thermos. I pack the sliced bun up separately for them to assemble at lunch or I pack crackers for them to eat with the sloppy joe meat.

    More Kid-Friendly Dinner Recipes

    • 15-Minute Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
    • Easy Asian Noodle Bowl with Shrimp and Scallops
    • Salsa Verde Chicken Enchilada Bake
    • Easy Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken

    Did you try these Healthy Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes? Tell me how it went! Leave a comment below.

    Follow me on Pinterest for more healthy, kid-friendly recipes and meal inspiration!

    Sloppy joes on a seeded bun.

    Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

    Kristi
    Kids love this healthier old fashioned sloppy joe recipe, it really is the best! Full of vegetables and flavor, these sloppy joes will become your new family favorite!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Main Course, Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 half cup servings
    Calories 113 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground turkey
    • 2 onions chopped
    • 2 bell peppers seeded and chopped
    • 2 stalks of celery chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 2 tablespoon cooking oil*
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 ½ tablespoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder

    Instructions
     

    • Heat oil in a large skillet**
    • Add chopped bell peppers, onion, and celery to the skillet and saute for five minutes
    • Add garlic, chili powder, and cumin to the skillet. Stir well.
    • Add the ground turkey and cook until meat is browned.
    • Add the remainder of the ingredients and stir well.
    • Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Using a good quality food chopper will save time and will help ensure the pieces of celery, bell pepper, and onion are small enough that they will blend right in with the meat. 
    * The type of oil you use will depend on the type of pan you have. Some pans (i.e: ceramic non-stick) advise users not to use extra virgin olive oil when cooking with it (when heating the pan). If this is the case, use a higher heat oil like avocado oil or canola oil.
    **The heat setting will depend on the type of skillet you will be using due to the difference in heat conduction. For instance, if you will be using a skillet made by Green Pan or Le Creuset, they often recommend cooking on medium heat.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 10gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 235mgPotassium: 289mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 798IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bethany

      June 07, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      We are not normally a sloppy joe family but this was delicious and great to have as leftovers for lunch while working from home.

      Reply
    2. Lisa

      September 09, 2020 at 7:37 pm

      We had these a couple of nights ago. Kids gave it two thumbs up and it is going in the regular rotation! Texture is the best past. Kids who are not fans of the texture of typical sloppy joes liked this recipe.

      Reply
      • Kristi

        September 20, 2020 at 11:46 pm

        I'm so glad they were a hit with your kids!!

        Reply

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    Kristi Ruth wearing a green long sleeved blouse and jeans, holding tri-colored carrots plated on a white oval platter with one hand and leaning on the counter with the other hand in a kitchen.
    Welcome! Kristi is a Registered Dietitian and busy mom of three, ages 7-15. After being displaced from a housefire in 2021, Kristi decided to say 'goodbye' to her long commute so she could turn her passion for sharing easy recipes and tips to help you learn what it means to feed your family well with less stress into a reality. Let's get cooking!

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