Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 11 Comments

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Kick up the flavor and healthy factor of Sloppy Joes with this healthy Sloppy Joe recipe. It's great for a last-minute weeknight meal. 264 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (1)

You may be someone who plans your menu for the week (how I envy your organizational skills!) or that other type of person who decides what's for dinner at 5pm, when the troops are getting restless. Of course, I don't personally know someone who could possibly be that disorganized (ahem). Whichever category you fall into, this easy and healthy sloppy Joe recipe will appeal to you.

For those fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants types, this recipe uses ingredients that you likely stock in your fridge and pantry. If you have a decent supply of dried spices, some kind of ground meat (preferably lean), a couple of carrots and a bit of tomato and barbecue sauce, then you can pull this off with your eyes closed.

Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (2)

While traditional sloppy Joes are served on hamburger buns, there's not reason why you couldn't serve the mixture over rice or even pasta. My motto for weekday meals...use what you have. It will always turn out if you have a decently stocked pantry and a somewhat forgiving family.

Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (3)

While carrots aren't typically part of sloppy Joes, why not use the opportunity to slip in some veggies? The veggies are diced finely and cooked until softened so that they don't affect the texture of the sloppy Joes.

Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (4)

Printable Recipe

Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (5)

Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joe Recipe

Kick up the flavor and healthy factor of Sloppy Joes with this healthy Sloppy Joe recipe. It's great for a last-minute weeknight meal. 264 calories and 3 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees, Sandwiches

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Healthy Dinner Recipes, Poultry Recipes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 263.7kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the carrots and sauté until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Pour in an additional teaspoon of olive oil. Add the onion, thyme and oregano and sauté until the onions are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.

  • Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil, then add the ground turkey. Cook, breaking up the turkey with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through. Drain the accumulated liquid.

  • Return the vegetable mixture to the pan with the turkey, and stir in the tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and honey (or agave nectar). Simmer for 5 minutes.

  • Divide the turkey mixture evenly between the 4 hamburger buns. Serve.

Notes

* The whole wheat buns are not included in the nutritional information or Weight Watchers points.

Weight Watchers Points: 3 (Freestyle SmartPoints), 7 (Points+)

Nutrition

Serving: 1Sloppy Joe (Without Bun) | Calories: 263.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.4g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 7.3g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 860.9mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 15.4g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Joan Miller

    Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (11)
    This is so good it's almost dangerous!! My husband devours it. It has become one of our 'go to' meals!
    Thanks Dara!!

    Reply

    • Dara

      Haha! Great to hear!

      Reply

  2. Taylor

    Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (12)
    One of my favorite weeknight dinners! So yummy!

    Reply

  3. Jennifer Farley

    Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (13)
    This was absolutely delicious! Just found my new favorite way to eat Sloppy Joes!

    Reply

  4. richard

    your ingredients call for 2 tsp agave or honey and directions say add "brown sugar." Which is best and if brown sugar how much.

    Reply

    • Dara

      Hi Richard, the directions should say "agave or honey" - fixing that now. However, you could substitute brown sugar if that's what you have on hand.

      Reply

  5. cheri

    This looks like a quick meal that the whole family would love.

    Reply

  6. Lauren

    I think everyone has those afternoons where you need to whip something up in a hurry, no matter how organized you are! I love that you made it healthier too!

    Reply

  7. Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg

    Oh I bet this is delicious! This is great fly by the seat of my pants meal. It happens.

    Reply

  8. Reina

    I've been enjoying your blog, Dara. My family loves turkey Sloppy Joes! I make my own spice mix and add tomato paste and water to the cooked ground turkey, and some veggies, usually carrots like you suggest, and serve on whole wheat buns. Sometimes my youngest son objects to the small pieces of onion and carrot, so I grate or puree them to still get those veggies in. Delicious, quick, and filling. Thanks for the reminder to make these soon. 🙂

    Reply

  9. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl

    These look divine Dara!! I think the meals I create at 5PM at the last minute are usually the best. 🙂

    Reply

Healthy Sloppy Joe Recipe with Turkey | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is a sloppy joe? ›

In its traditional state, a Sloppy Joe would never be considered a diet food that might aid a person in his or her weight loss goals, but the concoction can be made less caloric and fatty with a few simple changes in the recipe.

What can I add to sloppy joe to make it taste better? ›

Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or shredded carrot, can easily be added to this recipe and your kids won't even notice a difference. Hawaiian Sloppy Joes: Substitute more BBQ sauce for the ketchup and add 8 oz., drained crushed pineapple.

How many calories are in homemade sloppy joe? ›

In general, a serving of Sloppy Joe mixture (the meat and the sauce) will be around 250 calories. A serving is generally a half cup of the beef and sauce mixture. There are two methods of reducing the fat and calories of a Sloppy Joe. The first method is using high-grade ground beef that offers a low percentage of fat.

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? ›

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling.

What's the difference between a Sloppy Joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

How do you upgrade sloppy joes? ›

Give your Sloppy Joe a unique spin by replacing hamburger buns with taco shells and adding a little cumin, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, and juicy tomatoes.

How do you doctor up canned sloppy joe mix? ›

Sloppy joe mix is just asking to be doctored up with hidden veggies, and the possibilities are endless. Sweeter veggies like carrots or bell peppers, both of which are rich in beta carotene, marry wonderfully with the sauce, while earthy, meaty mushrooms, rich in zinc, easily fade into the rich flavors of the beef.

What is the fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

Is Sloppy Joe high in carbs? ›

Sloppy Joe (1 barbecue sandwich) contains 52.5g total carbs, 51g net carbs, 7.7g fat, 20.8g protein, and 372 calories.

How do you thicken sloppy joes? ›

If you don't have cornstarch, then make a roux with flour by cooking it in a little oil to make a paste, then incorporating it into the sloppy joe sauce. You might also add peanut butter to the filling to thicken it up and enhance the taste, too.

What is a serving size of Sloppy Joe? ›

There are 186 calories in a 1/2 cup of Beef Sloppy Joe (No Bun). * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

How do you jazz up sloppy joes? ›

Try serving your sloppy joes with their own toppings such as slaw, melty cheese, grilled pineapple, or Hatch green chile. Even just adding a pickle gives extra flavor and crunch, transforming it from a bland sandwich into something great, like the recipe below!

What is a New Jersey style sloppy joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

Can I use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

How many calories are in a sloppy joe? ›

There are 371 calories in 1 cup of Beef Sloppy Joe (No Bun). * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Is sloppy joe high in carbs? ›

Sloppy Joe (1 barbecue sandwich) contains 52.5g total carbs, 51g net carbs, 7.7g fat, 20.8g protein, and 372 calories.

What are the nutritional facts of sloppy joe? ›

Sloppy Joe - 1 sandwich
  • Calories 399.
  • Total Fat 15g 19%
  • Saturated Fat 5.4g 27%
  • Trans Fat 0.6g.
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g.
  • Monounsaturated Fat 6.2g.
  • Cholesterol 67mg 22%
  • Sodium 1244mg 54%
Mar 7, 2017

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