BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes
These BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes are irresistibly spicy-sweet sandwiches packed with veggies, turkey, red onion, and cilantro. Add some melty cheese and you’ve got a meal that will make the whole family happy!
I never know what to expect from my kids when dinnertime rolls around. Some days, Hannah’s sleeping and Julia and William play together as nicely as can be. Other days… well, I’m sure you can imagine! I’ve been planning super easy meals because even when the kids are cooperating, I can’t push my luck. Things can only go smoothly for so long before someone is crying. 😉
Sloppy joes are a family favorite that are quick and easy to get on the table. We love this classic sloppy joes recipe, but this time I was wanting something new. I thought BBQ sauce would work really well in a sloppy joe sandwich, and boy was I ever right!
In this sandwich we’ve got ground turkey, BBQ sauce, red onion, and cilantro. But I didn’t stop there. Of course I had to pack in as much nutrition as I could, so I added lots of veggies too. Chopped finely so the kids are none the wiser. All served on a toasted whole-wheat bun with melty Gouda cheese.
This BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joe is a messy, spicy-sweet sandwich that is as delicious as it is fun to eat. I have to say, out of all of the sloppy joe recipes that I’ve tried, this is my very favorite of the bunch. These sloppy joes are extra delicious when you make them with my healthy BBQ sauce recipe. You’ll also love that you know exactly what went into your BBQ sauce and meal. If you are looking for a meatless sloppy joe, my Instant Pot Lentil Sloppy Joe recipe is delicious and so fast and easy to prepare.
BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 medium carrot, finely diced
- ½ red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup tomato sauce, 8 ounce can
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
For serving:
- burger buns, toasted
- shredded gouda or mozzarella cheese, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds.
- Add turkey to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook turkey, breaking it up into pieces, until it starts to brown, about 6 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and water. Stir; reduce heat to a low simmer, and cook 10 minutes until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.
- Serve sloppy joes on toasted burger buns, topped with shredded cheese, if desired.
Usually, I can’t eat Sloppy Joes because I do not eat red meat, but I’m so happy that I found a recipe with turkey meat. Yay! These look too good. The melted gouda cheese on top totally completes these.
I love making sloppy joes with turkey so they’re just a bit healthier. So glad you stopped by, Erin!
Sloppy joes are always a great dish to serve in my house! I love these bbq turkey ones, Kristine! Sounds so flavorful and delicious. And even better that my husband would love these, too!
I think you and your husband would both love these, Gayle! They are so good with the BBQ flavor!
I’m not a big sloppy joe fan but maybe that’s because I’ve never had a homemade sloppy joe – or these! Which look insanely delicious – I love all the fresh chopped vegetables, and cilantro! Sold!
Thanks, Jessica! Homemade sloppy joes are totally different than those with sauce from a can. (Does it come in a can? I can’t even remember!) Plus, when they’re homemade you can flavor them however you like!
Awesome! Totally the same wavelength!! And our kids love us for making sloppy joes too. 😀 Turkey is my next batch of sloppy joe for sure!
Thanks, Laura! I want to try your recipe, too! I love cooking with quinoa! 🙂
What yummy looking sloppy joes! And that melted gouda cheese on top looks heavenly!! 🙂
Thanks, Christina! The melted Gouda is one of my favorite parts of these sandwiches!
These look so good! I love all the veggies you’ve got in there!
Thank you, Kelly! My kids aren’t big on eating their veggies, but chopped small in these sandwiches they gobbled them up!
These look great – the perfect weeknight meal!
Thank you, Karen! I was thinking of you when I made these – I think you’ll love them!
I made them for my birthday dinner yesterday and they were really good! I’m excited for leftovers tonight!!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed these! Happy Birthday again!!!
I just LOVE sloppy joes! Dinner time can be such a hectic time with the kiddos, I love how easily these come together!
Yes, easy and fast recipes are a must when you’ve got kids to take care of!
Great call adding BBQ sauce — you can never go wrong with that! These look so delicious, and I need to make sloppy Joe’s again soon…it’s been way too long. Pinned!
I agree, Marcie – I just love BBQ sauce! Whenever I make sloppy joes I remember how good they are!
I’m ready for sloppy joe season again! And YES to the bbq sauce – it can do no wrong in my mind! 🙂
I agree! BBQ sauce makes so many meals better – grilled chicken, pizza, and these sloppy joes!
I am having SO many problems getting my one-year old to eat any vegetables or fruit these days, so I had to resort to hiding sweet potatoes in his pancakes! I need to take notes from you…sneaky hiding veggies sound like something that I will have a lot of in my future! These look delicious, Kristine!
I hope he liked the sweet potato pancakes! I’ll have to try that trick. My kids love fruit, but there are very few vegetables they enjoy right now. I keep telling myself they’ll learn to like them eventually!
I’m definitely hungry now! Those look amazing Kristine. Perfect pictures too. It’s been way too long since I’ve had sloppy joes!
Thanks, Melanie! It had been a while since I’d made sloppy joes, too!
I love meals that are super easy and quick to get on the table like this one! This looks so juicy and fabulous, my dear!!! Pinned!
Thank you, Olivia! I’m loving the quick and easy meals these days!
wow this looks good!
Thank you!
This sounds so yummy… if you ask me, I’d say the messier the better! 😉
Thanks, Jess! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve had sloppy joes since I was a kid! I love them! I need to make these asap. Love the BBQ turkey version : )
Thanks, Natalie!
loved it! Only thing different is I threw in a small chopped tomato I had sitting around and used spaghetti sauce as this is what I had. Did not even use the cheese and it was still wonderful!! This ones a keeper!!
Delicious!!