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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
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.
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.
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.
Printable Recipe
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
- 3 teaspoons olive oil divided
- 2 medium carrots diced
- ½ medium onion diced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound extra lean ground turkey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon or more, to taste crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar
- 4 whole wheat hamburger buns*
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
Joan Miller
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
Taylor
One of my favorite weeknight dinners! So yummy!Reply
Jennifer Farley
This was absolutely delicious! Just found my new favorite way to eat Sloppy Joes!Reply
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
cheri
This looks like a quick meal that the whole family would love.
Reply
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
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg
Oh I bet this is delicious! This is great fly by the seat of my pants meal. It happens.
Reply
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
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
