Made with ground turkey meat and a homemade sloppy joe sauce including tomato paste, ketchup, and simple spices, this wholesome slow cooker turkey sloppy joe recipe takes ground turkey from a basic protein to a delicious, craveable family meal!

close up of slow cooker turkey sloppy joes on a white plate with leafy greens

How and why to make ground turkey sloppy joes in the slow cooker

Low and slow cook time allows the turkey to get tender and absorb all flavor from the spices. Once you saute the turkey meat, and add to the crockpot, this is a hands-off recipe, making it perfect for busy days, slow weekends at home, or days you just want to set it and forget it.

top down view of slow cooker turkey sloppy joes ingredients

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Onion and bell pepper add a punch of vegetable power, plus added sweetness. You could also add chopped carrot to boost the natural sweetness even more.
  • I use dark meat ground turkey for this slow cooker turkey sloppy joes recipe, but you could substitute white meat turkey for a low fat option.
  • Ground beef can also be used in place of ground turkey in this recipe.
  • The type of catsup or ketchup you use will have a significant impact on your final result as well as on nutrition information. 
  • Add additional water for a looser consistency.
  • We wanted to keep the added sugar to a minimum in this recipe, however if you prefer a sweeter sloppy joe mixture, feel free to sweeten things up by adding a tablespoon of brown sugar or coconut sugar to the mix.

How to Store or Freeze

  • The cooked sloppy joe turkey meat will keep well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, in a sealed container.
  • This recipe also freezes well, store in a sealed freezer friendly container for up to 2-3 months.
ground turkey sloppy joes meat being spooned out of a black slow cooker pot

this recipe is…

sloppy joe sandwich on a white plate with leafy greens and striped blue napkin
sloppy joe sandwich on a white plate with leafy greens and striped blue napkin
4.67 stars (9 ratings)

Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

Made with ground turkey meat and a homemade sloppy joe sauce including tomato paste, ketchup, and simple spices, this wholesome slow cooker turkey sloppy joe recipe takes ground turkey from a basic protein to a delicious, craveable family meal!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 large red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 lb 93% lean dark meat ground turkey
  • 1 tsp granulated garlic powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tb brown sugar
  • 2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup water

Equipment

Instructions 

Slow Cooker Directions

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the turkey, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt and the garlic powder, then stir, breaking the turkey apart into small pieces with a wooden spoon.
  • Allow the turkey to cook through, stirring occasionally, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Carefully transfer the turkey to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the remaining ½ teaspoon salt, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, tomato paste, and water, stirring to combine.
  • Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours. A longer cook time will yield more tender results.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 188kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 775mg, Potassium: 387mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 913IU, Vitamin C: 29mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition disclaimer
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!

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