Made with ground turkey meat, tomato paste, ketchup, and simple spices, this healthy slow cooker turkey sloppy joes is a crowd-pleasing dinner that can be made paleo or Whole30. 

Also includes stovetop instructions!

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.

We 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.

For a paleo and Whole30 version, be sure to use a no-sugar added ketchup.

primal kitchen ketchup

I always have a bottle of this in my pantry, it’s made with great ingredients (and is organic & unsweetened). It’s paleo & whole30-friendly too. Use my code ROBYN for 10% off your order.

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How to Use and Serve Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes

Go the traditional route by serving the turkey sloppy joe mixture piled high onto a traditional or gluten-free bun.

For a paleo or Whole30 option, serve the sloppy joe filling over a baked potato or baked sweet potato.

This filling would also be good served over rice or cauliflower rice.

How to store or freeze leftover slow cooker turkey sloppy joes

  • 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…

I hope you’ll make this healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes recipe soon.

If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!

sloppy joe sandwich on a white plate with leafy greens and striped blue napkin

more turkey recipes

easy crockpot turkey meatballs

crockpot turkey chili

easy slow cooker turkey tacos

instant pot turkey paleo pumpkin chili

crockpot mini turkey meatball soup

sloppy joe sandwich on a white plate with leafy greens and striped blue napkin
5 stars (5 ratings)

Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes

Servings: 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 6 hours 7 minutes
Total: 6 hours 12 minutes
Made with ground turkey meat, tomato paste, ketchup, and simple spices, slow cooker turkey sloppy joes is a crowd-pleasing dinner that can also be made paleo and Whole30.
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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 , (traditional or paleo katsup)
  • 2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup water

serving suggestions

  • traditional or gluten-free buns, rice, baked potato, baked sweet potato, or in a lettuce wrap

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, 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.

Stovetop Directions

  • Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. F
  • Follow step 1-2 above, then add remaining ½ teaspoon salt, ketchup, mustard, tomato paste, and water, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture starts to dry out, add additional water to reach the desired consistency

Notes

For a paleo and Whole30 version, be sure to use a no-sugar added ketchup such as the one linked in the recipe.
Note: I have not tested this recipe in the Instant Pot.
Author: Robyn Conley Downs
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information:

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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