These slow cooker turkey sloppy joes take 10 minutes of hands-on prep. Ground turkey simmers with onion, bell pepper, and a homemade sauce until tender and perfect for piling onto toasted buns.

A sloppy joe sandwich with a side of mixed green salad and pita bread on a plate, with a fork and a striped cloth in the background.


An Easy Crockpot Turkey Sloppy Joe Recipe

These slow cooker turkey sloppy joes are one of my favorite ways to turn a humble weeknight sandwich into something the whole family gets excited about! With 10 minutes of hands-on prep, ground turkey and chopped vegetables get simmered in a homemade sauce of ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, and mustard until deeply flavorful and fall-apart tender. The slow cooker does the hard work, and the payoff is a pile of saucy, savory turkey begging to be spooned onto a toasted bun.

For this one I like to use dark meat ground turkey for the best flavor and texture. Lean white meat turkey works, but it comes out drier and less rich. I brown the turkey and sauté the onion and bell pepper in a skillet for 5 minutes before transferring to the crockpot, which creates deeper flavor and prevents the meat from getting mushy during the long cook time, so don’t skip this step. And the ketchup you use really does matter here. A high-quality ketchup like Primal Kitchen or Whole Foods 365 makes a noticeable difference, but classic Heinz works beautifully too. As for texture, if you like a sweeter sloppy joe, add an extra tablespoon of brown sugar. And, if you prefer a looser sauce, add an extra ¼ cup of water at the start.

Serve these turkey sloppy joes on toasted brioche buns, over baked potatoes, or stuffed into bell peppers for a low-carb spin. Pair with a simple green salad, crunchy coleslaw, or oven fries to round out the meal. And if you love easy slow cooker ground turkey dinners, my slow cooker turkey tacos use a similar dump-and-simmer approach for another family-friendly weeknight dinner, and my turkey taco skillet is a 30-minute stovetop option when you want dinner on the table faster!

Ground turkey, chopped onions, diced red bell peppers, tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and spices in a black slow cooker before mixing.
Ground turkey and tomato sauce mixture in a slow cooker with a metal spoon.

Testing Tips for Homemade Turkey Sloppy Joes

  • Finely Chop the Vegetables Dice the onion and bell pepper small, about ¼-inch pieces, so they melt into the sauce during the long cook time. Bigger chunks stay crunchy and throw off the classic sloppy joe texture. If you have kids who avoid vegetables, go even finer with a food processor!
  • Toast the Buns A quick minute under the broiler or in a dry skillet gives the buns enough structure to hold up to the saucy filling without turning to mush. Butter them first for an extra layer of flavor. Yum!
  • Check Your Slow Cooker’s Temperature Some newer slow cookers run hot, which can cause the sauce to scorch before the cook time is up. If you’ve had burning issues before, cook on low instead of high, or add an extra splash of water at the start. The “keep warm” setting can also cause overcooking if left on too long.
  • Make It Meal-Prep Friendly Double the batch and freeze half in a labeled freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm in a saucepan or microwave. The flavor actually improves after a day or two in the fridge, making these perfect for meal prep lunches or quick weeknight dinners later in the week.
A plate with a sloppy joe sandwich, fresh greens, and tortilla chips. A fork and striped cloth napkin are nearby.
A plate with a sloppy joe sandwich, fresh greens, and tortilla chips. A fork and striped cloth napkin are nearby.
4.67 stars (9 ratings)

Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 3 hours 10 minutes
Easy slow cooker turkey sloppy joes with ground turkey, onion, bell pepper, and a homemade sauce. A healthy, family-friendly weeknight dinner.
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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
  • 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.
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 188kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 19g, 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
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