Chef John's Turkey Sloppy Joes

These turkey Sloppy Joes make a very enjoyable lunch. Kept warm in a slow cooker, it could also work very nicely for a football party. This recipe tastes enough like a beef Sloppy Joe to provide those satisfying flavors, yet it seems much lighter.


Recipes · Meat and Poultry · Turkey · Ground Turkey Recipes


Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Servings: 6
Total Time: 45 mins
Yield: 6 sandwiches

Ingredients

Ingredients List

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 onion, diced

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 ¼ pounds ground turkey

  • ½ cup cold water

  • ¾ cup ketchup

  • 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar

  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • ½ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 cup water, or as needed

  • 6 hamburger buns, split

  • ½ cup shredded white Cheddar cheese

  • ⅓ cup chopped green onions


Directions

  1. Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in butter until lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

  2. Mix turkey and 1/2 cup cold water into onions. Cook and stir, breaking up the meat, until it begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Add ketchup, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook and stir until liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes.

  3. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and cocoa powder. Cook, stirring frequently, until meat is cooked through and liquid is reduced and thick, 20 to 30 minutes, adding up to 1 cup water if needed.

  4. Preheat the oven's broiler. Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.

  5. Toast hamburger buns under the preheated broiler until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

  6. Remove turkey mixture from the heat; mix in cheese and green onions. Serve on toasted hamburger buns.


Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Nutrition Facts
394 Calories
17g Fat
37g Carbs
26g Protein


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