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    MJ & Hungryman ยป Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes ยป Family Meals ยป Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes (Quick and Easy)

    Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes (Quick and Easy)

    By Min On April 11, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

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    Jump to Recipe
    a close up shot of cooked sloppy joe filling.

    Made with ground turkey, vegetables, and a super easy homemade sauce, this turkey sloppy joes can be on your table in 30 minutes!

    a close up shot of sloppy joe.

    Ingredients

    Instructions for turkey sloppy joes.
    • Ground turkey - I recommend not going any leaner than 93% lean turkey for the best flavor and texture.
    • Vegetables - I like to use green bell pepper and onion but feel free to use whatever you wish. Mushrooms, carrots, or zucchini are all great options!
    • Dates - A great refined-sugar-free alternative to the traditional brown sugar/ketchup. They also help cut through the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Pumpkin puree - Makes the sauce nice and creamy while boosting nutrition.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    a four image collage showing cooking process step by step.
    1. Make the sauce - place all the ingredients in a food processor/blender and blend until smooth.
    2. Cook the turkey. Add the vegetables and cook for several minutes.
    3. Add sauce to the pan and combine.
    4. Cook until thickened.

    Tips for Success

    a close up shot of cooked sloppy joe filling.
    • Be sure to soak the dates in hot water for at least 15 minutes, until soft and just starting to fall apart. I suggest reserving the date-soaking water to use for thinning out the sauce, if necessary.
    • Toast the buns! Spreading on some butter is always a good idea ๐Ÿ˜‰
    • Add the sloppy joe mixture to the bun right before serving. Otherwise the bread will get too soggy.
    • I actually like to keep the vegetables a bit larger so my kids can see them and also for added texture. If you'd like to finely chop instead, I recommend using a food chopper like this one! It's so handy for quick vegetable prep.
    • Double or even triple the recipe! It freezes beautifully.

    How to serve turkey sloppy joes

    Turkey Sloppy Joes plated three ways - for an adult, toddler, and baby.

    Besides on a toasted bun, here are some other fun ways to enjoy this delicious meat mixture!

    • Add to grilled sandwiches
    • Serve with pasta
    • Combine with oatmeal for a savory version
    • Pour over roasted sweet potatoes

    How to serve to babies

    a large broccoli floret, toasted bread, and a small portion of sloppy joe filling for baby.

    Start by serving a very small portion to make it less overwhelming for your baby. You can always offer more, following your baby's lead.

    Is your baby 6 months old and up?

    Learn all the secrets to starting solids safely while optimizing nutrition!
    I NEED IT NOW!

    How to serve to toddlers

    A two image collage showing sloppy joe cut into smaller pieces on the left and deconstructed on the right.

    If your child has a difficult time biting into burgers (or sandwiches), cut into smaller, more manageable pieces.

    And if your child is not a fan of foods touching, try serving it deconstructed.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make this with ground chicken or beef?

    Absolutely!

    What's the best way to store leftovers?

    Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Leftovers taste even better! You can also freeze for up to 3 months.

    Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the microwave or in a skillet before serving.

    Can I make this vegetarian?

    Lentils will be a great, flavorful alternative!

    Other ground meat recipes to try

    • Homemade hamburger helper
    • Veggie loaded bolognese
    • Korean bulgogi
    • Turkey rice meatballs

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

    Turkey Sloppy Joes plated three ways - for an adult, toddler, and baby.

    Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes

    Made with lean beef, vegetables, and a super easy homemade sauce with pumpkin, this quick and easy meal can be on your table in 30 minutes!ย 
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Ingredients

    Sauce:

    • 3-4 medjool dates see note
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 cup no salt added tomato sauce
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ยพ cup pumpkin puree

    beef mixture:

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 lb. lean ground turkey
    • 1 medium bell pepper diced
    • ยฝ yellow onion chopped
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • ยฝ teaspoon salt and pepper can add less or leave out

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook for 3 minutes or so until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the vegetables and cook until soft and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
    • In the meanwhile, place all the sauce ingredients into a food processor or blender and puree until completely smooth.
    • Add sauce to the pan. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes, until mixture gets thickened. If too thick, add reserved soaked date water to desired consistency.

    Notes

    note: for the dates, remove the pit and soak in hot water for at least 15 minutes to soften. Reserve the soaked water and add at the end to thin out the sauce, if necessary

    Nutrition

    Calories: 295kcal | Sodium: 112mg | Fiber: 5g | Vitamin C: 48mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 5mg
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!

    This post was first published in 2020.

    « Mango Quinoa Salad (with Shrimp)
    Ultimate Guide to Sweet Potato for Babies »

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    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, Iโ€™m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kruthi says

      June 06, 2022 at 10:48 am

      Hey Min,
      We are vegetarians.What can be the replacement for groud beef?

      Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Min says

        June 06, 2022 at 7:13 pm

        Try lentils!

        Reply
    2. Janet says

      April 16, 2022 at 1:11 am

      Are we able to make the sauce ahead of time and keep in fridge to be used later in the week? Trying to meal prep and make it easier for my husband to throw together during the week!

      Reply
      • Min says

        April 16, 2022 at 5:30 am

        Absolutely! I do it all the time. In fact, you can even double or triple the recipe and freeze extra for the future ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Reply
    3. Tola says

      February 18, 2022 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today and my daughter loved it. Actually, we all did. Thanks for such a great and easy recipe.

      Reply
      • Min says

        February 21, 2022 at 8:06 pm

        Yay!! Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    4. Christa says

      February 17, 2022 at 4:20 pm

      5 stars
      My 6 mo old son devoured this last night! Thank you for this delicious baby friendly recipe. How long do you recommend freezing leftovers?

      Reply
      • Min says

        February 18, 2022 at 5:15 pm

        LOVE hearing this! You can freeze for up to 3 months ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Reply
    5. Sheri says

      November 12, 2021 at 1:45 pm

      This one is on constant rotation in our house! Baby loves it, husband loves it -- it's a win win. I love how, as with most of Min's recipes, this one is customizable based on what I have on hand in my fridge.

      Reply
      • Min says

        November 12, 2021 at 3:03 pm

        Thank you so much for trying my recipes!

        Reply

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    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope youโ€™ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

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