Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes… A wonderful twist on a traditional dish!
Many times, my inspiration behind creating a new recipe is based on ingredients that I have on hand. This is especially true when I’m feeling a bit lazy or tired and a trip to the grocery store seems worse than eating onions and cheese for dinner! Although now that I think about it, sautéd onions and cheese sounds pretty darn good! I could lightly sauté onions; layer them with cheese in a casserole dish; add some milk or better yet cream and bake until golden brown and bubbly. YUM… Onions Au Gratin! See how that just happens? I’m excited to share my awesome recipe for Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes and my brain wanders off down a different lane. That’s me… nice to meet you.
Now, where was I? Oh yeah, Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes. YUM!
My husband asked for Sloppy Joes the other night and I thought that sounded really good, we haven’t had them in forever. I planned on going to the store to get ground beef and all the usual characters found in Sloppy Joes, but because I was very lazy busy with work on this particular day, I never made it. So… what to do???? Hmmm…as I was thinking about dinner, my focus went to the Granny Smith apples sitting in a bowl on my counter… see how often that happens? My brain is a multi-lane highway and I’m always veering off onto a different lane. In this case it worked out great because I decided to use those apples and make Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes!
I hardly ever have a plan when creating a meal off the cuff. I see what I have in the kitchen, envision the completed dish and away I go. In fact, it was a big dose of reality when I started this blog. You mean I have to start writing stuff down? Oh boy… with a brain like mine, that’s gonna be tough. And it is, but I’m getting better!
Okay, time for the important stuff! This is how you make wonderfully delicious (and healthier) Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes. First up is a quick video so you can see exactly how easy this recipe is to throw together. Then on to the written steps of making them. Feel free to scroll down to the end of this post for the printable recipe!
Enjoy and I’d love to hear from you after you try our Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes!
What you’ll need:
*Catalina Tangy French dressing is missing… because, I had no idea when I took this picture that it would become the finishing touch!
- Ground Turkey
- Onion
- Apple Cider vinegar
- Tomato Paste
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- Granny Smith Apple
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- Brown Sugar
- Catalina Tangy French Dressing **you can leave this out, but it really livened up the dish!
- Hamburger Buns
- Olive Oil
Step One:
Heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan on medium heat. Add in ground turkey, salt and pepper.
Step Two:
Dice your apple and onion into small dice, about a 1/4 inch cube. Add to saute pan. Add in 1-2 cloves of minced garlic. Add the apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cook on medium until ground turkey is cooked, this will take about 10 minutes.
Step Three:
Add the tomato paste to your saute pan and stir to combine, reduce heat to low. Next add the fire roasted tomatoes and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for about 5-10 minutes.
Step Four:
Taste (best part of cooking!) and add salt and pepper if you think it needs it. This is where I decided that adding a little Tangy Catalina French Dressing would give our Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes that special something and boy, oh boy, that was the right call! Serve on hamburger buns. I usually toast my buns first to reduce the sogginess of the bun, but this time we were so excited to dig in, we skipped that step! Serve the Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes with a side salad, using…Tangy Catalina French dressing of course! Ties the meal together in a perfectly balanced way.
Thanks for stopping by The Salted Pepper! Hope to see you again soon… don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new recipe!
Turkey Apple Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Turkey
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 Vidalia or white Onion, 1/4 inch dice
- 1 Granny Smith Apple peeled and 1/4 inch dice
- 1-2 Cloves of Garlic minced
- 1/4 Cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 Cup Tomato Paste
- 1 14 oz Can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Tangy Catalina French Dressing
Instructions
- Dice the apple and onion, mince or fine chop the garlic.
- Heat Olive Oil in a large saute pan on medium heat. Add Ground Turkey, salt and pepper.
- Add diced apples, onions and minced garlic to saute pan and stir to combine.
- Add Apple Cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Continue cooking on medium heat until ground turkey is cooked, about 10 minutes.
- Add tomato paste, fire roasted tomatoes and brown sugar. Stir to combine all ingredients. Reduce heat to low.
- Add Tangy Catalina French dressing and stir.
- Cover and allow to simmer 10-15 until flavors have combined.
- Toast hamburger buns (optional)
- Place Turkey Apple mixture on buns, serve and enjoy!
Video
Wendy
The apple and Catalina dressing really make this recipe something special! My husband loves traditional Sloppy Joe’s, but this one he RAVED about! He didn’t even know that it was made with turkey! It’s tangy, savory and sweet rolled into one dish. I buttered and toasted some French hamburger buns (chewy-not crisp crust with soft interior), which were perfect. This will be in my dinner rotation for sure! Louise, I realize this is one of your older recipes (no Ninja Foodi), but it is a real winner!!! We loved your twist on this American favorite!
Louise
Thank you so much, Wendy! It is one of our favorites too!
Monica
What a fun and slightly healthier twist. I love sweet and savory combos. Will save for my must make list. thanks!
Louise
I love sweet and savory too! Enjoy!
Melina
My husband cannot stand sloppy joes, but somehow I think he might go for these 👍
Louise
YAY!
Shanna
Oh my goodness these look awesome! I’m definitely making them this weekend!
Louise
Thank you! Can’t wait to hear your feedback!
Laura
These look great! Thanks for the great video!
Louise
Thank you so much!
Carmen
Interesting way to change up sloppy joes! I wonder if I add the apple, could I use less sweetener for Diabetics…?
Louise
Carmen, I think you could safely reduce the brown sugar by half. I wouldn’t eliminate it all together because it does help to thicken the sauce.
Rae
Not gonna lie I was a little weirded out when I first read apple but that actually looks really good. I may have to try it one day…so long as I can reserve an apple from my little fruit monsters
Louise
HAHA! I can see that. Give it a try, you might be surprised that the apple works really well in Sloppy Joes.
Candi Randolph
These sound so good! And I so admire you for being able to just whip up recipes out of the sky, like…poof! Not my talent, but that’s where recipes like your come in so handy 🙂
Louise
Thank you! I love being creative in the kitchen and so happy I can share my recipes with others.
Heidi
I am not a meat eater but my husband would probably love these!
Nicole
Yum! I will definitely have to make these. My kids love sloppy joes.
Louise
Yay! This recipe is definitely kid friendly!
Stacey
These look yummy! I’ll admit, I’m not the best at coming up with recipes when I cook, so I appreciate when someone else comes up with a great idea! I’ll be giving this one a try. And, I think I’d be down for some onions and cheese right about now.
Louise
Thank you! I still have not made the Onion Au Gratin, but I NEED to!
Kristi Ann
This sounds so delicious! Can’t wait to make it!!
Louise
Thank you!
gail
That’s how I cook! Use what I have and hope it turns out! Yours seem to be way more thought out LOL. That looks good!
Louise
Thank you!
Katie
My daughter was just saying how we hadn’t eaten sloppy joes in a really long time. We also eat ground turkey over beef because of allergies so a win win for us! I love the video and picture step by step!
Louise
Thank You! Please let me know what you think of it!
Angela
I love it! It sounds like a healthier version and something that my husband might actually eat. I’ll give it a try!
Louise
Thanks! I bet he’ll love it! It’s very kid friendly too!
Brianna
I am going to have to try this. So unexpected and sounds amazing!!
Louise
Thank you!
Trudy
These look so tasty!! I loved your video! I am someone who needs photos or videos when I try new things 🙂
Louise
Thank you so much!
Karie
Looks so yummy! I’m surprised at some of those ingredients in that. I’m looking forward to turning it. Your video was so well put together. Looking and I can imagine tasting good! 😀
Louise
Thank you so much!
Jacqueline
I need to try these, I love all your recipes!! I’m about to pin it so I can make then next week :-).
Louise
Thank you! I just told my husband (pin artist extraordinaire) to make me a pin for this one. He got busy flying, there have been a ton of fires in Maryland lately. I don’t have a great pin for this yet, but I thank you for pinning and please let me know what you think of the recipe!
caitlyn
This looks so yummy! I”m gonna have to try this next week for dinner one night
Louise
You’ll love it! It’s the easiest recipe and so delicious!
Kristie
I wish my mind worked like yours! This recipe sounds amazing!
Louise
Thank you! I hope you try it and let me know what you think!
MICHELE FREEMAN
The Turkey Apple Sloppy Joe is delicious, preparation to the plate in 30 minutes. The New Twist is GREAT!
Louise
Thanks, Michele!
Bob
When are you making me one. Looks delicious
Louise
Bob, they are delicious…and EASY to make! Try out the recipe when you get a chance and let me know what you think!
Jeff
These were fantastic. Best sloppy joes ever!
Louise
Thanks!