My mom used to make sloppy joes for us pretty regularly growing up. I have very fond memories of watching her add the ketchup and mustard to the ground beef simmering in a pot on the stove, and then of course of all of us attempting to eat the sandwiches without making a huge mess. I think poor sloppy joes tend to be underappreciated, so I decided to revive this retro favorite with a few delicious twists!
First, instead of flavoring the meat with a traditional tomato base, I simply mixed ground turkey with our favorite BBQ sauce. Then I nestled the juicy meat between caramelized onions and melted sharp cheddar cheese on toasted whole wheat buns. These sloppy joes definitely hit the spot and we may or may not have gobbled up all 4 sandwiches in one sitting…
p.s. The winner of my Shabby Apple apron giveaway was #36 – Jessi from Chef Fresco, congrats!
BBQ Sloppy Joes
Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, cut into thin strips
1 pound ground turkey
1 cup BBQ sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split in half and toasted
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Directions:
Heat oil and butter over a medium low heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add onions, cover pan, and cook for 25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, or until onions are caramelized.
Meanwhile, place ground turkey in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat and break up with a spoon. Cook for 7 minutes or until meat is browned and no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain off any liquid. Stir in BBQ sauce and salt and heat until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Heat oven broiler. Place bottom half of toasted buns on a large cookie sheet and place one slice of cheese on each and broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. To assemble Sloppy Joes, evenly spread meat over each cheese topped bottom bun. Top evenly with caramelized onions and top with top half of toasted buns. Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition: 570 calories, 26.9g fat, 2.4g fiber, 36.2g protein per serving
Cost: $2.05 per serving