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Slow Cooker (or not) Turkey Sloppy Joes
with parmesan zucchini spears

Active: 40 Total: 280

We went for a bit of nostalgia tonight with saucy slow cooker Sloppy Joes, but you know we had to give these messy sandwiches a Cook Smarts twist. We lightened things up with ground turkey as the base and served roasted parmesan zucchini spears on the side.
Cooking methods: This recipe includes instructions for using the slow cooker or stovetop. Select your preferred method.

Tags
Proteins
Cuisines

Ingredients

Metric
Servings:
4
Turkey Sloppy Joes:
  • Onions, medium - 1 , diced
  • Bell peppers, green - 1 , diced
  • Garlic - 2 cloves , chopped
  • Ketchup - 3/4 cup
  • Stock, any type - 1/2 cup
  • Worcestershire sauce - 1 Tbsp
  • Vinegar, apple cider - 1 Tbsp
  • Mustard, Dijon - 2 tsp
  • Brown sugar - 1 tsp
  • Oil, cooking - 1 Tbsp
  • Turkey, ground - 1 lb
  • Hamburger buns, gluten-free - 4
Parmesan Zucchini Spears:
  • Zucchini - 1 lb , spears
  • Cheese, parmesan - 1/3 cup , grated
  • Oil, olive - 2 Tbsp
  • Italian seasoning - 1/2 tsp

Choose Cooking Method

Prep

  1. Zucchini / Cheese / Onions / Bell peppers / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store zucchini and cheese in their own containers. Combine onions, bell peppers, and garlic in another container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  2. Make sauce - Combine ketchup, stock, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, and brown sugar. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  3. Pre-cook turkey - Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with cooking oil. Add turkey and saute until cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Add onions, bell peppers, and garlic and saute until translucent. Season with some salt and pepper. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  4. Slow cook turkey - In the bowl of a slow cooker, combine cooked turkey and sauce. Stir well. Cook on low for 4 hours. (We do not recommend cooking this on high because the tomato-based sauce may burn.)

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Make

  1. Heat oven to 400F / 204C. Lightly brush a sheet pan with some cooking oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

  2. Toss zucchini with olive oil, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and some salt and pepper. Spread out on sheet pan.

  3. Bake zucchini until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

  4. When zucchini is nearly finished cooking, give turkey a stir. Season with some salt and pepper if needed.

  5. Toast hamburger buns.

  6. Divide turkey between hamburger buns. Serve with zucchini on the side. Enjoy!

Prep

  1. Zucchini / Cheese / Onions / Bell peppers / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store zucchini and cheese in their own containers. Combine onions, bell peppers, and garlic in another container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  2. Make sauce - Combine ketchup, stock, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, and brown sugar. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

Unlock this meal along with hundreds of smart meal plans and never stress about "What's for dinner?" again

Try for free
Learn More

Make

  1. Heat oven to 400F / 204C. Lightly brush a sheet pan with some cooking oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

  2. Toss zucchini with olive oil, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and some salt and pepper. Spread out on sheet pan.

  3. Bake zucchini until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

  4. While zucchini bakes, heat a skillet over medium-high heat with cooking oil. Add turkey with some salt and saute until cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes.

  5. To turkey, add onions, bell peppers, and garlic and saute until translucent.

  6. Pour sauce over turkey and continue cooking until sauce reduces and thickens, 5 to 8 minutes more. Remove turkey from heat. Taste and season with some salt and pepper if needed.

  7. Toast hamburger buns.

  8. Divide turkey between hamburger buns. Serve with zucchini on the side. Enjoy!


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