Chef John's Turkey Sloppy Joes

This made for a very enjoyable lunch, and kept warm in a slow cooker, could also work very nicely for a Super Bowl party. It tastes enough like a traditional beef Sloppy Joe to provide that satisfying comfort food fix, yet seems much lighter.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 394 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup cold water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ⅓ cup chopped green onions
• 1 onion, diced
• ¾ cup ketchup
• 1 cup water, or as needed
• 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 6 hamburger buns, split
• ½ cup shredded white Cheddar cheese
• 1 ¼ pounds ground turkey

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until onion starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black.

Step 2

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

Step 3

Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Toast hamburger buns until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4

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