CHEF JOHN'S TURKEY SLOPPY JOES

Chef John's Turkey Sloppy Joes image

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.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Ground Turkey Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

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

Steps:

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

Nutrition Facts : Calories 394 calories, Carbohydrate 36.8 g, Cholesterol 89.9 mg, Fat 16.5 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 25.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 724 mg, Sugar 11.9 g