For simple, easy-to-make school lunch recipes, try our easy chicken bites, BBQ chicken quesadilla, or one-pot pea pasta with peas and bacon. The easy homemade tomato sauce uses familiar ingredients you’re likely to have in your pantry. We spoon the delicious mixture over toasted brioche or hamburger buns, top with shredded cheese, and serve with plain chips for a little salty crunch. It keeps really well in a freezer so save yourself some time and double or triple the recipe. They might be a little messy, but this kid-approved, one-pot meal is an all-around win!
Olive oil Onion + garlic Red bell pepper Ground turkey – you can find ground turkey in the meat department of most grocery stores. Tomato sauce – plain tomato sauce in a jar or can will be the base of the zesty tomato sauce. Ketchup – this classic condiment adds sweetness and more tomato flavor to the sauce. Seasonings – worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar add zest and lots of flavor. Chicken stock – we use chicken stock for the sauce, but you can also use water.
Brioche buns – we love the soft buttery texture of brioche buns but other types of buns like hamburger buns work perfectly well too. Shredded cheese – we like pepper jack cheese or cheddar cheese. Chips – optional for serving, but delicious.
Using ground turkey already lightens the calorie load. You can also use a lean ground turkey if it’s available. Opt for a natural or no sugar ketchup. Some are sweetened with dates which would add a wonderful sweet taste. Add extra bell peppers, mushrooms, or other veggies to the mix for more nutrition and fiber. Swap the chips for a salad like our creamy kale salad with maple tahini vinaigrette or pumpkin spinach salad with maple pumpkin dressing.
Here are some of our favorite recipes to serve with turkey sloppy joes:
Baked Parmesan Rosemary Shoestring Fries Garlic Herb Carrot Fries The Best Kale Salad Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Sautéed Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan
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