Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Sloppy Joes

📝Shopping list

To make these amazing homemade sloppy Joes, you will need these simple ingredients available in any grocery store:

• ground turkey or chicken
• tomato paste
• honey
• garlic minced
• soy sauce
• chicken broth
• potato starch optional - for thickening
• cold water also for thickening
• salt and black pepper to taste, if needed

💜Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Ease: This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. There is nothing to make in advance.  Just toss the ingredients in your slow cooker and go about your day. 
• Flavor: The honey garlic sauce in this dish is reminiscent of a delicious take out meal from your favorite Asian restaurant. 
• Options: You can make this dish with either ground turkey or ground chicken.  And - there are a limitless number of ways to serve it!  
• This easy meal is picky eater approved!   

🔪Instructions

These great crock pot sloppy joes involve just a few simple steps:

Preparing Ingredients

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner for this great recipe.  

Get Cooking

• 🍔To a greased slow cooker, add ground turkey or chicken.  Use a wooden or rubber spatula to break it up slightly.  
• 🍔Add in all remaining ingredients (other than the optional ones) and stir to combine  
• 🍔Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours
• 🍔Once cooked, use a wooden or rubber spatula to break apart any clumps of turkey and fully mix
• 🍔Optional: to thicken sauce, make a slurry using a small bowl to mix potato starch and water.  Stir slurry into turkey.  It should thicken within a matter of minutes. 
• 🍔 Add salt and pepper to taste, if needed (I don't add any to mine) 

🍽Serving suggestions

There are many delicious ways to serve your sloppy Joe mixture including:

• On a brioche bun or hamburger bun (can be toasted if you like).  For a complete meal, add a side salad and french fries or potato chips 
• Topped with sesame seeds and sliced green onion
• Wrapped up in large lettuce leaves
• In a bowl with brown rice or quinoa and grilled veggies
• On top of mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower
• Over zoodles or rice noodles
• On a pretzel roll with melted cheddar cheese and pickled red onion
• Scooped up with your favorite tortilla chips

🔁Substitutions

• Substitute ground chicken for ground turkey in this healthy sloppy joe recipe
• Replace tomato paste with ketchup for a different flavor burst
• Stir in red pepper flakes and diced jalapenos for a spicy kick
• Swap maple syrup or brown sugar for honey to change the flavor profile a bit.  
• If you are a fan of honey garlic, Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is another one you will love! 
• Are you loving the slow cooker sloppy Joe concept? If so, you will love Chicken Satay Sloppy Joes, Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, Buffalo Sloppy Joes, and Taco Sloppy Joes.

😉Hints & hacks

1. Using a slow cooker liner is an optional but helpful step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
2. I suggest the use of 93% lean turkey (rather than 99%) as the fat content helps to keep the turkey moist.  
3. Use a meat thermometer for confirmation that turkey is fully cooked. According to the FDA, turkey is ready to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F
4. This family favorite recipe is perfect to double for a crowd. Just double all ingredients in the same proportions. Do not change the cooking time. 
5. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
6. Always double check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! Coming home to a cold slow cooker is the worst feeling ever!