Chef John's Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion , diced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1.25 pounds ground turkey
• 0.5 cups cold water
• 0.75 cups ketchup
• 1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 0.5 teaspoons cayenne pepper , or to taste
• 0.5 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup water , or as needed
• 6 hamburgers buns , split
• 0.5 cups shredded white Cheddar cheese
• 0.33 cups chopped green onions

Instructions

1. 1

   Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in butter until lightly brown, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

2. 2

   Mix 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.

3. 3

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

4. 4

   Preheat the oven's broiler. Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.

5. 5

   Toast hamburger buns under the preheated broiler until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

6. 6

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