Healthy Sloppy Joes: even better than you remember!

These messy, crave-worthy, healthy sloppy joes are packed with vegetables but taste even better than the ones you had as a kid. They're naturally sweetened, and a few secret ingredients give them an unparalleled flavor. It's a make-ahead meal that's perfect for busy weeknights, game days and parties.

Healthy sloppy joes

While most sloppy joes recipes include anywhere from a few tablespoons to a quarter cup (!) of sugar, this version calls for only 2 teaspoons of maple syrup. Finely chopped veggies provide plenty of natural sweetness as well as amp up the nutrition.

Other key ingredients

A few other secret ingredients give these healthy sloppy joes an incredible flavor. Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, tomato paste and balsamic vinegar lend umami depth, while chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, tomato puree and ketchup (just 2 tablespoons) create a mouthwatering sauce. You can use lean ground beef, ground bison or ground turkey.

How to make healthy sloppy joes

The vegetables for these sloppy joes are finely chopped in a food processor, making the prep quick and easy. The finely chopped veggies cook quickly and seamlessly incorporate into the meat mixture (my kids don't even know they're there!).

• In a food processor, combine onion, bell pepper, carrot and garlic. Pulse until finely chopped.
• Cook the ground meat in a large skillet until browned and cooked through. Transfer it to a plate (discard any fat).
• In the same skillet, cook the vegetables until softened. Add the spices and tomato paste.
• Return the meat to the skillet and add tomato puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, sriracha and water. Simmer the sloppy joes until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.

What to serve with sloppy joes

The sloppy joes are delicious all on their own in buns or piled over rice. We love to serve them with Coleslaw (which I pile right on top of my sandwich!) and Pickled Red Onions. Pair the sandwiches with these Crispy Baked Oven Fries or Skillet Cornbread for a killer meal.

FAQs

Tips for this recipe:

• A food processor not only cuts back on the prep time, but it also helps the vegetables to seamlessly incorporate into the meat mixture (my kids don't even know they're there!).
• I usually make these sloppy joes with naturally lean grass-fed ground beef, but you could also use ground bison or ground turkey (I even had a reader tell me that she used meat-free crumbles with success).
• The ingredient list looks long, but it's mostly stuff you probably already have in your pantry (think spices, vinegars and sriracha). You'll need both tomato paste (I prefer the stuff in the tube, which lasts forever), as well as tomato puree. The paste provides a sweet richness while the  puree gives the sauce body.
• You can use any heavy-bottomed pan to cook the sloppy joes. I use my Le Creuset braiser, which is pretty enough to place right in the middle of the table.

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What to serve with sloppy joes:

• Easy Homemade Red Cabbage Coleslaw
• Cheesy Baked Oven Fries
• Instant Pot Pinto Beans
• Mexican Street Corn Salad

Stay connected

I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to give this recipe a star rating and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @nickisizemore so that I can share your creations!

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The Ultimate Healthy Sloppy Joes

By Nicki Sizemore

This recipe creates the most crave-worthy, delicious AND nutritious sloppy joes! These healthy sloppy joes are sweetened with just 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and are packed with vegetables. The food processor makes quick work of finely chopping the vegetables, cutting back on prep time and shortening the cooking time. Feel free to use lean ground beef (I prefer grass-fed), ground bison or ground turkey. The result is far tastier and more nutritious than the Manwich cans of your childhood. The recipe list might look long, but you probably already have most of the stuff in your pantry. I like to serve the joes with coleslaw (which I pile right on top of my sandwich). The sloppy joe mixture gets even better with time, meaning this is a fantastic make-ahead meal. 

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

Veggies and meat

• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, trimmed and coarsely chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 pound lean ground beef (preferably grass-fed), or ground bison or turkey
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Seasonings

• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup canned tomato puree
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon sriracha, or more to taste
• ½ cup water
• Buns for serving, regular or gluten-free

Instructions

• Put the onion, red pepper, carrot and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, scraping the sides occasionally, about 12-14 pulses.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a plate. Discard any fat in the pan.
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Scrape in the vegetables from the food processor. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, 1-2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the cooked beef, tomato puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, sriracha (if you like it spicy, feel free to add a few more teaspoons!), and water. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place the pan back over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes. If needed, add a few more splashes of water to thin. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper, and/or sriracha as desired (don’t be shy with the seasonings). Serve warm on soft buns.  

Notes

Do Ahead: The sloppy joes can be refrigerated for up to 4 days; thin with a few splashes of water, if needed.

Tips:

• A food processor not only cuts back on the prep time, but it also helps the vegetables to seamlessly incorporate into the meat mixture (my kids don't even know they're there!).
• I usually make these sloppy joes with naturally lean grass-fed ground beef, but you could also use ground bison or ground turkey (I even had a reader tell me that she used meat-free crumbles with success).
• The ingredient list looks long, but it's mostly stuff you probably already have in your pantry (think spices, vinegars and sriracha). You'll need both tomato paste (I prefer the stuff in the tube, which lasts forever), as well as tomato puree. The paste provides a sweet richness while the  puree gives the sauce body.
• You can use any heavy-bottomed pan to cook the sloppy joes. I use my Le Creuset braiser, which is pretty enough to place right in the middle of the table.

Loved this recipe? Check out @nickisizemore for more!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy dinner recipes, healthy sloppy joes, sloppy joes recipe