Healthy Sloppy Joes Recipe
This Healthy Sloppy Joes recipe offers a nutritious twist on the classic comfort food by using lean ground beef or turkey combined with flavorful vegetables and a tangy tomato-based sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is packed with protein and vibrant spices, served best over buns or oven-baked sweet potatoes for a wholesome meal the whole family will enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 small bell pepper, diced (any color)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- ¾ cup water
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard or Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon fish sauce (may substitute coconut aminos or tamari)
- 1 – 2 teaspoons fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Serving Suggestions
- Buns
- Oven-baked sweet potatoes
- Instant Pot sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Place a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Once hot, add avocado or olive oil followed by diced onions and bell peppers. Sauté while stirring occasionally until the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Brown the Meat: Add the ground beef or turkey and minced garlic to the skillet. Use a large spoon to break up the meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned and almost cooked through, approximately 10-12 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the tomato paste, water, mustard, apple cider vinegar, fish sauce, smoked or sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine all ingredients evenly. Continue cooking over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture is hot, the meat is fully cooked, and the peppers are tender.
- Season and Serve: Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed. Serve immediately hot over your choice of buns, or oven-baked or Instant Pot cooked sweet potatoes. Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Notes
- Using lean ground turkey instead of beef lowers fat content while keeping it protein-rich.
- Fish sauce adds umami depth but can be substituted with coconut aminos or tamari for a milder flavor.
- Drain the cooked meat if you prefer a less greasy sloppy joe.
- Sweet potatoes provide a nutritious, gluten-free serving option perfect for extra fiber and vitamins.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Keywords: Healthy Sloppy Joes, lean ground beef recipe, ground turkey sloppy joes, healthy comfort food, quick family dinner, low fat main dish
Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/healthy-sloppy-joes-recipe/