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Healthy Sloppy Joes

Laura Miner
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These Healthy Sloppy Joes are made with just a few simple household staples as ingredients. They’re homemade from scratch, so your whole family will love them! Serve on baked potatoes or with sweet potato wedges for a delicious, filling meal.

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Two small dishes filled with sloppy Joe mixture and baked sweet potato fries.

This healthy Sloppy Joe recipe is a far cry from what we had in the school cafeteria growing up! It’s true comfort food made with real ingredients, and an easy weeknight dinner your whole family will love.

We love that it’s made in just one skillet, using budget-friendly ingredients you probably already have on hand!

The first time I made these, my boys were dancing in their seats while we ate our dinner they loved it so much! Because when you use fresh bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and spices, the flavor is just incredible.

What Readers Are Saying

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I wish I could give this recipe 10 stars! I couldnt believe how much my kids loved it!
–Crystal

Rather than serve on a bun, I like to make up a batch of Sloppy Joe bowls and serve with baked sweet potato fries, baked potatoes, or whatever vegetables I have on hand!

Happy Kitchen Secrets

Here are my most important mom tested cooking tips! Follow this advice and dinner is guaranteed to be a success.

  1. Season to taste. If you prefer a sweeter mixture, try adding a bit more ketchup. If you like things extra savory, try adding a pinch more garlic powder, or opt for a ketchup without added sugar.
  2. Drain excess fat if needed. Depending on the fat content of your ground beef, you may want to spoon off a little extra grease after browning. This keeps the sauce light while still leaving enough flavor in the pan.
  3. You can add extra veggies. Mince or grate ½ cup of zucchini and add it with the bell peppers. You won’t even taste it! You can also save the vegetable scraps to make your own vegetable broth.
The recipe ingredients laid out and labeled separately on a cutting board.

Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full step by step instructions! ⬇️

  • Ground Beef: I like to use 85% Ground Beef. Fat adds flavor and extra lean ground beef tends to dry out. 
  • Red Bell Pepper: We love using red bell pepper at my house because it’s sweeter than other peppers. But you can use a yellow or green bell pepper if you prefer.
  • Garlic: Adds savory flavor to the dish.
  • Red Onion: You can also use a sweet onion, yellow onion, or white onion if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Ketchup: Adds a sweet, tangy flavor to the mix.
  • Beef or Vegetable Broth: Serves as the base of the Sloppy Joe sauce.
  • Diced Tomatoes: These add both bright flavor and more texture to the meal.
  • Tomato Paste: This helps to thicken the sauce ingredients.
  • Salt: Essential for enhancing the flavor of the dish!
  • Cumin: This warm spice adds an earthy taste and the most wonderful aroma.
  • Chili Powder: Adds a fantastic smoky flavor to the Sloppy Joe filling.
  • Garlic Powder: Helps balance the ingredients, making sure it isn’t too sweet.

Substitutions and Variations

Different ground meat: Try this recipe with ground turkey for a lighter version!

Worcestershire sauce: Add a dash for extra tangy flavor.

Condiments: You can serve these homemade Sloppy Joes with any condiments you like, from creamy homemade ranch dressing to a bit of mustard.

How to Make Healthy Sloppy Joes 

Ground beef is cooking in a frying pan with chopped red bell pepper, red onion, and minced garlic for healthy sloppy joes, with a wooden spoon resting on the side.
A frying pan with cooked ground beef, diced red bell peppers, onions, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, and sauce—a healthy sloppy joes recipe—simmers as a wooden spoon rests inside.
A frying pan with ground beef, chopped tomatoes, red bell peppers, and assorted spices being cooked—perfect for making healthy sloppy joes—with a wooden spoon resting inside.
  1. Add the ground beef to the pan and brown. Once browned add in your veggies.
  1. Add in your tomato paste, diced tomatoes and ketchup, then let it come to a simmer with small bubbles.
  1. After a few minutes of simmering when all of the tomato paste is incorporated, add your spices. This is a great time to taste and see how you like it. If you want a little more oomph, add more chili powder.

If you want a little more salt, add a bit more and taste again. Simmer the meat until it’s thickened slightly, about 5-8 minutes.

And that’s it! You’re ready to dig in. Serve the sloppy joes with a little dairy free sour cream (the recipe is below), and whatever sides you enjoy!

Close up of the cooked sloppy joe mixture in a skillet.

Make it kid friendly: If your kids don’t like the strong flavors of chili powder or cumin, make a mild base without spices first, then scoop out a small portion before adding the full seasoning to the rest of the pan.

FAQ

How do you store leftovers?

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per USDA.

Can I freeze this recipe?

The cooked sloppy joe beef mixture freezes beautifully! Simply allow it to cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. Squeeze as much air out as you can and seal. Set in the freezer and use within 3-4 months. To defrost, set the bag or container on a plate in the refrigerator overnight.

What makes these Sloppy Joes healthy?

Making Sloppy Joes from scratch ensures you are using real ingredients like fresh vegetables, which add nutrients and fiber. Using sweet potatoes or baked potatoes for the bun component reduces sugar and preservatives in the meal. The result is a truly tasty, healthy meal you can feel good about serving to your family!

Serving Suggestions

I recommend serving this mouthwatering recipe with:

  • Vegetable sides: We love Sloppy Joes with spaghetti squash or roasted broccoli.
  • Baked Potatoes: Another favorite way to serve this dish is with baked potatoes or sweet potato fries.
  • Grains: You can also serve Sloppy Joes on a bed of rice or quinoa.
Did you make this recipe?

5 stars
If you make this recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below to let me know how it went!

Close up of a white plate with sloppy joes and sweet potato fries.

Healthy Sloppy Joe Bowls

Total Time 20 minutes
These Healthy Sloppy Joes are made with just a few simple household staples as ingredients. They're homemade from scratch, so your whole family will love them! Serve on baked potatoes or with crispy potato wedges for a delicious, filling meal.
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Sloppy Joes

  • 1 lb. ground beef (I use 85%)
  • ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 3 Tablespoons minced red onion about 1/4 medium onion
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ⅛ cup beef or vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup canned diced tomatoes
  • 1½ Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1¼ teaspoon cumin
  • 1¼ teaspoons Chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoons Garlic powder

Dairy Free Sour cream

  • ¼ cup full fat coconut milk chilled (use the creamy/thick part and save the liquid for another time)
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Make the Sour Cream

  • Mix together all ingredients. Cover and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Prepare the Sloppy Joes

  • Brown the beef, breaking it apart with a spatula as it begins to cook.
  • Stir in the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Saute until softened, about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the tomato paste, ketchup, broth, and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  • Stir in the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt. Cook together for about 5-8 more minutes or until thickened slightly.
    If you need to thin it out, add a little liquid from the canned tomatoes or beef broth, one tablespoon at a time.
  • Spoon the mixture into bowls. Serve with baked potatoes or fries and top with a dollop of the sour cream.

Notes

To freeze: Allow the cooked meat mixture to cool completely and transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. Squeeze as much air out as you can and seal. Set in the freezer and use within 3-4 months, per USDA. To defrost, set the bag or container on a plate in the refrigerator overnight.
To make baked potatoes: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Wash and pat dry the potatoes, and poke each with a fork several times. Rub oil on the skins and sprinkle with salt. Place directly onto the middle rack of the oven with a cookie sheet below it to catch any salt that falls off. Bake for about 1 hour or until completely softened through.
To make sweet potato fries: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Wash the sweet potatoes and cut them into pieces about ¼-½ inches wide. Toss with oil, just enough to coat the pieces. Lay the potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the baking sheet from the oven. Carefully turn the potatoes over, then return them to the oven. Cook for another 10-12 minutes or until crispy. 

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 875mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 381IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 4mg
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A woman in a black dress smiles while holding a bowl of food with vegetables and ground meat in a kitchen.
Hey friend, I’m Madison!

I’m the mama behind Cook at Home Mom. Through simple, family-friendly recipes and practical meal prep tips, I show busy moms how to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable, even with packed schedules. So glad you are here!

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5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    I wish I could give this recipe 10 stars! I couldnt believe how much my kids loved it!

    Reply