By Steph 39 Comments
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A classic childhood memory for some households: Sloppy Joe’s. This recipe for quick and healthy sloppy joe’s can’t be easier, or more tasty. Ready in about 15 minutes, this will become your family’s go-to weeknight meal, guaranteed. The sloppy joe filling is a delicious balance of sweet and savory; slightly smoky, and just delicious. Pile the filling high on a fluffy bun for the ultimate comfort food, and serve it alongside some veggies for a well-rounded meal. This meal is one the whole family can enjoy, made with wholesome ingredients.
All about these Quick and Healthy Sloppy Joe’s
Traditionally, a sloppy joe is a sandwich served on a hamburger bun, filled with a mixture of ground meat seasoned with spices and tomatoes. The recipe, like many other classic American recipes, varies from region to region and from household to household. The name also varies from region to region, but one thing remains consistent: this is easy comfort food at its finest!
This recipe for sloppy joe’s is a combination of sweet and savory. The flavor is smoky and hearty, but it has notes of sweetness from the brown sugar and ketchup used in the sauce. It tastes similar to a Swedish meatball, and it is delicious!
So what makes this recipe “healthy” anyway?
This recipe uses beef, ketchup, and even brown sugar… so what exactly do I mean when I call it “healthy?” Some recipes swap out ground turkey or chicken for beef, but here, I use the real deal.
The only swaps that lighten this recipe up are the use of olive oil spray in place of the traditional butter or oil, and the use of 96/4 extra lean ground beef instead of a more fatty cut. Otherwise, everything else in this recipe is the real deal: real ketchup, real brown sugar. All the spices. All the flavor.
To me, eating healthier isn’t about eliminating food groups, but about using real ingredients, but tweaking the measurements to suit your needs. This recipe only uses 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and in my opinion, it is plenty to sweeten the entire dish. When I tell you this dish is packed with flavor, I mean it! Of course, you can make your own substitutions to adjust the macros or to fit your lifestyle, like reduced sugar ketchup, brown sugar replacement, etc.
What you’ll need to make quick and healthy sloppy joe’s
- onion
- 96/4 extra lean ground beef
- You can find this cut of beef in Trader Joe’s or Aldi, and I also find the Laura’s Lean Ground Beef brand at Target.
- garlic cloves
- onion powder
- paprika
- garlic powder
- ground mustard
- chili powder
- tomato paste
- ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- water
- buns for serving
How to make quick and healthy sloppy joe’s
To make this recipe, you will only need 15 minutes! This is the quickest and easiest recipe you will ever make. It comes together so quickly, but develops so much flavor, you won’t believe it. To make this recipe, simply start out by chopping the onion and mincing the garlic. Spray olive oil spray in the frying pan, and preheat it over medium heat.
Add the onion to the pan, and cook it for about 5 minutes for it to become tender and start to caramelize. Next, add the ground beef to the pan, and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, ground mustard, and chili powder to the beef. Continue cooking the beef for about 5 minutes or until its no longer pink.
Next, add the minced garlic and tomato paste to the pan, and stir to combine. Add the ketchup, water, brown sugar, and Worcestershire to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add the sauce to the pan, and stir to combine. Let the mixture simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until it thickens to your desired consistency.
Serve on top of a fluffy bun for the ultimate bite!
Quick and Healthy Sloppy Joe's
A classic childhood memory for some households: Sloppy Joe's. This recipe for quick and healthy sloppy joe's can't be easier, or more tasty. Ready in about 15 minutes, this will become your family's go-to weeknight meal, guaranteed. The sloppy joe filling is a delicious balance of sweet and savory; slightly smoky, and just delicious. Pile the filling high on a fluffy bun for the ultimate comfort food, and serve it alongside some veggies for a well-rounded meal. This meal is one the whole family can enjoy, made with wholesome ingredients.
4.99 from 54 votes
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course: main course
cuisine: American
keyword: sloppy joes
prep time: 5 minutes minutes
cook time: 15 minutes minutes
servings: 6 1/2 cup servings
calories: 139kcal
author: Steph
Equipment
shallow Dutch oven, cast iron pan, or frying pan
Ingredients
- olive oil spray
- 1 onion, medium/large, chopped
- 1 lb 96/4 extra lean ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 3/4 cup water
- buns for serving (not included in macros)
Instructions
Preheat the pan over medium heat, and add olive oil spray.
Chop the onion and add it to the pan.
Cook the onion for 5 minutes or until tender and it starts to caramelize.
Add the beef to the pan, and break it apart with a wooden spoon.
Add the garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, paprika, and chili powder.
Cook the beef with the spices for about 5 minutes or until it is no longer pink.
Add the minced garlic to the pan, followed by the tomato paste.
In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and water.
Add this sauce to the pan with the beef, and simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste for seasoning.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 368IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetsavoryandsteph or tag #sweetsavoryandsteph!
You might also enjoy these quick and easy beef-based healthy recipes:
Lightened-Up Chili with Cornbread Topping
Easy Healthy One Pan Mongolian Beef
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4.99 from 54 votes (19 ratings without comment)
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Comments
Joanne saysWe have sloppy joes on our menu tonight! Though I do make them with ground turkey and a bit milder without paprika or chili powder but other than that I think our recipes are pretty similar.
Reply
- Shelagh says
Delicious! This recipe is so flavorful and came together so quickly – perfect for a week night meal. The ingredients are all things I always have on hand, so it was super convenient as well. Will definitely make these again!Reply
- Lynn Crooks says
Made these for dinner tonight. Fabulous I added some corn and shredded zucchini that just needed to be used up.Reply
- Regina says
Loved this recipe!! So easy and had everything on hand! It was a big portion and so so good!!Reply
- Sue Ann King says
Made this for dinner last night and it was a hit!!!Reply
- Debbie says
This recipe was a big hit at our house and it was quick and easy to make! I left out the chili pepper. Definitely will be on repeat in our house!Reply
- Loretta says
This quick cooking dish is amazingly simple but with huge flavors. Definitely a go-to for meReply
- Stephanie says
So delicious- I literally licked my plate. Definitely will be making again!Reply
- Colleen says
Soooooo good!!!!! Husband and kid approved, so easy to make! Perfect quick weeknight/sports/activity dinner!Reply
- Brittanh says
Left out the brown sugar, and the bun. Made it into a casserole with tater tots and some cheese ontop. It was so delicious! Way better than the canned sloppy joe mixReply
- Angie McKeon says
Made this tonight!! And WOW!!!!! Absolutely delicious!!! It was a huge hit with the family. Thank you for another great recipe!!!Reply
- Chelsea F. says
So much flavor, so quick and easy and it will be on repeat for us! Steph is on the menu multiple times a week in this house—my husband knows her by name now and whenever we eat something delicious he asks, “Is this a Steph recipe?” and of course it always is!
Reply
- Sherri says
So easy and very good!!! Very easy quick meal during the week!!!Reply
- Holli Strunc says
I made this tonight, and it was so good!!!! My picky teenager loved it too! Can’t wait to have leftovers tomorrow.Reply
- Patty says
Great quick dinner! Breakfast and dinner from your recipes! Love them❤️Reply
- Michelle says
So delicious & flavorful! My husband and I loved these sloppy joes!Reply
- Channing says
This was a super quick, delicious and easy recipe that will definitely be going into my weeknight meal rotation on a regular basis! Added pickles to our sandwiches and it was so good!Reply
- Candace says
These are delicious! All three of my boys ages 3,6, and 8 loved them. I chose to eat it on light bread to save some points: My husband also loved it. Thank you for a quick, delicious, healthy meal!Reply
- Byrekka says
This was delicious. I added riced cauliflower to bulk it up a little bit. My family love it. Will defiantly be making this again.Reply
- Kim says
These are AMAZING! Going into the dinner rotation for sure!Reply
- Terri Dekker says
I made this the other night and WOW was it good. I’ll never use the can stuff again. Actually my husband has already requested I make it again soon.
Reply
- Tanya says
I really enjoyed this recipe! A little on the sweet side so next time I’ll add a bit of Siracha maybe. But I’ll definitely make again. Thanks StephReply
- Kristin Mango says
Honestly I love me a good old manwich and was hesitant to try this but OMG never buying the can again- these are easy and definitely will be a regular on the menuReply
- Sarah says
These were delicious!! My husband raved and I’ll definitely be making these again!Reply
- Brenda says
This was delicious and so easy. Much more tasty and healthier than the canned stuff. I added a couple drops of liquid smoke for a smokey flavor.Reply
- Cindy says
Delicious, my family loved it and this will be a new go to!Reply
- Tammy says
Made this last night and it was a hit! I made a few changes to the ingredients though. I used Monkfruit instead of the brown sugar and I used sugar free ketchup. This was super quick to whip up and will be in my dinner rotation for sure! I love that your recipes don’t lack in flavor. Thanks for another amazing recipe!Reply
- Dani says
These were delicious! Wanted something different for burger night and the kids really liked them too. Loved the bit of brown sugar in them.Reply
- Jeroy Williams says
Amazing recipe tastes amazing 😻 thank you 🙏🏾
Reply
- Rita says
Very flavorful!! Just a tad too sweet for my taste, but I would eat again with less brown sugar!Reply
- Suzanne says
This is an easy and delicious recipe! My husband and son had no idea we weren’t eating Manwich!Reply
- Leann says
Love this recipe! We were a Manwich house and when looking to eat on the healthier side, we tried out this recipe. Let me say, we will never go back! So flavorful and delicious!Reply
- Brandi Nelsen says
Delicious! So great!Reply
- Heather says
Made today during my lunch break for dinner tonight, it’s swim right from work then rush home for dinner. Came together super easy everyone in the house enjoyed. Highly recommendReply
- Staci Fournier says
Very delicious!! I used no sugar added ketchup because that’s what I had on hand and it was still sweet and flavorful!Reply
- Ashley says
My picky toddler who only eats nutella, grapes and the occasional burger drowned in ketchup LOVED this. Thank you so much.Reply
- Tricia says
I followed the recipe exactly as written. It was delicious! I loved that I already had all the ingredients on hand. Will definitely make another batch this week.Reply
- Kylee Belstler says
Another recipe that is absolute perfection from Steph! This is definitely on the meal rotation in our household!Reply
- Julia says
So great.Reply
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Hi, I’m Steph! I am married and a mom of three young children, a boy and two girls.
Here you’ll find healthy recipes by category, lots of lightened up comfort foods (burgers and pasta anyone?). But you’ll also find a lot of European influence in my cooking, as I often take our families’ recipes and rework them.
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