Name: Healthy Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 yellow onion (diced); 1 cup carrots (finely diced); 1 cup celery (finely diced); 1 green pepper (finely diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 lb ground beef; 1/2 tsp salt; 2 tsp chili powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 2 tbsp honey; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 cup tomato sauce; 1/3 cup ketchup; 1/2 cup water or broth; cheddar cheese slices; buns or potatoes/rice to serve over

Give sloppy joe night a remix with these Healthy Sloppy Joes! They're made with all of the same classic ingredients like beef, seasonings, ketchup, and tomato sauce, but with lots of veggies added! It's an easy-to-make meal that the entire family will love.

A Quick Look

Recipe Name: Healthy Sloppy Joes
Ready In: 30 minutes
Serves: 5 cups meat
Main Ingredients: olive oil, yellow onion, carrots, celery, green pepper, garlic, ground beef, salt
Why You'll Love It: Give sloppy joe night a remix with these Healthy Sloppy Joes! They're made with all of the same classic ingredients like beef, seasonings, ketchup, and tomato sauce, but with lots of veggies added! It's an easy-to-make meal that the entire family will love.

An easy and healthier sloppy joe recipe

In our house, sloppy joe night isn't just another night. It's the best night of the week! And that's because we love to make this delicious, from scratch sloppy joe recipe.

That's right — we're skipping the store bought can and going with this flavorful homemade rendition featuring onion, carrots, celery, bell pepper, loads of seasonings, and even honey! And yes, you read that right — this recipe sneaks in 4 different veggies. Not only is it protein-rich and filling, but it's also packaged with nutrients thanks to the different veggies, ACV, and other ingredients!

Ingredients in healthy sloppy joes

When it comes to sloppy joe ingredients, we're using delicious items like garlic, onion powder, honey, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and loads of veggies! Below is a complete list of everything you'll need:

Olive oil: First, 2 tablespoon of olive oil will be used to cook the veggies.
Vegetables: For the veggies themselves, we'll be using ½ of a yellow onion, 1 cup of carrots, 1 cup of celery, and 1 green bell pepper. All of the veggies need to be diced (and the celery finely diced) before using in the recipe.
Garlic: Next, add flavor with 3 cloves of minced garlic. If using garlic powder, you will need ¾ tsp.
Beef: As for the meat, we will be using 1lb of ground beef. You can use ground chicken or ground turkey if preferred.
Seasonings: To season up the beef, use ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of onion power.
Honey: Next up is an unexpected ingredient: honey. Use 1 tablespoon to add a dash of sweet flavor to the dish. This is undetectable in the final recipe but does make a difference in the overall flavor!
Worcestershire sauce: Follow the honey with 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce for good measure.
Apple cider vinegar: Then, add a bit of vinegar by using 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
Tomato sauce: 1 cup of tomato sauce will start to bring the sloppy joe recipe together.
Ketchup: Follow the sauce with ⅓ cup of your favorite type of ketchup.
Water or broth: Round out the sloppy joes and help the mixture achieve the right consistency by adding ½ cup of water.
Cheese: You will need 1 slice of cheddar cheese per sandwich.
To serve: Serve sloppy joe over buns or on a bed of potatoes or rice!

Tools used to make this recipe for healthy sloppy joes

When it comes to making this recipe, only a few kitchen tools are required. Below is a complete list, as well as a list of measuring cup sizes needed to prep ingredients.

Cutting board
Cutting knife
Large skillet
Stirring utensil

For measuring, you will need the following sized measuring cups: ½ tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup.

Photo of ingredients for Healthy Sloppy Joes with labels.

How to make this healthy sloppy joe recipe

Using only the stovetop, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes! It's easy to whip up, is made in just one pot, and yields 7.5 large servings.

To begin, grab a large skillet and heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onions, carrots, celery, and pepper. Cook for about 5-6 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the ground beef and break it up, cooking until it's no longer pink. Then, add the salt, chili powder, and onion powder. Stir until combined.

Next, add the honey, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, tomato sauce, ketchup, and water, stirring until everything is combined. Let the meat mixture simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or until it thickens. If too thick, add more liquid.

Add ⅔ cup of meat to each bun, and top with a slice of cheddar cheese. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

How are you supposed to eat sloppy joes?

Sloppy joe is best when served right on a hamburger bun! You can use regular or whole wheat buns. But, if you're looking for alternative ways to enjoy it, it also tastes great atop a bed of potatoes or rice.

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and Manwich?

The main difference is that this sloppy joe recipe is made from scratch, and Manwich is a pre-made store bought version. Both taste delicious, but you can't beat that from-scratch feeling!

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and chili?

Sloppy joes and chili aren't actually very similar at all! While they're both most frequently made with a ground beef base, chili also brings in beans and other ingredients. It's more of a stew, whereas sloppy joes are a totally different ballgame!

Storing leftovers

After it cools, leftover sloppy joe should be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. If refrigerating, enjoy within 2-3 days. If freezing, enjoy within 2-3 months.

Be sure to store without the buns, as storing pre-assembled sandwiches will result in soggy bread.

What to enjoy with sloppy joes

Sloppy joes can be enjoyed with a world of different sides! Serve 'em up alongside Crispy Baked Chili Lime Sweet Potato Fries or Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes, get some extra veggies in with Green Bean Casserole or Garlic Sesame Green Beans, or go for a salad like this Spinach Quinoa Feta or Cashew Crunch Salad!

If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!

This week, whip up one of these easy meals for a tasty dish the entire family will love!

All recipes by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Sierra Inn

If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!

Erin Antoniak