While I am making a point of eating healthier, I don’t want to follow such a restrictive diet that I’m left to crave “junk” food anyway (Read: This May Be Why You Crave That Burger). As I figure out the proper balance of my diet, I will continue what I have been doing a.k.a eating healthier versions of the “guilty pleasure” foods I love. We already know that there are several ways to make hamburgers healthier. But, what about healthier sloppy joes?
I love bell peppers, I love carrots, and I’m trying my best to like mushrooms more. This recipe is simple and quite quick to make. It’s so good, that even if you’re not a fan of mushrooms, you’ll be requesting for this to be made at least once a week!
Instead of using regular hamburger buns, you can replace them with whole wheat bread/buns, or the squash of your choosing. (I opt for butternut squash but a spaghetti squash offers several nutrients too). Swap the minced beef for minced pork, add a mixture of leafy greens… there are many options for enhancing the dish and for making it even healthier.
I used whole wheat buns for the first meal. Then, I used some of the leftovers to use as a butternut squash filling and it was so delicious. Use them in a wrap, a beef soup, nacho toppings… the leftovers are extremely versatile.
Healthier Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1.25 lbs Lean Ground Beef, Pork, Turkey, or Chicken
- 1 Tbsp Steak Seasoning or Seasoned Salt (Montreal has great steak spice)
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Carrot, minced
- 1 Medium Onion, minced
- 1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper, minced
- 4 oz Mushrooms, minced
- 1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 cups Tomato Sauce
- 2 Tbsps Tomato Paste
- Spaghetti/Butternut Squash, optional
Instructions
If using butternut squash, slice it in half and remove the seeds. Season with olive/avocado oil, salt, and pepper. Bake in the oven at 425F for about 25-30 minutes as you prepare the filling.
Chop all the vegetables really fine, using a chopper or food processor. I simply used a good knife, but the other methods would save you time.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat to the pan and break it up as it cooks.
Season with steak seasoning and cook the meat until it browns.
Add onion, garlic, carrots, mushrooms, and red peppers to the skillet.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, cooking for 5 more minutes.
Add tomato sauce and paste to the pan and stir to combine. Cover and reduce the heat to simmer, cooking for an additional 5 minutes.
Place about a cup of the meat on top of the squash and garnish. Adding some grated cheese makes this extra delicious, but isn’t necessary- it’s delicious on its own.
Refrigerate – The meat will last in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for 3 months.
To freeze, store in single-serving containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave.
Related to Healthier Sloppy Joes:
Teriyaki Beef and Vegetable Skillet Recipe