Whole Food Sloppy Joes

Healthified Recipe Alert! You will love this Whole Food Sloppy Joes packed with real foods.

You don’t have to make sloppy joes with a packet mix or Manwich.

Say what?!?!

Yes, you read that correctly.

All it takes is a few simple pantry ingredients, some shredded vegetables and you have a whole food version of the traditional sloppy joe.

This recipe came about years ago when Sarah told me how she made sloppy joes.

I was literally dumbfounded when she explained to me that she made them without a mix!

Once I tried her recipe (this is a term I use loosely with her because she RARELY uses recipes), I was hooked and so excited to come up with my own version!

I grew up eating sloppy joes that were a FAR cry from this delicious and nutritious recipe.

Let’s see if you can relate…

My childhood sloppy joes were made with the packet mix or a can of Manwich.

Our meat mixture was then placed on enriched white flour hamburger buns and a side of potato chips and pasta salad.

This memory makes me want to scream, “Mom, where are the fresh vegetables and whole foods??”

I am happy to tell you, all these years later, my mom and I have developed much healthier eating habits.

I have to give a shout-out to Sarah’s dad, Ray Strand, M.D. and his “Healthy for Life” book. It truly changed the health of our family for the better!

When serving these Whole Food Sloppy Joes, Sarah and I usually eat just the meat mixture and then top it with pickles or homemade relish.

The rest of our family eats this on 100% whole wheat buns with a little melted shredded cheese (I know it is on a fancy white bun in the photograph, but if you have ever tried to photograph a plain whole wheat bun, you would understand!).

Fresh sweet corn from the garden and a Greek salad are probably our favorite side dishes!

Our Whole Food Sloppy Joes contain 5 WHOLE FOOD INGREDIENTS. If you want to bump that number up to 7 or even 10, here are some delicious whole food side dishes to serve with this recipe:

 1. Heat up a bag of frozen peas and serve with these fun sweet potato fries! Super kid-friendly while still being filling and hearty for the adults! {Bumps up the whole food count to 7}

2. Prepare a bowl of this healthy and simple potato salad along with a salad of greens. If you are tired of the same old boring salads, be sure to download our FREE Digital Cookbook with 14 unique salad recipes in it. {Bumps up the whole food count to 10+}

3. Boil and saute some baby carrots along with some seasonings and as a special treat add a slice of watermelon. I love adding a little sweetness to our dinner plates on occasion! {Bumps up the whole food count to 7}

We hope you enjoy this sloppy joe makeover and decide to join us for the rest of the “Whole Food Family” Series.

Be sure to connect with us on social media and join our mailing list so you don’t miss a thing.  And don’t forget…..

You can transform the health of your family one whole food at a time!

Print Recipe

Whole Food Sloppy Joes

A healthy, easy, and delicious sloppy joe recipe made with tons of vegetables and a few simple pantry ingredients! This isn't your mama's recipe! This hearty dish contains 5 whole food ingredients and all the amazing flavors you have come to expect. If you are looking to bump up the nutritional value of your meals, this ones for you!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: All American

Keyword: gluten free, healthy, sloppy joe, vegetables, whole foods

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 205kcal

Cost: $7.00

Equipment

• 1 knife
• 1 cutting boards
• 1 large pot

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 zucchini, shredded and squeezed dry
• 3 carrots, grated
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1-2 Tbsp yellow mustard
• 1-2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Brown ground meat in a large pan. Then add all the chopped and shredded veggies. Saute veggies with browned ground beef and the fat from the beef until the veggies are translucent.
• Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer on low for 5-10 minutes. Taste as you go to see if you need to add in more ketchup or Worcestershire sauce. The amount of seasoning varies greatly depending on the size and amounts of veggies you add. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve by itself topped with pickles or a whole grain bun for the carb lovers!