Can I make Healthy Sloppy Joes Whole30?

Yes. Leave out the maple syrup and serve the mixture over sweet potatoes or another compliant base.

Can I make them paleo?

Absolutely. Use a compliant unsweetened ketchup and serve them as Paleo Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes .

Can I use another meat?

Yes. Ground turkey or ground chicken can work, though the flavor will be a little lighter.

Do I have to serve them on buns?

No. It work great in bowls, over sweet potatoes, or in lettuce wraps.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes. It scales well, especially if you use a large sauté pan.

Healthy Sloppy Joes: Easy Whole30 Sweet Potato Dinner

Description

These Healthy Sloppy Joes are a fast one-pan dinner made with ground beef, tender vegetables, and a bold savory tomato sauce. Serve them on toasted buns or spoon them over baked sweet potatoes for an easy meal everyone will enjoy.

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup unsweetened ketchup
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce, optional
4 gluten-free buns or baked sweet potatoes, for serving

Instructions

Brown the meat.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns.
Remove most of the fat.
Drain off most of the grease, leaving roughly 1 tablespoon in the pan. This helps the sauce thicken later and keeps the finished Healthy Sloppy Joes from feeling greasy.
Sauté the vegetables.
Add the minced onion, chopped bell pepper, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Cook, stirring often, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the vegetables soften.
Add the garlic.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until it becomes fragrant.
Build the sauce.
Pour in the tomato sauce, ketchup, water, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, and hot sauce if using. Stir everything together until the mixture looks evenly combined.
Simmer.
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your liking.
Adjust and serve.
Taste the mixture and add more salt if needed. Serve the Healthy Sloppy Joes on toasted buns or pile them over baked sweet potatoes.

Notes

Finely chopped vegetables cook faster and blend better into the sauce.
For Whole 30 Sloppy Joes, leave out the maple syrup and serve over sweet potatoes.
Draining the fat helps the mixture thicken a little more at the end.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Sugar: 6.5g
Sodium: 492.3mg
Fat: 11.7g
Carbohydrates: 10.4g
Fiber: 1.3g
Protein: 24.5g
Cholesterol: 71.2mg