Healthier Sloppy Joes

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Raise your hand if you had Sloppy Joe night growing up.🙋‍♀️ We sure did, and most kids (and adults) love it. It’s just a darn right easy and delicious meal to make during a hectic week. However, empty calories from the processed flour buns can add up to unwanted calories and carbs. How about trying my version of Healthier Sloppy Joes by sneaking in a few extra veggies into the ground beef, then switching up buns for different vegetable vessels that provide nutrients. Potatoes, peppers and zucchini can be the perfect vessel to enjoy your sloppy joes! You can make it even healthier by switching out ground beef for ground turkey.

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Let’s begin!

Ingredients:

For Sloppy Sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef (80-90% lean), cooked and drained. (You can also use ground turkey)

• 1 can Sloppy Joe sauce (15oz)

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1-2 large carrots, grated

• 1 small Vidalia onion, chopped

For Vegetable Vessels:

• Zucchini

• Green bell peppers

• Russet Potatoes

• 1 tsp olive oil

• salt, pepper (or your favorite seasoning)

Optional topping: Sharp cheddar cheese, grated.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400℉ and start browning your ground beef in a large frying pan on medium heat.

Prepare veggie vessels by washing, drying, then cutting and scooping out seeds (as shown in photo.)

Place on a baking sheet.

Brush a light coat of olive oil on outside and top edges of vegetable vessels.

Next, sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning. (I like Mrs. Dash!)

While your ground beef is browning, add 1 teaspoon olive oil to a separate small sauté pan and heat on medium high.

Add the grated carrots and chopped onions and sauté while stirring until tender and slightly browned, about 3-5 minutes.

After ground beef has been browned and drained, add carrots, onions and sloppy joe sauce.

Mix together and cook on med-low, stirring occasionally. Cook for at least 5-8 minutes.

Now you are ready to fill them up!

Load up your veggie vessels as full as you’d like and top with sharp cheddar cheese if you want for an extra layer of flavor.

Bake in preheated oven for 20-15 minutes, or until cheese is browned and veggie vessel is tender.

For Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes:

For a quick method, wash and dry russet potatoes, then poke skin with a fork all over. Place on a microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 5 minutes, flip, then cook for another 5 minutes or until tender when squeezed. Load the potato up with sloppy joe sauce, sprinkle with cheese and it’s ready to eat!

…and if you still want the good old fashioned bun Sloppy Joes, then eat them TEXAS BODINE STYLE!

My husband can tell you the story behind the name and it’s legend in the “Butler” family…but basically, it’s toasted open-faced buns, topped off with sloppy joe sauce, cheese and toasted till melty! This one’s for you KB!😘

Embrace the Sloppy!

Enjoy!

💜Julie

Yield: 4-6

Author: Julie Butler

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Healthier Sloppy Joes

Try my version of Healthier Sloppy Joes by sneaking in a few extra veggies into the ground beef, then switching up buns for different vegetable vessels that provide nutrients. Potatoes, peppers and zucchini can be the perfect vessel to enjoy your sloppy joes!

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min

Ingredients

For the Sloppy Sauce

• 1 lb ground beef (80-90% lean), cooked and drained.
• 1 can Sloppy Joe sauce (15oz)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 large carrots, grated
• 1 small Vidalia onion, chopped

For the vegetable vessels

• Zucchini
• Green bell peppers
• Russet Potatoes
• 1 tsp olive oil
• salt, pepper (or your favorite seasoning)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400℉ and start browning your ground beef in a large frying pan on medium heat.
2. Prepare veggie vessels by washing, drying, then cutting and scooping out seeds (as shown in photo.)
3. Place on a baking sheet.
4. Brush a light coat of olive oil on outside and top edges of vegetable vessels.
5. Next, sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning.
6. While your ground beef is browning, add 1 teaspoon olive oil to a separate small sauté pan and heat on medium high.
7. Add the grated carrots and chopped onions and sauté while stirring until tender and slightly browned, about 3-5 minutes.
8. After ground beef has been browned and drained, add carrots, onions and sloppy joe sauce.
9. Mix together and cook on med-low, stirring occasionally. Cook for at least 5-8 minutes.
10. Load up your veggie vessels as full as you’d like and top with sharp cheddar cheese if you want for an extra layer of flavor.
11. Bake in preheated oven for 20-15 minutes, or until cheese is browned and veggie vessel is tender. Let cool 3 minutes, then serve immediately.

Notes:

For Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes: For a quick method, wash and dry russet potatoes, then poke skin with a fork all over. Place on a microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 5 minutes, flip, then cook for another 5 minutes or until tender when squeezed. Load the potato up with sloppy joe sauce, sprinkle with cheese and it’s ready to eat!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @inspirationapron on instagram and hashtag it #sloppyjoes