Just like Mom used to make... only healthier!
I don’t know about you, but sloppy joes were a weekly staple in my house growing up. My mom was a busy lady, so fast meals were an absolute necessity. I never complained, of course, because I loved them. That said, the sloppy joes of my childhood probably weren’t the healthiest. Our One-Pot Skinny Sloppy Joes are not only just as delicious and easy to make as the messy meal we used to enjoy, but they’re also much healthier!
Cleaning Up a Classic Recipe
Did you ever watch your mom make sloppy joes? If not, it probably looked something like this: She’d fry up some ground beef, open up a can of mystery sloppy joe sauce, and dump it into the pan. Once it was cooked, it was most likely served on a white bun that was leftover from the burgers your dad grilled on Sunday night.
Ground beef is a great source of protein, but its fat content is also pretty high. Ground turkey, on the other hand, is high in protein and low in fat. Using it in place of ground beef in these skinny sloppy joes can slash an astounding number of calories from the dish.
When it comes to anything in a can, we’re always a bit wary. Most of the time, there will be at least a few ingredients that we can’t pronounce. Traditional cans of sloppy joe sauce contain added sugar, sodium, and more. Frankly, we just don’t need that in our life. Making our own sauce for these skinny sloppy joes allows us to enjoy the same flavor with fewer weird ingredients.
Skinny Sloppy Joes: A Healthy Version of the Family-Favorite Mom Used to Make
Preparing this healthier option only requires a few simple steps. You’ll begin by cooking the ground turkey in a large skillet or pot. After a few minutes, add the diced yellow onion and green bell pepper, as well as the minced garlic. When the turkey is cooked all the way through, add the sloppy joe sauce, made with Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and other common ingredients. Mix it all together, bring it to a simmer for a few minutes, and your one-pot skinny sloppy joes are ready to enjoy!
This recipe provides four servings. If you need more or want leftovers, feel free to double the ingredients. Note that the nutritional info does not include the bun, so you’ll have to add that in if you want to eat the mixture on a roll. The sloppy joes themselves are 173 calories and contain 28 grams of protein per serving. We recommend using whole wheat buns to get a little more fiber into your diet!
One-Pot Skinny Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey breast
- 1/2 cup yellow onion diced small
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper diced small
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 6 ounces canned tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet on medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking into small pieces as it cooks.
- After about 5 minutes, or when the turkey is about half cooked, add the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until turkey is cooked through and onions are just beginning to soften.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until desired consistency. Serve hot on it's own or over a whole wheat bun.
Nutrition Information
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These skinny sloppy joes will allow you to share a piece of your childhood with your family in a healthier way! They retain all the delicious flavors and casual messiness of the beloved family-favorite meal but are made with healthy, wholesome ingredients you can feel good about! No mystery meat or canned sauces here!
Are you looking forward to trying these skinny sloppy joes? Let us know in the comment section!
Enjoyed this post? Check out more:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes
- Crock Pot Sloppy Joes made with Lentils
- Easy Vegetarian Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Barbecued Beans & Chicken Joes
For more classic recipes with a healthy spin, be sure to follow our Pinterest boards and Instagram page! You can also subscribe to our daily eNewsletter to get the newest recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
I need this in my life! How much ketchup do I add?
Amy, So, It’s actually tomato paste, which I just added. However, this recipe is amazing by using any of the following tomato based ingredients:
Use one or the other of the following: I love options, don’t you? 🙂
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup ketchup
I’ve made this recipe numerous times and have used all the above options. YUM!
My mouth is watering just reading the recipe! It reminds me of a typical school night dinner. Satisfying, delicious, comforting. Ahhhhhhh!
Pam, I agree! 🙂
You are amazing. Thanks for the fantastic recipes.
Thank you!
I used to make these for my kids, never did buy a can of sloppy joe sauce, used tomato sauce and pretty much the same as yours, no water needed, also chopped celery! When growing up our school lunch program included sloppy joes, no sack lunches on those days!
Thank you so much for the feedback.
This was tasty and easy to make, but not as sweet as we are used to. 🙂
But, will make again!