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These Healthy Sloppy Joe’s are high protein, low sugar, and low carb. A taste of childhood and a comfort food, but made with only six simple ingredients and packed with bold flavor. It takes less than twenty minutes to get that perfect balance of tangy, smoky, with just a hint of sweetness! Once you try this, you’ll want to forget any other Sloppy Joe recipe you’ve had… it’s THAT good.
I don’t know about you, but one thing I almost always think of with Summer cookouts is Sloppy Joe’s. Maybe it’s the midwest girl that I am, but this classic recipe is so nostalgic. Growing up having bonfires, the grill going, and tons of different food from everyone bringing a little something but one thing that was always in the mix – Sloppy Joe’s! Now while I love the classic sandwich approach, I’ve also learned to enjoy it in so many different ways. Because let’s be honest, the filling is the best part so why not enjoy it in any way you can? I still will have it on a bun, but also love adding it to bowls or plates filled with veggies, or even over a baked sweet potato like in this post! Either way, this healthier version has become one of my favorites and I already know it’s going to be one I bring to any get together this Summer.
I bet you didn’t know that traditional Sloppy Joe’s can actually be pretty high in sugar! Especially if you’re getting the canned version, there’s a lot of sneaky additives, fillers, and sugars in there to make it even more “irresistible.” But by now we know that we don’t need all of those extra things to make something just as delicious! This healthier version is much lower in sugar and is only made with six main ingredients along with some key spices.
By sticking to simple ingredients, we’re making sure to get in a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and a whole lot of flavor. If you wanted to, you could even sneak in some diced vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, etc. – extra fiber! One of my favorite ways to eat this is over a baked sweet potato because it adds some high fiber carbs and the sweetness tastes amazing with the savory filling.
Whether you’re feeding your family, prepping lunches for the week, or just craving something saucy and satisfying, these healthy Sloppy Joes will hit the spot in ways you didn’t expect.
Why You’ll Love This
- Meal prep favorite– Make this at the beginning of the week to have for lunches and dinner. Store in the fridge for three to five days or in the freezer for longer and reheat over the stovetop when you’re ready!
- Crowd pleaser – Everyone loves a good Sloppy Joe and they’ll never guess this is a healthier version. They’ll just know it tastes better 🙌
- It’s secretly gut-friendly – Onions, garlic, and tomato paste bring prebiotic benefits to the table, while the spices (like paprika and chili powder) support digestion and circulation.
- Dietary friendly – This is gluten free, high protein, low sugar and low carb.
What You’ll Need
- Ground beef – You can also use a leaner ground meat like chicken or turkey.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Mustard
- Chili powder
- Tomato paste – I make sure to look for one that doesn’t have extra ingredients, it should just be tomato paste. A lot of brands like to sneak in sugar and fillers!
- Ketchup – I use this ketchup from Primal Kitchen because it doesn’t have any added sugars so it’s lower in sugar than most other ketchup!
- Brown sugar – We’re only using a tablespoon which is so much less than other recipes. If you want this to be completely refined sugar free, use a brown sugar replacement like this one.
- Water
How To Make
- Add olive oil to a large pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Once the oil is shiny, it’s ready to use. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about five minutes.
- Add garlic and beef to the pan and cook until it’s no longer pink.
- Add everything else to the pan and mix well.
- Turn the heat to low and let simmer for ten to fifteen minutes or until it’s your desired thickness.
- Serve on a sweet potato, with grilled vegetables, on a salad, or as a sandwich. Enjoy!
Recommended Tools
- Large pan – My favorite non-toxic cookware is from Caraway!
- Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons
- Silicone spatula
- Glass food storage container – Store leftovers in the fridge for three to five days or longer in the freezer.
More Nostalgic Recipes
High Protein Puppy Chow (Gluten Free, Lower Sugar)
Healthy Burger Bowls (Gluten Free, Low Carb)
Healthy Nutter Butters (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Viral Dunkaroo Dip (High Protein, Low Carb)
Healthy Sloppy Joe’s (High Protein, Low Sugar)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground chicken or turkey)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (or brown sugar replacement, see post above)
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- In a large pan on the stovetop, cook onion in olive oil until soft (about 5 min).
- Add garlic and beef, cook until no longer pink.
- Add everything else and mix well.
- Turn heat to low and simmer 10-15 min or until desired thickness.
- Serve on a sweet potato or any way you like – enjoy!
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