This Sloppy Joe Recipe looks and sounds unhealthy, but it packed with tons of veggies {hello zucchini, carrot, and squash} and lean beef! An easy and tasty meal everyone will enjoy!
Let’s talk about this Crockpot Sloppy Joe Recipe…
I’m still large and pregnant which means no healthy eating/dieting resolutions/exercise goals to reach until I have this baby. That’s 24 days away, in case you’re wondering.
All of you worried folk who email me about my unhealthy diet, lack of vegetables and diabetes warnings can all take a breath. I eat relatively healthy and sugar makes me feel sick to my stomach {thanks to this baby in my every present womb}.
This meal I’m posting today is a pretty typical dinner that we eat over at the Lauren’s Latest household. It looks and sounds unhealthy, but it packed with tons of veggies {hello zucchini, carrot, and squash} and lean beef. Plus, I took it a step further and served these on whole wheat buns. Oh, and it makes for an awesome crockpot meal too! Once you cook and drain the beef & veggies, the rest is a cake walk. And the longer it cooks, the yummier it gets, as is the case with most crockpot meals. My family gobbled this up and we even had leftovers. Seriously so good!
Anyways, printable recipe below. Enjoy, friends!! May your 2016 be less eventful than our 2015.
Healthier Crockpot Sloppy Joes
This Sloppy Joe Recipe looks and sounds unhealthy, but it packed with tons of veggies and lean beef! An easy, tasty meal everyone will enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef I used 90/10
- 1 large onion
- 2/3 cup baby carrots
- 2 small zucchini
- 2 small yellow squash
sloppy joe sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon dried mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 6-8 whole wheat kaiser or hamburger buns
- optional toppings: dill pickles, cheddar cheese
Instructions
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Turn crockpot to high and set aside. In a large, nonstick skillet, brown ground beef over medium high heat. While meat is browning, grate onion, carrot, zucchini and yellow squash using a food processor {or you can do it by hand}. Drain well and spoon meat into warmed crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
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Replace pan to the heat.
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Place vegetables into hot pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until the water from the veggies has evaporated and vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Pour over meat in crockpot.
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Replace pan back on heat. Pour in all ingredients for sauce and whisk until smooth. Simmer gently 5 minutes, then pour over ingredients in crockpot. Stir to coat everything evenly. Cover and cook 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve over tightly toasted whole wheat hamburger or kaiser buns.
Karen says
January 4, 2016 at 10:12 amYou know, I’ve never been a huge sloppy joe fan, but I think these actually sound great. Plus I think my picky boys might actually eat them. And sneaking in vegetables?! Super mom win!
Sorry about the new roof–we’re going to have to do that soon, too. (As in, we probably should have done it already, but we aren’t quite ready to lay down $5-6k.) Sometimes adulthood is the pits, right!?
Hope these next couple weeks go by easily for you!
Lauren says
January 4, 2016 at 10:26 amOh my heavens! I wish my roof only costed $5-6k!! They found mold under the sheeting and on the trusses of our roof, so we had to do this whole mold removal and get brand new everything!! A serious nightmare to have to deal with over Christmas. But in like 3 months, I won’t even be thinking about this, right?! I keep telling myself that over and over again. Ha!!
Erin says
January 4, 2016 at 7:55 pmUgh…I had a baby last New Year’s Eve…I feel your pain, with being pregnant. Not the roof thing (which SUCKS!) These look AMAZING! I’m running out of crock pot ideas, so these are great!
Melisa says
January 5, 2016 at 6:45 amBeen there and done that before. We had to replace a wood shingle roof that did not have the any backing under it, so the roof was open while they replaced it and tons of debris filled my attic space and of course it was twice the cost of a regular roof replacement. I also really glad that we can go back to the normal routine at my house too. 🙂 Happy New Year.
Gail says
January 5, 2016 at 8:05 amRemember you wont have to do it again for another 20 years. I had to replace 2 air cond. 6k and re paint our house which is 3 stories and really hard to paint if you don’t have the equipment to reach the sky. 7k later and it looks great but I wont be buying any new shoes for awhile. I was glad for the air, Christmas was hot. 84. 2016 WILL be better.. We all demand it. Cant wait to hear about your progress.
Dot McFadden says
January 5, 2016 at 9:58 amMy husband loves Sloppy Joes and this will be right down his alley. As for me, I love anything with zucchini…I will certainly enjoy making this. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes!
beejsteph says
January 5, 2016 at 10:30 amLauren,
I Love The Recipe!! As For All The Housing Repair Woes Of Being An Adult…I Am So VERY SORRY! 🙁 I Have Learned One Very IMPORTANT Lesson In Buying A House, Car, Or Any MAJOR Purchase Of Great Value…NEVER Buy Those Kinds Of Things Based On Someone’s Word!! ALWAYS Get Written Statements, Receipts Etc From The Person Who Completed The Said Repair…Such As A Roof, Car/Engine/Transmission Repairs…Because MOST Of The Time There Is A Warranty That Comes With Those Repairs.
ALWAYS GET An Inspection When You Buy A House, Car, Trailer, Boat Etc!!! ALWAYS!! That Way There Is NOTHING Left To The Wind. It Is Not About Hurting Someone’s Feelings By Having An Inspection. It Is All About “PROTECTING” You And Your Beautiful Family!
Can’t Wait To See Pics Of Your New Arrival In A Few Weeks!! Praying ALL Goes AMAZING With Your Delivery! Blessings To You And Your Beautiful Family This New Yr!! 🙂
Aprile Blair says
January 6, 2016 at 5:20 amThank you for the recipe! Do you think this would taste as good if cooked on the stovetop and if so, how long do you think it should simmer. Thanks!
Cassidy says
January 8, 2016 at 6:55 amConverted this to pressure cooker and used ground turkey and added a thing of mushroom. It turned out AMAZING! The meat was sauted and I only pressure cooked for 7 mins. Dinner was served. Thank you for this delicious recipe. I’ve already shared it twice and only made it two days ago.
Deborah Combs says
August 17, 2016 at 7:36 amPlease have the calorie and fat content
Stef says
December 19, 2016 at 4:49 amSloppy joes are a family favorite and I am looking to make some healthier recipes so these sloppy joes will be perfect!
Marilyn says
May 1, 2017 at 7:38 pmI love the way these are above and beyond with all the veggies. Substance. Are we able to pin your recipes? I don’t see the pin…
Charli says
May 29, 2017 at 5:24 pmJust stumbled across your blog tonight. I am a teacher trying to make it through the last week of school. I made this and it was incredible. I will easily be making myself come home for dinner. Thank you for a great recipe that made me feel like a kid again. You can’t even taste the veggies.
Jeanine says
June 13, 2017 at 11:01 amThis looks yummy! I have never thought about making sloppy joes with vegetables. Thank you for this recipe and all your other ones.
Amy says
August 19, 2017 at 8:12 amI would like to make this as a freezer meal. Would you recommend cooking before freezing, or putting all the uncooked ingredients in a freezer bag then pouring together in the crockpot?
Mina says
October 14, 2017 at 3:02 pmThese were a HUGE hit with the kiddos! I did replace the ketchup with 2 cans tomato paste and water, and omitted the brown sugar. So wonderfully tasty and a definite crowd pleaser. Mahalo!
Karen says
February 22, 2018 at 1:11 pmI’m commenting again so that I can give this recipe 5 stars. It’s one of my go-tos whenever I need to make a lot of food—whether for a large group or for bringing a meal to someone. I usually make it as part of a baked potato bar, and it is just soooooo good. I mean, it’s good on its own. And it’s good on a potato. Or it’s good as a chip dip (that’s how my kids eat it). It’s one of my husband’s favorite meals. (And my MIL’s, too.)
Lori says
March 27, 2018 at 8:09 amDo you think it would be okay if I let this cook for 8 hours? If so would you recommend adding extra liquid?
Lauren says
March 27, 2018 at 8:15 amIf you cook it for 8 hours, make sure it’s on low! Even then, 8 hours is a long time to cook it since everything is already cooked. Extra liquid might be a good idea, but not too much.
Lori says
March 27, 2018 at 8:19 amGotcha – my work schedule just doesn’t let me come home for lunch to turn off the crockpot! Only way to know for sure is to try I guess! Thanks! 🙂
Ashley S says
September 16, 2018 at 3:51 amAlways looking for new kid friendly, yummy, crockpot meals! Will definitely try this!
Kylene says
September 16, 2018 at 11:19 amI have made these to put over baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and on buns. My family loves them!!
Brandi W. says
January 16, 2019 at 11:48 amSo if all of the ingredients are already cooked, why does it need the crock pot? I understand that the sauce would need to cook down a bit, but why not just reduce the amount of liquid in the sauce and just cook it all on the stove top quickly?
Lauren says
January 17, 2019 at 11:41 amYou can totally do that, but the veggies cook down and the sauce becomes more delicious as it cooks low and slow.
Jana says
June 23, 2019 at 10:04 amHas anyone tried to freeze leftovers? Do they get too watery?