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Jun 15, 2018 By Jessica Beacom

Stovetop Sloppy Joes

Dairy-Free
Egg-Free
Gluten-free
Grain-Free
Nut-free
Paleo
Whole30
Jump to Recipe

Got ground beef? Put it to good use in these easy Stovetop Sloppy Joes!

This post was created in partnership with our friends at Organic Prairie. 

Stovetop Sloppy Joes on a circle pan with slaw and pickles on the side

Sloppy Joe, Slop-Sloppy Joe

C’mon, sing it with me! If you’re not belting out “The Lunchlady Land” song right now then I’m sorry. You really should be because it’s the only way to properly get in the mood for these fiercely tasty Stovetop Sloppy Joes. Maybe take a hot minute to see what I mean here (starting at 3:16) then hurry back and prepare yourself for Sloppy Joe amazingness. I’ll wait right here. 

Simple is always better

I find it incredibly fitting that this recipe is appearing on the blog while I’m in Minnesota hanging with Stacie for one of our “work-cations” and that it’s also showing up right about Father’s Day. Growing up, my dad made a lot of Stovetop Sloppy Joes for me and my brother. They were easy, economical (thanks to a freezer of wild game), and simple to make with just a handful of ingredients – onions, garlic powder, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

Wondering if you should purchase grass-fed beef? Learn how to choose quality red meat in this post!

Ground beef browning in a skillet with a wooden spoon stirring the meat

Since he always made them with his “special recipe,” aka just adding ingredients to taste, he also took it upon himself to name them in his own special way as he has a knack for doing so. For example, Wild Rice Soup was “Fish Eye Soup” at our house and milk mixed with strawberry drink powder (yes, we drank that as kids in the 1980s) was “Pink Bunny Milk.” Sloppy Joes were “Messy Marvins” and that’s how I still affectionately refer to them when I make them for my own family. 

As you can see, from the short ingredient list, they really couldn’t be any simpler. Except for the fact that many of the ingredients themselves have many ingredients, many of which are sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, preservatives, gluten, MSG, etc. This is EXACTLY why I felt called to recreate these in a way that I could feel really good about (and good after eating them!). 

 

Stovetop Sloppy Joes on a circle plate with a side of slaw and pickles

Always start with the best ingredients 

I always strive to use the best ingredients I can source taking into consideration my budget, my values, my location and what’s available to me. For these Stovetop Sloppy Joes, since they’re simple and the ingredients are fairly common (tomato paste, yellow mustard, onion, vinegar, etc.), I chose to turn my focus to the best quality ground beef. In this case, it’s Organic Prairie Grass-Fed Beef. I know that when I see the Organic Prairie label on my meat, pork and poultry that I’m getting high-quality proteins that have been raised in accordance with USDA Organic standards with a focus on humane animal treatment and regenerative farming and ranching practices at a competitive price. 

 

Organic Prairie Organic Ground Beef package with the sloppy joes in the background

Organic Prairie is an independent cooperative of organic family farms and true pioneers of organic meat production. They produce all of their meat without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or pesticides and while they uphold the USDA rules as the foundation of the organic industry, many of Organic Prairie’s production standards go above and beyond government regulations. Learn more about Organic Prairie, their values and how they “do farming” here.

Can’t find Organic Prairie in your local store? Ask your grocer to carry it or order online. 

How ‘bout them Sloppy Joes?

I already mentioned that I have a soft spot for Sloppy Joes, but what I didn’t tell you is that I developed a secret love of Manwich in college. Don’t judge. Manwich on big fluffy onion buns was awesome after a day of skiing knee-deep powder or paddling the river. At least I DID secretly love that hyper-palatable canned concoction until I created this recipe for Stovetop Sloppy Joes and now Manwich is dead to me. 

Also, back in the day, it was onion buns, but now I enjoy my Stovetop Sloppy Joes on baked sweet potato rounds (aka sweet potato “buns”) as a way to get more veggies in my diet and make them Whole30-friendly and gluten-free.

Sweet potato slices on a wooden cutting board

Sweet potato slices on a gray cooking sheet

 

I’m sure you also have some secret food loves, and I would love to hear about them, so please share in the comments below AFTER you print off this recipe and add everything to your grocery list, of course. 

A childhood favorite gets a healthy makeover in these Stovetop Sloppy Joes #whole30 Click To Tweet

Oh, and one last thing – always make enough Stovetop Sloppy Joes so you have leftovers to stash for later in the week or to stash in the freezer for a super easy meal later on down the line. I’ve written the recipe to serve eight but feel free to use a bigger pan (or two pans) and double it to get 16 servings. Your future self will thank you!

 

Stovetop Sloppy Joes on a circle plate with a bite missing from one of the sandwiches

P.S. Don’t forget to serve them up with a side of Creamy Broccoli Slaw. So good. 

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Let's Get Cookin'

Stovetop Sloppy Joes

  • Author: Jessica Beacom
  • Prep Time: 10 min.
  • Cook Time: 25 min.
  • Total Time: 35 min.
  • Yield: Serves 8 1x
  • Cuisine: Paleo, Whole30, Gluten-Free
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 10 reviews

Ingredients

For Sloppy Joes: 

  • 2 lbs. Organic Prairie Grass-Fed Ground Beef (may substitute ground turkey)
  • 2 tsp. Organic Valley Ghee (or cooking fat of choice)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1  small bell pepper, diced (any color, preferably organic) 
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 6-ounce can no-salt-added tomato paste (preferably organic) 
  • ¾ cup water
  • 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard (may substitute compliant Dijon mustard)
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp. fish sauce (may substitute coconut aminos or tamari*) 
  • ½ tsp. paprika (smoked or sweet; I used smoked paprika) 
  • 1½ – 2 tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper

For Sweet Potato “Buns:”

  • 2 large sweet potatoes cut into 1/4-inch thick rounds (with peel intact)
  • 1 tsp. Organic Valley Ghee, melted (may sub butter or olive oil)

*Note: Tamari contains soy and thus is not allowed on Whole30

Instructions

  1. Place a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat (I prefer cast iron). When the pan is hot, add ghee, onions, and peppers. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until onions start to soften (about 5-8 minutes).
  2. Add ground beef and garlic. Use a large spoon to break up meat, cook, stirring occasionally until meat is browned and almost cooked through. About 8-10 minutes. Drain meat if desired.
  3. To the meat mixture, add tomato paste, water, mustard, vinegar, fish sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine. Continue to cook over medium heat (about 10 minutes) until hot and ground beef is cooked through and peppers are tender.
  4. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days. May also be frozen up to 3 months.

To make Sweet Potato “Buns:”

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a large baking sheet (or two, depending on how many sweet potatoes you’re going to bake) with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange sweet potato slices in a single layer on baking sheet(s). Brush with ghee.
  3. Bake for 25-30, flipping halfway through baking time, or until sweet potatoes are tender and lightly browned on the surface.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ⅛ recipe (meat only)
  • Calories: 287
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 468mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Carbohydrates: 4g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 22g

What’s your favorite easy meal to make using ground beef? Share in the comments below.

 

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Pinterest image for Stovetop Sloppy Joes

 


This post was made possible by our friends at Organic Prairie. Though we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are  – as always -100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating great recipes and content for you.

 

All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!

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About Jessica Beacom

Jessica is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living in Boulder, CO with her hubby and two daughters. She's been described as a 'real food evangelist' and loves sharing her knowledge with others to help them break free of the diet mentality and find their own food freedom. In her spare time she enjoys CrossFit, telemark skiing, mountain biking, teaching herself how to play the banjo and camping out under the stars.

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Danielle says

    August 17, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    We had these tonight, and they were great! As crazy as it sounds, the meat mixture tasted like a McDonald’s cheeseburger. The kids loved them!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      August 24, 2018 at 6:13 am

      One of our favorite recipes!! Glad you and the kids loved them!

      Reply
  2. Amy says

    August 26, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Oh my word. This was delicious! Very easy recipe. It’s too hot here to turn the oven on so I made it on sweet potato toast in the toaster. I miss the traditional sloppy Joe’s and this will be a regular for me! Every recipe I’ve tried from your website has been so good. Thank you for all the time you take to develop these tasty dishes!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      August 29, 2018 at 8:07 am

      Hi Amy,

      I love this! I was missing Sloppy Joe’s too – and now they’re on the menu 1-2 times a month at our house. I’m so glad you enjoyed these!

      Reply
  3. Deborah Brixen says

    September 27, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    The Sloppy Joes turned out great! No left overs 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      October 1, 2018 at 5:24 pm

      Fantastic! We’re so glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  4. Diana says

    December 5, 2018 at 3:51 am

    Made these last night and they were amazing! Really flavourful. Will definitely be in regular rotation.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Monica says

    January 17, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    We love this recipe. I grew up eating sloppy joes (the canned) and this tastes very similar. Better, fresher, and healthier!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      January 20, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      So so great to hear! Jess and I both grew up eating sloppy joes. This recipe reminds me of my Grandma Verna’s Sloppy Joes! So good.

      Reply
  6. Hellen says

    February 8, 2019 at 11:31 am

    Hello, this looks fabulous. In reading recipe, to add items to my grocery list, I see fish sauce?!
    Please explain, not something I would typically use as an ingredient. Is this an ingredient you frequently use?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      February 12, 2019 at 9:50 am

      Hi Hellen,

      Fish sauce is great way to add an extra layer of savory or ‘umami’ flavor. It’s not necessary but definitely add something to the dish.

      Reply
  7. Rebekah Mee says

    February 8, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    This is delicious! I am 12 weeks into a Paleo pregnancy and I can eat this everyday. I make a side of green beans and top the meat with pickled red onion and I can’t wait to dig in. I reheat the sweet potato’s in my air fryer if I have leftovers.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Kristin says

    February 10, 2019 at 6:32 pm

    This is one of our favorite recipes! We make it at least once every two weeks.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. Gina says

    February 16, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    Easy and delicious! The flavor is amazing!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  10. Kate says

    March 4, 2019 at 6:04 am

    Does the nutrition information include the sweet potato buns, or just the barbecue? If it does include the sweet potato, any guess as to how many calories you could omit without it?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      March 5, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Yes, the recipe includes the sweet potatoes. You can plug the ingredients for the sloppy joes into an online calculator such as My Fitness Pal to determine the nutrition information minus the sweet potatoes.

      Reply
  11. CC says

    March 7, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    I recently found this recipe and we LOVE it. It’s a great, quick weeknight meal with a ton of flavor. Always looking for new, healthy / clean ways to jazz up grass fed ground beef. Instead of the ‘buns’ we serve over rice, butternut squash puree, or zucchini noodles. This recipe also turned me on to the great flavor that comes from smoked paprika. Thanks!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      March 7, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      I’m so glad you loved this recipe and discovered smoked paprika (which I find lends so much flavor to so many dishes) and I love the idea of serving this over rice or butternut squash puree.

      Reply
  12. Leah says

    March 27, 2019 at 11:21 am

    Hello, These look delicious! Do you recommend draining the meat?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      March 28, 2019 at 3:36 pm

      Not necessary but you sure could if you feel like there is quite a bit of liquid.

      Reply
  13. Holly Shock says

    April 28, 2019 at 5:38 am

    Thank you for this recipe! We had it last night over zoodles, so good! Satisfied my craving.
    Our go to ground beef meal is deconstructed burgers with caramelized onions, whole 30 approved bacon, pickles and homemade roasted red pepper mayo over raw Spinach. 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      April 29, 2019 at 1:18 pm

      That all sounds so delicious – now you’re making me hungry!

      Reply
  14. Debi says

    May 9, 2019 at 10:12 am

    Can you freeze the sweet potatoe buns also or is it just the sloppy joe mixture that can be frozen? If you were to freeze rhe sweet potato buns, how would you warm them up again? In the oven.

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      May 9, 2019 at 5:17 pm

      We don’t freeze the sweet potato buns but you can. You’d just want to par-bake them (so that they’re just crisp-tender) then cool them completely before freezing them. To reheat, we suggest placing them, frozen, on a baking sheet and roasting in at 400F oven for 10 minutes or until tender.

      Reply
  15. Julia Cyr says

    February 25, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    This was delicious! Thank you so much for sharing.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  16. M Wolff says

    April 1, 2020 at 12:21 pm

    A crowd favorite!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      April 2, 2020 at 11:47 am

      Awesome!

      Reply
  17. Kelly J Gonzales says

    April 2, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    Thank you! If anyone else is like me and likes it more spicy, I added cumin, coriander, ground cloves and allspice.

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      April 5, 2020 at 12:31 pm

      Oh that sounds delicious!

      Reply
  18. Julie Hansen says

    May 1, 2020 at 12:44 pm

    I think these are the best sloppy joes I’ve ever had. So much better than the can of stuff you mix with beef. They are tasty and healthy! Delicious!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  19. Marissa O’Bar says

    October 7, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    I love this recipe! I have probably made it 20 times, and every time is a total crowd pleaser. It’s quick, easy, healthy, and versatile! I love serving left overs over baked potatoes or bed of spinach.

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      October 9, 2020 at 10:30 am

      That’s so awesome! We’re so glad this is a go-to for you.

      Reply
  20. Summer Yule says

    November 30, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    Really delicious! I’m surprised how much this captures the taste of one of those canned sloppy joe mixes, except without the corn syrup and whatever else they cram in there. I’ll definitely be making this again and again 🙂

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      December 2, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      I’m so glad you loved them. That was exactly the taste we were going for!

      Reply

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