Healthy Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes

This 30-minute healthy recipe for Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes is just as delicious as it is easy. It’s high in protein, filling, and even sneaks in some veggies!

About This Recipe:

Sloppy Joes are just one of those classic comfort meals that I’ve loved ever since I was a kid. I even have memories of Sloppy Joes being one of the first recipes that I cooked on my own when I was getting started in the kitchen around age 13 or 14. And a young teenager making them speaks to how easy they are, am I right?

Not only are these Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes easy, they’re also filling and nutritious. All you need to make them is some ground chicken, a few vegetables, and some condiments and spices that you probably already have in your pantry.

The final result? A quick and healthy dinner that the whole family can enjoy.

Ingredients for Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes:

To make these healthy Chicken Sloppy Joes, you’ll need:

• Olive oil
• Onion
• Green pepper
• Carrots
• Garlic
• Ground chicken
• Ketchup
• Brown Sugar
• Tomato sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Ground cloves
• Whole wheat hamburger buns

How to Make These Healthy Sloppy Joes:

You only need one large pan and 30 minutes to make this recipe. Hooray for simplicity!

1. Start by placing a large pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and ground chicken. Saute ground chicken, breaking it up as you stir, for about 5 minutes until it is cooked through and no longer pink.
2. Add the garlic, diced onion, green pepper, and carrot. Cook for another 5 minutes until vegetables are tender and the chicken is browned.
3. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar to the pan. Stir everything together until well-combined and the chicken and veggies are coated. Mix in the salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and cloves. Bring the mixture to a light boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Taste, and adjust the spices as necessary. Serve on whole wheat hamburger buns with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese (optional) for the best Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes ever. Enjoy!

Nutrition Benefits of These Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes:

• High in protein: Sloppy Joes are a high in protein thanks to the inclusion of meat like chicken, turkey or beef. It’s important that we aim to have a quality source of protein (like meat, poultry, seafood, beans/legumes, tofu, etc.) at all of our meals. This is not only because protein is good for processes like muscle protein synthesis (the development and maintenance of our muscles), but also because it helps to keep us full and satisfied.
• Source of fibre: Fibre is something else we can eat to feel full after a meal, and it comes from plant foods. This healthy recipe for Sloppy Joes offers fibre from vegetables (like onions, carrots and peppers) and from the whole wheat hamburger buns.
• Satisfying: There’s nothing worse than feeling hungry 30 minutes after a meal. Luckily, this recipe offers up the hunger-crushing combination of protein (from the chicken), fibre-rich carbohydrates (from the veggies and whole grain buns), and fat (from the olive oil and chicken). To learn more on this topic, check out how to build a balanced and satisfying meal.

Psst..If you’re looking for more nourishing comfort food recipes, you have to try my family-favourite Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Casserole next!

Notes About This Recipe:

• To store any leftovers, transfer the leftovers to a sealable container and store in the fridge up to 4 days. Store the chicken sloppy joe mixture separate from any leftover buns.
• Alternatively, you can freeze the mixture in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
• I like to serve my Sloppy Joes on whole wheat hamburger buns, but you can use whatever type of bun you prefer. I also like to add a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese to mine, but this is optional.
• This recipe uses ground chicken, but you can substitute with ground turkey or ground beef if you prefer. If you use ground beef (regular, not lean or extra-lean), you may need to drain some of the fat off before adding the vegetables.

Connect with Hannah Magee, RD!

If you tried this healthy Sloppy Joes recipe or any other recipes of mine let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below! 🙂

Also, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for more!

PS – If you liked this recipe, you might also like this tasty and easy recipe for Greek Chicken Meatballs.

Healthy Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes

Servings: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

30-minute Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes are just as delicious as they are easy. They're tasty, filling, and even sneak in some vegetables.

5 from 7 ratings

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Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground chicken
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves

Instructions 

• Place a large pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and ground chicken. Saute ground chicken, breaking it up as you stir, for about 5 minutes until it is cooked through and no longer pink.
• Add the garlic, diced onion, green pepper, and carrot. Cook for another 5 minutes until vegetables are tender and the chicken is browned.
• Add the ketchup, brown sugar, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar to the pan. Stir everything together until well-combined and the chicken and veggies are coated. Mix in the salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and cloves. Bring the mixture to a light boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Taste and adjust the spices as necessary. Serve on whole wheat hamburger buns with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese (optional).

Notes

• If you have leftovers, transfer to a sealable container and store in the fridge up to 4 days. Store the chicken sloppy joe mixture separate from any leftover buns.
•  You can freeze the Chicken Sloppy Joes mixture in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
• You can serve them on whole wheat hamburger buns or use whatever type of bun you prefer.
• This recipe uses ground chicken, but you can substitute with ground turkey or ground beef if you prefer. If you use ground beef (regular, not lean or extra-lean), you may need to drain off some of fat prior to adding the vegetables.

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Author: Hannah Magee, RD

Did you make this recipe?Be sure to take a photo and tag me at @hannahmagee_rd so I can see!