Don't let the craziness of the week get the best of you, make this sloppy joes recipe for tonight's dinner! Sloppy Joes without Ketchup is ready in under 30 minutes, one of the easiest meals to make, and kid-friendly.
The classic sloppy joe sandwich is often loaded with too much ketchup which can take the flavor from other sauce ingredients. However, this American loose meat sandwich was adapted to maximize mouthwatering flavors in every bite!
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Sloppy joe fans are sure to drool over this homemade ground beef dinner. It is an easy recipe is the perfect balance of tangy sloppy joe meat finished with the sweet taste of coleslaw all piled high on toasted hamburger buns!
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
✔️ Sloppy joes are a great recipe to make for a crowd because it's an easy dinner recipe everyone loves!
✔️ This is the best homemade sloppy joe recipe to have before a long trip or holiday feast! Each helping serving four, this meal is sure to keep leftovers to a minimum.
✔️ Loaded with fresh ingredients, these healthy sloppy joes are an healthy meal anyone can prepare!
✔️ It is perfect recipe to make for those who don't like ketchup!
🥘 Ingredients
Please see the printable recipe card for the complete ingredient and measurement listing.
Ground venison easier to find at the grocery store, but if you don't care for it, you can easily use any ground meat such as ground turkey, ground chicken, or lean ground beef.
Carrots, celery, red bell pepper, green pepper, onion, and garlic cloves: my motto is fresh is best here!
Plain tomato sauce, this takes the place of ketchup in most recipes. Many like to their sloppy joes without ketchup due to an aversion to the ingredient. Tomato sauce is plan without added sugar or salt. I like to use this brand.
Tomato Paste, this ingredient is what will help to thicken the sauce for the sloppy joe. What isn't used for this recipe can be measured out in tablespoon sized portions and frozen, this is the brand I like to use.
Dijon or Yellow Mustard: dijon mustard is a combination of mayonnaise and mustard where as yellow mustard is just a paste made from the mustard seed
Worcestershire Sauce this is big on flavor and just a little bit adds a lot to one recipe.
Brown Sugar adding a balance of sweet to this dish really complements it as a whole.
Balsamic Vinegar is used for a tangy sauce flavor. This is my favorite brand of balsamic vinegar.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, coat with cooking spray.
- Add the carrots, celery, red and green bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Sauté the vegetables in the skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground venison.
- Stirring the meat mixture with a wooden spoon until the venison for 6 minutes, or until the meat is browned and the veggies are tender.
Step 2:
- Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- After bringing the sloppy joe mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until all the flavors come together.
- Serve on your favorite toasted bun.
🙋 Recipe FAQ's
Absolutely! These Keto Sloppy Joes with Ground Venison are the best sloppy joe recipe for low-carb/ keto eaters! Just be sure to use a keto slider roll or keto bagel in place of the regular hamburger bun.
Yes, the sodium can be reduced by cutting the salt added in half or eliminating the salt entirely. Enhance with a salt free seasoning if needed.
This is such an easy sloppy joe recipe and it doesn't really need the slow cooker, but it can made ahead of time and then kept warm in the slow cooker. Perfect for game day gatherings where the sloppy joe can be kept warm.
💭 Tips
- Ground venison is very lean, for that reason, you may need to add a 1-2 tablespoons of oil extra virgin olive oil to the skillet to prevent it from drying out.
- Add a combination of chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder for additional flavor. A little bit of red pepper flakes will add a touch of heat.
📖 Variations
- Make spicy sloppy joes by adding green chilies and your favorite hot sauce!
- Have nacho night by making sloppy joe nachos. Just add it to your favorite corn chips and top it off with some bbq sauce and green onion!
- Substitute barbecue sauce for the tomato sauce and tomato paste.
- Substitute 1 teaspoon of dry mustard for the dijon or yellow mustard.
- Soy sauce can be used in place of worcestershire sauce.
🍽 Equipment
A large cutting board: I love to use these bamboo cutting boards to dice the vegetables on.
A sharp kitchen knife to dice the vegetables with. This is my favorite, go to knife.
A garlic press to mince the garlic cloves. I use this one.
A large or medium skillet to cook the meat mixture. I like to use one like this one that has a lid.
Cooking spray to coat the skillet. I use olive oil cooking spray.
A wooden spoon to stir the sloppy joe sauce. I prefer wooden spoons becasuse they don't heat quickly and won't cause a chemical reaction with any of the ingredients in the recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Top this delicious sloppy joe with some homemade coleslaw.
Try your sloppy joe with some shredded cheddar cheese on top of the meat mixture!
Serve with a side of sweet potato shoestring fries or some mashed potatoes.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Sloppy joe mixture can be frozen, simply put the contents into a freezer bag. Stores for up to 6 months!
Related Recipes
Quick and Easy Philly Cheesesteak
📖 Recipe
Sloppy Joes Without Ketchup
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Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground venison
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup carrots . diced
- ½ cup celery . diced
- 1 large red pepper . diced
- 1 small onion . diced
- 2 cloves garlic . minced
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon. Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, coat with cooking spray.
- Add the carrots, celery, red and green bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Sauté the vegetables in the skillet over medium high heat for 3 minutes, or until vegetables have softened.
- Add the ground venison to the skillet. Stir the meat mixture with a wooden spoon for 7 minutes, or until the meat is browned and the veggies are tender.
- Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- After bringing the sloppy joe mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until all the flavors come together.
Kevin says
Those sandwiches look good! Gotta have the slaw!
For Goodness Sake says
I haven't thought about topping with slaw either--but it is making me drool just thinking about it. I guess Grumpy does know what's good!
bellini valli says
I have to be a carnicore sometimes too Shelby. I love sloppy joes, I don't know why I don't have them more often.
pegasuslegend says
amazing havent thought of making these in years, my kids use to love them! You not only brought back great memories but an urge to make these again ...looks wonderful thanks for reminding me 🙂
Marthe says
Oh my gosh, now you've got me drooling and craving one of those Sloppy Joes at 0:37 am.... These look absolutely scrumptious, no wonder Grumpy loved them!!!
Mags says
That cole slaw on top makes a sloppy joe even sloppier...YUM!
Kathleen says
This looks and sounds amazing! I'd like mine with the coleslaw too!
Lynda says
I made sloppy joes last week, but I've never thought of topping them with slaw-sounds good though!
I'd like a joe now!
Chef Dennis says
I love sloppy joes...I love cole slaw....I love that sandwich!!!!!!
thanks so much for sharing and making me hungry!
Cristine says
Looks delicious, as always!
Kait says
Great idea putting the coleslaw inside! I wish I could have one right now.