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Truth? I don’t really care much for Sloppy Joe’s. Never have, actually. I think it’s a texture thing or lack of texture thing. It’s all of the mushiness and sogginess and one-note-flavorness … it’s just never been my deal. However, I realize that puts me square in the minority, as most people seem to have at least loved Sloppy Joe’s at some point in their lives. My husband sure loves them, and it dawned on me recently that my kids have never actually had them. So, I set out to create a homemade version that I’d also be very happy to sit down to, and MAN did this one work out. These homemade Not So Sloppy Joe Bowls are just so stinking delicious.

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We’ll build a wonderfully flavorful sauce without leaning on a processed mixture of canned mystery ingredients. There are tons of fresh veggies in this sauce, making it wholesome and actually good-for-you. I also nixed any additional sugar in the ingredients list, because you simply don’t need it. The carrots, cinnamon, and ketchup (which is obligatory) provide enough inherent sweetness, so – no sugar necessary.

What is a Sloppy Joe?

I had to answer this question yesterday, because as I mentioned above, my kids had never had one before so were totally in the Sloppy Joe dark. “Sloppy Joe’s,” I explained “are basically sandwiches made from a mixture of saucy, tomatoey ground beef.

“So, like burgers?” my daughter questioned, understandably.

“Well, kinda. But I’d say more like chili on a bun.”

“Sounds pretty messy.” Elle (age 8) said.

“Sounds awesome!” Easton, (age 6) said.

The nostalgic wonders buried inside the buns of a classic Sloppy Joe are pretty charming, I can see that. But I still would rather eat almost anything else, to be honest. Until I flipped the script just a little and changed the way the Sloppy Joe’s are served.

What is a “Not so Sloppy Joe?”

Stating the obvious here, a Not So Sloppy Joe is just a Sloppy Joe served in bowl form, so you can totally sidestep the mess of wrangling a soggy bun as glooping blobs of sauced beef try their best to escape right onto your lap.

Speaking of said soggy buns, instead of piling up the beef mixture in between two bun halves, we’re going to cut up some sesame seed hamburger buns (because the sesame seeds toast when you cook them) and then toss them around in a hot skillet with some olive oil and two different cheeses, parmesan and cheddar. It’s really delicious. They get all crunchy and toasty and perfect when piled on top of the bowl of Sloppy Joe sauce.

What’s in the sauce?

Well, the secret. That’s in there for sure, as they say. But the sauce is built on lots of fresh veggies – I love they way they give this such depth of flavor and also, a very wholesome kick. I grate two whole carrots into the mix, along with bell pepper, sweet onion, celery, and a generous amount of garlic. A whole can of tomato paste, some ketchup (it’s the most important thing to get it to taste like good, old fashioned sloppy Joe’s), and a lot of Worcestershire sauce come together to really make a delicious thing.

I’m a Sloppy Joe convert now, what can I say? But I’ll take mine in a bowl, please and thank you … topped with cool sour cream and creamy avocado. This is a bowl of comforting nostalgia, and I think you guys are going to really enjoy this one.

Our favorite way to enjoy the iconic and nostalgic flavors of Sloppy Joes, but with all healthy ingredients – no added sugar – and crunchy, toasty croutons on top. This recipe works just as well with ground turkey or, if you want a vegetarian option, 4 cups of cooked lentils is delicious.

What’ll You’ll need for these homemade Sloppy Joe’s (in a bowl):

INGREDIENTS

1.5 lbs. ground beef (can sub turkey)

Salt and pepper, as needed

6 TBSP cooking oil, divided (such as grapeseed or olive)

1.5 cups diced sweet onion

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 large carrots, grated

1 celery stalk, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ tsp cinnamon

3 tsp chili powder

6 oz. can tomato paste

1.5 cups ketchup

1.5 TBSP worcestershire sauce

1.5 to 2 cups beef stock

3 sesame seed hamburger buns, cut into bite-sized pieces.

¾ cup parmesan cheese

¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Serving suggestions: sour cream, sliced avocado

How to Make these Sloppy Joe’s Vegetarian:

If you want to skip the meat – which could be either the beef I’ve listed or turkey, to save some fat and calories – and go the vegetarian route, you could simply add 3 to 4 cups of cooked lentils and maybe some chickpeas or pinto beans to the sauce after cooking it, and just keep the rest of the recipe the same. It will still be hugely delicious, satisfying, and a wonderfully cozy bed for the mountain of toasty croutons that go on top.

How to Make These Not So Sloppy Joe’s with Cheesy Croutons

Place a large, deep-sided skillet over med-high heat, add 1 TBSP oil, and the beef. Season with salt and pepper, and brown the beef. (tip: I spread the beef out in the pan and then let it brown almost entirely on one side. This gets things nice and crispy.) Transfer the browned beef to a plate/tray for now. Drain the pan.

Add 1 TBSP oil to the pan and when it’s hot, add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and carrot. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cinnamon, chili powder, garlic, and tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute. Add the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine. Add the beef back into the pan, along with the stock. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

Once everything is heated through, it’s ready to serve, but it tastes better the longer it sits. So, I like to simmer the mixture for about 15 minutes over low heat, partially covered, before serving in bowls and topping with avocado, sour cream, and the cheesy croutons.

For the Cheesy Croutons:

In a large skillet over med-low heat, add about 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil along with the bun pieces and cheeses. Toast them, stirring all the while, until golden and very brownd – about 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the size of your pan, etc.

If you like the looks of these Not So Sloppy Joe Bowls with Cheesy Croutons, you might also want to check out:

Coconut Red Curry Drip Beef

Korean Style Beef with Kimchi