Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe – Freezer Meal
Old fashioned sloppy joe recipe
This old fashioned sloppy joe recipe is delicious healthy and a little bit messy. Everyone used to make food from scratch. There was not all kinds of prepackaged and frozen foods to purchase anytime you like.
So this recipe plays on the old fashioned concept where we make healthy food from the real ingredients. One way our family strives to eat healthy is through clean eating.
Basically I try to make everything from ingredients as close to their natural form as possible. It gives me peace of mind when I feed my family because I know what they are eating is healthy and delicious!
This healthy sloppy joe recipe is clean with all natural ingredients.
When sitting down to create a sloppy joe recipe I knew I wanted it to have no sugar and no ketchup. But in order to get a nice sweet taste to the sloppy joe sauce I decided to use tomato paste and raw honey. Both of these ingredients have a sweetness to them and I knew the paste would provide a great sauce texture as the meat cooked.
TIP: if you like to add a little kick to your sloppy joes add hot sauce to your plate when serving or even to the meat as it cooks.
Why you will love this old fashioned sloppy joe recipe.
- 10 Minutes to Prep
- Super Easy
- Extremely Tasty
- Healthy (Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Preservative Free)
- Family Friendly
Are sloppy joes healthy?
Ingredients you will need for this healthy sloppy joe recipe.
- ground beef (or turkey)
- yellow onion
- bell pepper (any color)
- tomato paste
- raw honey
- chili powder
- garlic cloves (or garlic powder)
- salt
- celery seed
- cinnamon
- dried thyme
- carrots
- dijon mustard
What is raw honey? Is it different from regular honey?
How to make the sloppy joe sauce?
How to make this sloppy joe recipe in the slow cooker?
What kind of meat can I use?
What to serve with this savory sloppy joe recipe?
How to store this healthy sloppy joe recipe?
Do I need a slow cooker for this recipe?
Can I use an instant pot instead?
*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe below. (so you don’t have to scroll for a million years to find the food 😉 ).
How do you make this Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe? 👇
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe
Equipment
- Slow Cooker or Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onions diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1/2 cup carrots diced
Sloppy Joe Sauce (Blend Together):
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 2 tbsp raw honey
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 3 garlic cloves or 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp celery seed
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Add sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrap sides once or twice).
- Add all ingredients into slow cooker and pour sauce over. (Ground beef does not have to be browned before going into the crockpot, but do not mix or mince the meat until after fully cooked. This will give you a great cook and texture on the beef.)
- Cook on low 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours.
- Mince up the meat in slow cooker and stir once cooked.
- Serve in your favorite bun and enjoy!
Freezer Directions:
- Label Freezer bag with recipe name, cooking from frozen directions and expiration date (todays date plus three months).
- Add sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. (You may have to scrap sides once or twice).
- Add all ingredients to labeled gallon freezer bag.
- Store in freezer for up to three months.
Cooking from Frozen Directions:
- Thaw overnight in fridge or in the morning in some warm water (meal may not be 100% thawed but that is ok).
- Add freezer bag contents into slow cooker.
- Cook on low 4-6 hours. (May need an extra 30 minutes if completely frozen when placed in slow cooker).
- Mince up the meat in the slow cooker and stir once cooked.
- Serve in your favorite bun and enjoy!
Notes
- If you like a little extra heat or kick add in some hot sauce to your sandwich or the meat when cooking.
- If you do not have fresh garlic use 1 tsp garlic powder as a substitute.
- You can sub out hot sauce for the dijon mustard if desired.
- This recipe is super family-friendly and so full of flavor! The cinnamon is optional but highly recommended.
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Tag @My_FamilyDinner or #MyFamilyDinner
How freezer meals will change your life.
Makes homecooking Easy
Only spend one hour in the kitchen for a whole week of dinners. Day of, throw your freezer meal in the slow cooker or instant pot and enjoy dinner!
feel confident
Knowing you have a fool proof systen for something that is easy and works gives you confidence in the kitchen. So wether you're a seasoned chef or occational home cook the method of freezer cooking will work for you!
Eat Healthier
Because you're prepping the freezer meals with fresh foods you're eating healthier. Anytime you cook at home instead of eating out you get the benefits of healthier food.
Enjoy less stress
Have you ever felt the pressure of forgetting about dinner, or having to cook at the end of a long day?! No more, just grab something out of the freezer and you're good to go.
Frequently asked questions
No problem! Just throw the freezer meal in your slow cooker and you’re all set. If it doesn’t fit thaw it for a few minutes in warm water. (You may need to add an extra 30 minutes cook time if completely frozen when cooking).
Sloppy joes are usually made with ground beef. Beef is a great source of vitamins and minerals but can be high in fat. So if you are looking to lower your fat intake it can be great to get a 85/15 ground beef or higher. You can also make healthy sloppy joes with ground turkey if preferred.
Follow the instructions below for an easy sloppy joe recipe. No browning of the meat required. Just dump all ingredients together in a slow cooker or crock pot and let dinner cook for you. Just break up the beef after cooking to avoid any unwelcome texture.
A serving size assumes 1/2 cup of sloppy joe mix at 265 kcal per serving.
Manwich is extremely high in sodium and sugar. It also contained additives and preservatives so if you’re looking to eat clean then Manwich is not a healthy option. But if you’re looking for all the flavor of a Manwich with a healthy twist this recipe is perfect for you.
Sloppy joes sauce is a tomato based sauce flavored with seasonings and some vegetables. See recipe for further details for this sloppy joe recipe.
A traditional sloppy joe sauce will contain ketchup, sugar and even additives which is why I love to create my own sauces using clean ingredients.
Add in 1-2 tbsp tapioca starch mixed with 1-2 tbsp water to make a slurry and then add to the sloppy joe mix and cook on low in slow cooker for an additional 30 minutes to thicken sauce. (you can also use cornstarch or arrowroot powder if that’s what you have on hand)
Follow this recipe for the perfect healthy sloppy joe recipe like one from the 50’s.
Don't forget to pin this recipe and save it for later! 👇
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Yay! Enjoy!