Why We Like It

Don’t worry about whether your picky eaters will like these veggie-laden sloppy joes! We’ve seen kids (and spouses) happily gobble these up! Butternut squash (or sweet potato) provides the sweet flavor, making the sugar found in processed sloppy joes unnecessary. We have even heard kids say, “this tastes like chili on a bun!”

Prepare First:

1 cup butternut squash (or sweet potato, peeled, seeded and cubed)
1/2 white onion
1 green bell pepper (seeded and quartered)

Add to a food processor or blender and pulse several times to finely chop. (Picky eaters will appreciate these finely diced, plus this saves time!)

Saute the Veggies:

1 Tbsp olive oil

Add to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the vegetables and saute for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mix the Seasonings:

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp sugar (or coconut or brown sugar)

Add to a small bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.

Cook Next:

1 lb ground turkey (or lean ground beef, bison or venison)

Add to the skillet (with the veggies) and cook for about 5 minutes until browned.

Add the bowl of spices and stir to combine.

Add the Rest:

1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
2 tsp worcestershire sauce

Add to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook for about 5 more minutes.

Toast the Buns:

4 whole wheat hamburger buns

Toast in the oven (350 degrees for about 3 minutes) or in the toaster.

Serve and Enjoy!

Serve the sloppy joes on toasted buns.

Quick Tips

The key to this recipe coming together quickly is chopping your butternut squash (or sweet potato) in fine small pieces…the smaller the pieces, the faster it will cook. Or, add the veggies to a food processor and pulse to finely chop…this will help “hide” the veggies in the sloppy joes!

If you toast your hamburger buns in the oven, this is where an olive oil sprayer comes in handy, you can lightly spray the buns before you put them in the oven — it helps them brown and makes them taste so good!