Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes
I’m pretty sure my fervent love of sandwiches is only going to grow now that I’ve read all of your wonderful comments. I literally went through them with a pen and notebook in hand, jotting down all of the wonderful combinations you shared. I can’t wait to try them!
Sticking with the sandwich theme, let’s try this delicious-ness on for size. 
I was thrilled when I saw a new column by Mark Bittman in the latest issue of Cooking Light. Bittman is one of my heroes; his How To Cook Everything is a staple in my kitchen, and Dave regularly emails me delicious recipes from Bittman’s New York Times blog. He is a proponent of keeping cooking simple with whole, fresh ingredients – right up my alley!
For those of you who enjoy eating meat but are looking to limit your consumption – be it for health, budgetary, or environmental concerns – this recipe is a winner!
First I cooked some onion, garlic, and a tiny bit of lean ground beef – only 6 oz. for 4 servings!
Then I added shredded carrot and lots of delicious spices. I also used a bit of Sucanat, which I had read makes a good substitute for brown sugar (it’s not as refined or processed, it’s basically just pure dried sugar cane juice).
Next up: canned crushed tomatoes.
While that was cooking away, I partially mashed a can of red beans. The recipe called for only mashing some of the beans and keeping the rest whole, but I went ahead and mashed them all. I didn’t mash them completely, just until they got a bit pasty.
Added those to the skillet and we were ready to slop it up!
I served the Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes with a few slices of red onion on sprouted grain Ezekiel buns, which are hearty enough to stand up to something like a sloppy joe. So good!
The next day I ate some of the leftover filling plain with cheese melted on top, and that was quite delicious as well!
Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes
Adapted from Cooking Light
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
6 oz. lean ground beef
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 tsp chili powder (original recipe calls for 2, so add more if you like it hotter)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp Sucanat or brown sugar
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can red beans, rinsed and drained
4 sandwich buns, toasted
red onion slices
1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and beef. Cook until meat is browned, occasionally using a wooden spoon to break it up/crumble it.
2. Add carrot, chili powder, Sucanat/brown sugar, oregano, and red pepper. Cook 2 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes or until thickened to your desired consistency.
4. Meanwhile, partially mash the red beans with a fork. When the tomato/beef mixture is almost finished, add the beans to the skillet. Cook 1 more minute, until the beans are heated through.
5. To serve, add about a cup of the sloppy joe mixture to each toasted bun, topping with red onion. Enjoy!
Do you like sloppy joes?
AND
Do you have any great recipes or meal ideas to help with cutting meat consumption? Please share! 
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Themocracy
PERFECTION! and i don’t like sloppy joes, i love them! thank you for sharing this recipe. i’ve got about 8 oz of lean ground beef in the fridge and have just been waiting to make something good! this might just do the trick.
as far as cutting meat, i love using refried beans instead. it’s cheaper and usually tastier to me. i make layered bowls with brown rice and salsa and beans or soft tacos, etc. they are just so filling.
I could totally demolish one of those right now! (yes I know it’s like 10:30 in the morning. heehee.) Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m ashamed to say I’ve ever had sloppy Joe’s! But then I don’t really eat meat (at all) so it’s fair play
I was so stoked to see that recipe- I love Mark Bittman, I love Cooking Light, and I love sloppy joes. And now I’ve had someone taste test it for me!
Also, thank you for the sweet comment about my cat. It meant a lot.
I really believe that I am going to make these in the upcoming week. I really need to find some new cookbooks too. I need new cooking ideas. Thank goodness I have blogs to give me ideas until I get new ones though. Thanks for sharing.
Mm, I do like sloppy joes. I have not made them in a while though!
i need sloppy joes to make a reappearance in my life soon…it’s been a sad, lonely road without them
I have an awesome sloppy joe recipe that is meatless and made with lentils. I like the mashed bean twist in this recipe and will definitely try it.
I love the idea of adding beans to the mix… I think I could definitely pull this one off on my husband
I haven’t had sloppy joes in ages, but those sure look good!
YUM!!! I love that recipe! I love Cooking Light though it is an awesome recipe resource!!
These look amazing – I never would have thought to add shredded coconut!! I also love the addition of the beans. And they could easily be vegetarian with tempeh or lentils, too
I LOVE sloppy joes and these look and sound fantastic! I would never have thought to add some of these ingredients!
Have you read Mark Bittman’s book – “Food Matters”? It’s similar to Michael Pollan, with a twist. And it’s a fast read, with recipes at the back!
I think even my carnivore husband would eat this delicious Sloppy Joe sandwich! Especially with that huge slice of raw onion
I like to incorporate beans, lentils, or tofu into meatless recipes to increase the protein. I’ll have to try this recipe – thanks for a great one, Katie! 
Love sloppy joes! They definitely evoke happy childhood memories.
I actually saw this recipe in Cooking Light, but was a little weary of the bean/meat/carrot mixture. A positive review is all I needed–Mark Bittman’s sloppy joes now have a green light!
Oh, and I second Lisa’s recommendation for Food Matters. It’s a great read!
I love the idea of only using a little bit of meat for these burgers. With the all the other ingredients added I bet they are so filling! These would be perfect for dinner for my husband and I and I could even leave out the meat if I wanted. Yum!
I LOVE SLOPPY JOES! my mom used to make these almost every night for dinner-no joke! urs look just like mine did and thats why im so excited! have a FABULOUS mothersday weekend love <3 xoxo
Oooo! I’m so glad you made this recipe! I ripped it out of Cooking Light this month to make! I’ll have to try it out
Even though I wont make this because I dont eat meat, I think its a great way for BIG meat eaters to limit their consumption, like you said, or to use as part of a diet where their transitioning to mostly or fully vegetarian, etc.
Looks good too!
I adore sloppy joes. Thanks for this tip.
In looking for a different sloppy joe recipe, I found a vegan recipe called “snobby joes”. http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=2059
Lentils are used instead of meat. Highly recommended! While the flavour is there but the texture of an actual sloppy joe is missing.
Interesting recipe! I love lentils, so I’ll definitely have to try it out. Thanks for sharing!
cant wait to try these!
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