The Best Ever Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes (Nobody’s Gonna Know!)
This hidden veggie sloppy joe recipe is the perfect blend of classic comfort food and sneaky nutrition. Packed with zucchini and peppers—but tasting like the original—they’re perfect for busy nights when you want a healthier take on a beloved favorite.
I love making these hidden veggie sloppy joes because they’re such a hit in our house and incredibly versatile! As a busy mom who juggles homeschooling and multiple extracurricular activities, I appreciate being able to make a big batch of these sloppy joes and freeze portions for those hectic weeknight dinners.
The best part? My kids have no idea they’re eating vegetables, and I love knowing they’re getting extra nutrition in every bite. These pair perfectly with my homemade yeast rolls or overnight artisan bread (which you can also freeze), making a complete meal that feels indulgent (but packs a healthy punch!).
What Are Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes?
Hidden veggies sloppy joes are a clever twist on the classic sandwich filling that sneaks in extra nutrition without compromising the familiar taste we all love.
This version combines traditional ground beef with finely chopped zucchini, bell peppers, and onions that virtually disappear into the rich and tangy sauce.
The vegetables add moisture and nutrients, while the combination of tomato paste, ketchup, and seasonings creates that perfect balance of sweet and savory that makes sloppy joes so irresistible.
Why Make Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes?
These hidden veggie sloppy joes are a game-changer for busy families who want to serve nutritious meals without the mealtime battles. They’re perfect for meal prep; they freeze beautifully; and they can even be pressure canned for long-term storage.
Plus, they’re incredibly versatile—serve them traditionally on buns (I’d recommend these easy to make yeast rolls), over baked potatoes, or even mixed with pasta for a completely different meal.
Also, they’re:
- Quick and easy: Ready in just 30 minutes for those busy weeknights!
- Secretly nutritious: Nothing to see here—packed with vegetables that blend seamlessly into the sauce.
- Meal-prep friendly: These freeze perfectly for future meals, so busy nights just got easier.
- Kid-approved: Taste just like traditional sloppy joes but packed with those nutritious veggies!
- Budget-friendly: These use simple ingredients and stretch the ground beef further so you save some money.
Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joe Ingredients
- Ground beef: We like to use grass-fed beef or venison. I’ve also made these with ground chicken and turkey.
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Zucchini
- Yellow bell pepper: Feel free to substitute red or green! I use whatever we have, but the yellow and red are less conspicuous.
- Garlic
- Tomato paste
- Ketchup
- Water
- Brown sugar
- Mustard powder
- Chili powder: This is just chili powder, not chili seasoning! If you want a spicier sauce, you can add more!
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt: Stick with kosher salt for this recipe.
Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joe Variations
- Switch out the meat: Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken or venison.
- Sneak in a few more veggies: Include finely chopped mushrooms or very finely grated carrots.
- Add a little spice: Add diced jalapenos and increase chili powder to taste.
What Will Thicken Sloppy Joes?
- Add a little extra tomato paste if you want to increase the thickness.
- Let the sloppy joes simmer a bit longer to remove excess moisture.
- Cook vegetables before adding liquid to reduce water content.
- Reduce the sauce over medium heat until you reach your desired consistency.
What To Serve With Sloppy Joes?
- Fresh yeast rolls or burger buns.
- Crispy sweet potato fries.
- Coleslaw or broccoli slaw.
- Roasted vegetables. (We like to mix onions, potatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini chunks).
- Mac and cheese for extra comfort.
- Steamed green beans or broccoli. (Top with a drizzle of melted butter and garlic!)
- Serve over a baked potato or sweet potato. (This is favorite for busy nights! I love to make baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes in our Instant Pot.)
What’s the Best Way To Freeze These Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes?
To freeze, start with fresh ground meat (not meat that was frozen and then thawed). Make the recipe as is, but leave out the water. (The mixture will be thicker, but when you thaw it, the zucchini adds water.)
Freeze in a zipper bag, laying flat. Ideally, thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking. If you don’t have time to thaw, you can place the freezer bag in water to speed the thawing. Heat over medium until warm!
I hope you love this recipe!
Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes
These family-friendly hidden veggie sloppy joes combine ground beef and sneaky vegetables in a sweet-tangy sauce for a nutritious twist on classic comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1&1/2 lbs ground beef, cooked and drained
- 1 Tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2-3 medium zucchini, chopped
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Start by browning your ground beef. Add the beef to a pan over medium heat, and use a wooden spoon or wooden spatula to break up the beef as it cooks. Once it is cooked through, remove it from the pan and set aside.
- Using the same pan where you cooked the beef, add olive oil and diced onion, and sauté until translucent. Then add the minced garlic and cook for a few minutes, until the onion and garlic mixture is fragrant.
- Add the diced bell pepper and zucchini to the pan, and cook for about 10-12 minutes, until the zucchini is soft and almost cooked through.
- Return the cooked ground beef back to the skillet and stir to mix in the vegetables. Add the dry spices and stir well. Then mix in the tomato paste, ketchup, water, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.
- Simmer the Sloppy Joe mixture over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and the sauce has thickened a bit.
- Remove from heat and serve over yeast rolls with a salad or some fresh green beans!
Notes
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or venison.
- Want more veggies? Include finely chopped mushrooms or very finely grated carrots.
- Add diced jalapenos and increase chili powder to taste for a spicier sauce.
- To freeze, start with fresh ground meat (not meat that was frozen and then thawed). Make the recipe as is, but leave out the water. (The mixture will be thicker, but when you thaw it, the zucchini adds water.) Freeze in a zipper bag, laying flat. Ideally, thaw overnight in the fridge. Or you can place the freezer bag in water to speed the thawing. Heat over medium until warm!
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