Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes
Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes deliver a tangy-sweet sauce with a rich, meaty bite, brightened by tender carrots and fragrant garlic. The lean beef and veggies create a balanced filling that’s hearty without feeling heavy, perfect piled onto whole wheat buns. Serve this crowd-pleaser for an easy weeknight dinner or casual game-day gathering.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 34 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 54 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 22
- Heart Health
- 19
- Metabolic
- 19
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 36
- Performance
- 26
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, carrots, onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook and stir until the beef is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Drain off the liquids.
- 2
Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard until fully mixed. Lower the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Calories 273.86 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 14.07 g Good Source 28%
- Carbohydrate 17.33 g 6%
- Total Fat 16.19 g High 21%
- Saturated Fat 6.28 g High 31%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 54.31 mg Moderate 18%
- Sodium 377.9 mg Moderate 16%
- Dietary Fiber 1.71 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 11.34 g --
- Added Sugars 6.57 g Moderate 13%
- Calcium 27.6 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 1.74 mg Low Source 10%
- Potassium 230.65 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 51.13 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 2.98 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Mustard
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Lightened Up Sloppy Joes is made with 9 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Brown Sugar, Carrot, Diced Onion, and Green Bell Pepper. Each serving provides about 273.86 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes made of?
- The main ingredients are Brown Sugar, Carrot, Diced Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Ground Beef. The full list of 9 is above.
- How long does it take to make Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes?
- About 55 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 273.86 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 2 steps.
- Is Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes healthy?
- Lightened-Up Sloppy Joes has an easyChef Pro health score of 30/100. Per serving, it provides 273.86 calories and 14.07 g of protein, or 28% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 377.9 mg (16% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 6.28 g (31% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 6.57 g (13% of the Daily Value). It contains Mustard, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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