Low Sodium Sloppy Joes
These homemade Low Sodium Sloppy Joes use a bold make-your-own seasoning mix along with other low-sodium ingredients to create the classic sloppy joes your family knows and loves. Packed with incredible flavor, you’d never guess it’s designed for a low sodium diet!
Why I Love This Low Sodium Sloppy Joes Recipe
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your average sloppy joe recipe—you know, the ones that use sloppy joe mix and ketchup—is loaded with sodium. Easy dinner ideas like these tend to depend on processed ingredients, which unfortunately leads to a high sodium content.
However, with this homemade recipe, you have total control over the ingredients and the amount of sodium you add. And what? It’s still super easy to make and has all the great flavor of traditional sloppy joe meat!? Get outta town.
Tomato-heavy meals like this one can be tricky because tomato products naturally contain a lot of sodium. But just like my Spaghetti Sauce and Margherita Pizza low sodium recipes, all it takes is subbing out the tomato sauce with no-salt-added options.
I also use low-sodium chicken broth and a carefully crafted spice blend that elevates the flavor, delivering a delicious taste without relying on any salt.
Sodium Notes by Stephanie B., Registered Dietitian
Sloppy Joes are a classic comfort food comprised of a sweet and tangy meat sauce served on a bun. While traditional sloppy joes are delicious, they are definitely not low in sodium. By making a few small ingredient swaps, such as choosing no-added-salt ketchup and chicken broth, you can dramatically transform this nostalgic food into one you can enjoy without guilt.
The combination of chopped veggies, spices, vinegar, and brown sugar preserves the signature flavor of this classic dish. Ground turkey is a heart-healthy alternative to ground beef with less saturated fat, and yet still an excellent source of protein.
Ingredients
- Ground turkey: A leaner ground meat than beef, but still a great source of protein.
- Veggies: I use a combination of onion, green bell peppers, and garlic to create a tasty sloppy joe base.
- Olive oil: You’ll need olive oil to sauté the veggies and add some heart-healthy fats.
- No-salt-added tomato sauce: This is key to keeping the sodium content of your homemade sloppy joes low. You can find this at your local grocery store.
- No-salt-added ketchup: This is another important ingredient for keeping the sodium content low.
- Tomato paste: Delivers an even more robust flavor profile to these healthy sloppy joes.
- Apple cider vinegar: Gives the sauce a tangy kick without adding any sodium.
- Dijon mustard: I like to use Silver Spring brand Dijon mustard, as it has the lowest sodium of most Dijon mustard.
- Brown sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the acidity.
- Spice mix: Smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper are all you need to create a flavorful spice blend.
- Unsalted chicken broth: This adds moisture and flavor to the dish without any added salt.
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional): For those who like a lil’ heat in their sloppy joes!
Preparation
Let’s get started with the veggies! Grab your onion and green pepper, give them a nice chop, and finish off by mincing that garlic to bring all the flavor.
In a small bowl, mix together all the spices so you have them ready to go for adding to the skillet.
Cooking
Next, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
Add ground turkey. Cook until turkey is fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks about 5–7 minutes, adding the minced garlic in the final minute.
Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar. Then add the spice mix and red pepper flakes (if using).
Pour in the broth and stir well. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove cover and continue simmering for another 5 minutes until thickened.
Serving
Now it’s time to assemble and serve these bad boys!
Serve your low-sodium sloppy joes on toasted hamburger buns or oven-baked potatoes for a hearty, low-sodium meal. Enjoy!
What Goes Well with Low Sodium Sloppy Joes?
I always love my sloppy joes with a side of crispy sweet potato fries or a fresh, crunchy salad. For more low-sodium options, I highly recommend my Low-Sodium Mashed Potatoes or Low Sodium Dill Pickles as tasty accompaniments to this dish. Don’t forget to include a refreshing beverage, like lemon water or iced tea, to balance out the flavors.
Storage & Reheating
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply heat it in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water or broth to prevent it from drying out.
Low Sodium Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup no-salt-added ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1.5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add ground turkey. Cook until turkey is fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks about 5–7 minutes, adding the minced garlic in the final minute.
- Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar.
- Add smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using).
- Pour in the broth and stir well. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove cover and continue simmering for another 5 minutes until thickened.
- Serve on toasted buns or oven-baked potatoes for a hearty, low-sodium meal.
Notes
- Silver Spring brand Dijon mustard has the lowest sodium of most Dijon mustards.