Name: Sloppy Joe Cauliflower Rice Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 5 Cups
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil (divided); 2 medium carrots (diced); ½ medium onion (diced); ½ teaspoon dried thyme; ½ teaspoon dried oregano; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 pounds lean 93% ground turkey; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon ground pepper; ¼ teaspoon or more, to taste crushed red pepper flakes; 2 cups cauliflower rice; 1 ½ 15 ounce each cans tomato sauce; ¼ cup barbecue sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoon honey (or agave nectar); ¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley

30 minute meal! This healthy Sloppy Joe Cauliflower Rice is a fun twist on a classic that your family will love. 246 calories and 6 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP

Sloppy Joe Cauliflower Rice is a welcome bun-less version of a childhood classic. While I can’t claim that this is a low carb recipe, it’s certainly a great option if you’re looking to lower the carbs from your tried-and-true Sloppy Joe recipe. Cauliflower rice recipes are the way to go when you want to add more veggies and cut down on pasta, tortillas, regular rice and bread.

Sloppy Joes weren’t something that my mum served when I was growing up, but there’s a good chance I ate my weight in them at various summer camps throughout the years. Admittedly, I don’t make them very often myself these days, but this cauliflower rice version is going to change that.

How to make healthy Sloppy Joes:

Opt for a lower fat meat, such as ground turkey or extra lean ground beef.
Many Sloppy Joe recipes include a large amount of ketchup, brown sugar and/or barbecue sauce. Instead I opted for tomato sauce sweetened with some barbecue sauce and a touch of agave nectar (or honey).
Add some extra sweetness with diced carrots. Natural sugars are always a good way to go!
You could eliminate the bread or opt for a whole wheat bun. My kids love to wrap their hands around a bun packed with this Sloppy Joe mixture and choosing a fiber-packed bun to serve it on is a way to make things healthier.
If you prefer to make this meatless, substitute lentils for the ground turkey. They’re packed with protein and have a meaty texture.

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Cauliflower Rice:

Aromatics: Onion, carrots and garlic.
Herbs & spices: Dried oregano and thyme, and red pepper flakes do the trick. Plus, don’t forget to season with salt and pepper.
Ground turkey: I used lean (93%) rather than 99% lean because I prefer the flavor and moisture.
Sauce ingredients: Canned tomato sauce, barbecue sauce (your favorite kind or homemade), tomato paste, Worcestershire (for the umami factor) and honey/agave nectar.
Cauliflower rice: I buy the bags of fresh cauliflower rice at Trader Joe’s, but frozen would also work. Alternatively, grate cauliflower florets on a box grater.

Other healthy 30-minute dinner recipes:

Broiled Pork Chops with Zucchini Corn Salsa {Cookin’ Canuck}
Thai Noodle Soup with Shrimp & Cabbage {Cookin’ Canuck}
Spaghetti Squash & Pork Stir Fry {Fox and Briar}
Creamy Tomato Basil Vegan Pasta {Fit Foodie Finds}