Everyone loves a good sloppy joe!

But what if you are feeling something a bit more modern, a bit healthier? This recipe is a new twist on that traditional favorite to keep our inner child happy, with just enough tweaks to keep our adult sensibilities thinking fit!

The classic joe is basically ground beef with that tangy sauce, so when I started thinking of what I would need to do to change things up, I immediately started thinking about the meat. Depending on the kind of beef you use, switching to ground turkey can make your joe a bit healthier. Ground turkey breast is the leanest, but lean ground beef can still be a good choice. But I wanted to up the protein of my sandwich and that meant adding some black beans. Black beans and turkey? YUM! I was on my way.

The rest of the recipe is basically what I would add for any sloppy joe recipe: a nice bit of tang with and helping of saucy flavor. I hope you enjoy!

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 T. olive oil

1 lb. ground turkey 

1/2 c. (about 1/2 can) black beans (p.s. save the rest for your food prep that week! 😉 )

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1 1/2 c. water

1 can tomato paste

1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. dry mustard

salt and pepper

2-3 dashes cayenne

Saute onion and garlic in oil until tender; add turkey and cook until no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients. Stir well. Reduce heat and simmer 20 min until flavors are blended well.

Tastes great in a day or too, also!