This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Some cravings don’t make a lot of sense. For me, Sloppy Joes are one of them.
Every year as the weather cools and Halloween approaches, I get an unexplained urge for a good Sloppy Joe. I am pretty sure it goes back to Mom serving them before we headed out trick-or-treating when I was a kid—and that memory has been locked in ever since.
The problem? I don’t make them often enough to keep a jar of Manwich in the pantry. And I’m not interested in a from-scratch recipe with an ingredient list as long as my arm. We are talking Sloppy Joes here—they should be simple.
Enter this brilliant solution: just three ingredients you probably already have, ready in 20 minutes, and honestly better than any canned sauce I’ve tried. Rod, Mom, and I all loved it.
Table of Contents
Why I Love These 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
- Freezer friendly. Make a batch and freeze the leftover meat for the next craving.
- Three ingredients. That’s it. Extra lean ground beef, picante sauce (affiliate link), and barbecue sauce (affiliate link).
- Ready in 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights when dinner needs to happen fast.
- Better than canned sauce. The combination of picante and barbecue is simple but surprisingly flavorful.
- Easy to lighten up. Lots of simple swaps to lower the Points even further (see below).
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Extra lean ground beef (95%) — Using extra lean beef is the key to keeping this light. Ground turkey is a great substitute if you prefer.
- Picante sauce (affiliate link) — Use your favorite brand. The picante adds a gentle heat and savory depth that makes this sauce sing.
- Barbecue sauce (affiliate link) — Again, use your favorite. The combination of picante and barbecue is what makes this recipe so clever and so good.
- Green onions, sliced — Optional but adds a nice fresh bite. Regular diced onion works too.
- Light hamburger buns, lightly toasted — Toasting the buns is a small step that makes a big difference — it keeps them from getting soggy under all that delicious filling.
Calories and WW Points ?
According to my calculations, each Sloppy Joe Sandwich has about 282 calories.
WW Points: 5
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
7 PointsPlus (Old plan)
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
- In a large skillet (affiliate link) over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it into crumbles, until browned — about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add the picante sauce, barbecue sauce, and green onions if using. Stir to combine.
- Cook, stirring often, until the mixture is hot and bubbling.
- Divide evenly among the five lightly toasted buns and serve immediately.
Ways to Lower the Points Even Further
One of the things I love about this recipe is how easy it is to lighten up even more:
- Add extra vegetables — shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, diced onion, or bell pepper all blend right in and add volume and nutrition.
- Swap the bun for a sandwich thin and save 1 to 2 Points.
- Go open-faced — skip the top half of the bun and save about 2 Points.
- Skip the bun entirely and serve the mixture over salad greens or cauliflower rice for a bowl-style meal — saves about 4 Points.
- Bulk up the meat by using half ground beef and half finely chopped mushrooms — you won’t notice the difference but your Points will.
What to Do with Leftover Sloppy Joe Meat
Leftovers keep well in the fridge for several days, or you can freeze the meat mixture for next time the craving strikes. One of my favorite ways to use up leftovers is to make a quick Sloppy Joe Quesadilla for lunch—just a little shredded low-fat cheese and a high-fiber low-carb tortilla. So good.
If you’ve made these low fat Ground Beef Sloppy Joe’s, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Simple 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joe’s Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra lean (95%) ground beef
- 3/4 cup Picante Sauce
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 green onions, sliced (about 1/4 cup, optional)
- 5 light hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
Instructions
- In a large skillet (affiliate link) set over medium high heat, cook the beef, stirring and breaking up the meat, until it is browned, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add the picante sauce, barbecue sauce and green onions (if using) into the skillet. Stir to combine.
- Cook, stirring often, until the mixture is hot and bubbling.
- Divide the beef mixture evenly among the five buns.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 8 SmartPoints (Green plan) 7 SmartPoints (Blue plan) 7 SmartPoints (Purple plan) 7 PointsPlus (Old plan) Here are a few more ideas to lower the Points value even further:
- Replace the regular hamburger bun with a sandwich thin and save 1 to 2 Points.
- Skip half the bun and eat an open-face sloppy joe. (-2 Points)
- Skip the bun and eat your sloppy joe from a bowl on a bed of salad greens or cauliflower rice and save 4 points.
- Bulk up the mixture by using 1/2 chopped mushrooms and 1/2 ground beef.
- Bulk up with additional veggies: shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, onion, bell pepper, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe source: adapted from Campbell’s Picante Sloppy Joes
More Easy WW-Friendly 30-Minute Meals
f you loved this recipe, here are a few more quick weeknight favorites to try:
- Slow Cooker Italian Sloppy Joes
A hands-off twist on the classic with deep, slow-cooked flavor. - Easy Enchilada Casserole
All the flavors of enchiladas with a fraction of the effort. - 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
A family-friendly favorite that practically makes itself. - Easy Lightened Up Skillet Lasagna
All the comfort of lasagna in one skillet, ready in under 30 minutes. - Southwest Goulash
Bold, hearty, and surprisingly light. - Mom’s Easy Alfredo Ravioli Casserole
Rich, comforting, and on the table fast.
Terrific!! I had time/ingredrients to add sauted onions, garlic and mini bell peppers to meat. Used jarred Herdez Roasted Red Salsa rather than Pace. Served on buns with simple slaw. But I can see this put over spaghetti squash, like I do Cincinnati chili.
Thank you for another easy, versatile and affordable meal.