The Best Healthier Venison Sloppy Joes
We all love a good sloppy Joe, and these Venison Sloppy Joes are a healthier version made with wholesome ingredients that is absolutely delicious! They come together in under thirty minutes and are a great dinner any night of the week.
If for some wild reason, you have never had a Sloppy Joe, let this be your sign to try one! They start with a saucy tomato based ground meat mixture that is sweet and tangy. Then, that mixture is then piled on soft brioche buns with melty cheese and any addition toppings you like. Simply yet absolutely delicious.
What I love about these Venison Sloppy Joes is that they are made with simple, wholesome ingredients, without skimping on flavor. You can use any ground wild game meat you have and they will be amazing. With this recipe, dinner can be on the table in under thirty minutes and everyone will be enjoying a balanced, tasty meal.
To make these your own you can add whichever toppings or cheese you like! Some of our favorite toppings are pickles, pickled onions, cabbage, jalapeños or cowboy candy! Adding a little bit of crunch and tanginess through the toppings makes these absolutely irresistible.
Tips For Making Perfect Venison Sloppy Joes
- As I always recommend with wild game meat, you will get the best texture and flavor if you add 10-20% pork or beef to your ground meat. This can be pork or beef fat, or what we like to add is pork shoulder.
- If you like an extra sloppy Joe, add in extra broth. If you like them a bit less messy, use less broth. Either way, will be tasty, this is just personal preference.
- Be sure to assemble the sloppy joes right before serving. This will prevent the buns from getting soggy.
Venison Sloppy Joe Ingredients
Ground Venison– As mentioned above, you can make these with ground venison, or any other ground wild game meat you have.
Onion– Any white or yellow onion is great.
Garlic– Fresh is best. Always.
Tomato Paste– Traditionally sloppy joes use ketchup, but tomato paste keeps these healthier!
Maple Syrup– This is used for a touch of sweetness through unrefined sugars.
Dijon Mustard– You only need just a touch to add a bit of tanginess to the sauce.
Apple Cider Vinegar– If all you have is white vinegar, that will work too.
Worcestershire Sauce– A little goes a long way with this stuff, so don’t over measure.
Soy Sauce– Add great saltiness and depth of flavor.
Chili Powder & Smoked Paprika– This spice combo adds a nice smoky flavor. If you don’t like smoked paprika, you can sub with regular.
Beef Broth– If you like your sloppy joes more liquid, increase the amount of broth.
Brioche Buns– You can use my homemade sourdough brioche buns or store bought ones.
Cheese– Any cheddar or marble cheese is delicious for this recipe.
Additional Toppings– Any of your favourites like pickled, pickled onions, cabbage, slaw, jalapeños or cowboy candy are delicious.
The Steps
- Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat with a couple tbsp of olive oil.
- Next, add in the onion and garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and tender.
- Then, add in the ground meat, and brown until it is fully cooked trough and no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper.
- Once the meat is all cooked, add in the tomato paste, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, w sauce, spices and beef broth.
- Stir until everything is well combined, then taste it and add any more spices if you need.
- Allow the mixture to simmer while you prep the buns.
- Cut the buns in half, and add a slice of cheese to one half of each bun. Broil in the oven until golden and the cheese is melted.
- Finally, serve up each bun, with a big spoon full of the meat mixture over top, and add any pickles or other toppings that you like.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
If you give this recipe a try, leave a comment or a recipe review below!
Looking for more tasty recipes to try with your ground wild game meat?
https://cmbarndominium.com/how-to-make-delicious-venison-cabbage-rolls/
https://cmbarndominium.com/the-best-italian-venison-meatballs-with-ricotta-pesto/
https://cmbarndominium.com/insanely-good-venison-chili/
A sweet and tangy tomato based sauce loaded with ground venison, piled onto homemade sourdough brioche buns with cheddar cheese and your favorite pickled toppings! * Cowboy candy is sweet and spicy pickled jalapenos and they are amazing. Find our recipe here Cowboy Candy * If you don't hunt, you can absolutely make this recipe with ground beef. * Start with 1/2 cup of broth, then add more until the mixture is your desired texture. I like to mkae mine thicker (with less broth) but some people like it sloppier with more broth. 
Healthier Venison Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Instructions
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