Pizza Joes
This fun take on sloppy joes was inspired by all the wonderful things you love about pizza. Pizza Joes are a great family-friendly, 30-minute meal option!
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 548kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- ¾ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¾ cup chopped cremini mushrooms
- 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives drained
- 25 to 28 ounces tomato basil marinara
- 3 ounces sliced pepperoni cut in half (can use reduced fat or turkey pepperoni)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper or to taste
- 1 ½ cups shredded part skim or whole milk mozzarella cheese or as needed
- 8 onion rolls or hamburger buns
Instructions
- Place a large nonstick skillet over MEDIUM heat. Add the beef (or turkey), onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook, stirring to break up the ground meat as it cooks. Continue to cook and stir until meat is thoroughly cooked and the veggies have softened. Drain off as much grease as possible and return the skillet to the heat.
- Add the mushrooms, olives, marinara, pepperoni, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to LOW, cover the pan, and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven's broiler. Split open the onion rolls and place them, inside facing up, on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the oven for about 2 minutes, watching closely, until the rolls are toasted and lightly browned.
- Remove the top buns from the baking sheet. Divide the filling between the bottom buns, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and return to the oven for a minute or two, just until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and place the top buns on the sandwiches and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition information was calculated using the first choice listed for each ingredient in the recipe card above.
If you'd like to lighten them up, use lean ground turkey in place of the ground beef, go with turkey pepperoni, and top it off with part-skim mozzarella.
Make it a Freezer Meal
For a super easy meal on a future busy day, spoon the cooked and cooled filling into a freezer-safe plastic storage bag. Push out as much air as possible, seal and label the bag, and transfer it to the freezer. For the best quality, thaw and use within 3 to 4 months. Frozen Pizza Joe filling should be thawed safely in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 548kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 1365mg | Potassium: 793mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 618IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 6mg