Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese is a comfort food fusion that combines two classic dishes. It consists of dairy-free and gluten-free, creamy macaroni and cheese mixed with seasoned ground turkey cooked Sloppy Joe sauce from Noble Made. It's a crowd-pleaser that's easy to make and incredibly satisfying to eat. Did I mention the cheese sauce is made from all veggies... shhh!
Comfort food is a must in most households so if you are craving more creamy pasta be sure to check out Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce, Creamy Bruschetta Chicken Pasta, or Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta. They are all dairy-free and will leave you satisfied.
Why You'll Love This
Dietary Restrictions: It is important to me that people who have certain dietary restrictions can enjoy food at my house! This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free, all while being comforting and delicious.
Customizable: The pasta, meat, and bread crumbs can all be swapped for your favorite versions of these ingredients.
Easy to make: While this seems labor intensive, keep reading because it is very simple to make!
Ingredients You Will Need
Chickpea Pasta: I like Banza Pasta the best. This chickpea pasta is much higher in protein and fiber than regular pasta.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: It is really important to get a high quality olive oil and one that is 100% olive oil and single origin, the food industry likes to cut corners when it comes to oils so be sure you check your labels.
Ground Turkey: A lean protein that is low in saturdated fat, cholesterol, and calories. At the same time it is high in protein, B vitamins, phosphorus and other nutrients that are essential to the body. I always look for organic ground turkey when I am shopping.
Noble Made Sloppy Joseph Skillet Sauce: A classic sloppy joe taste without the unwanted ingredients! It has no added sugaror preservatives. It is
Cauliflower: A nutrient-rich vegetable that is low in calories and high in fiber, making it an excellent choice for weight management and digestive health. It is also a good source of vitamins, especially vitamin C and vitamin K, which support immune function and bone health.
Butternut Squash: Has a very nutrient-rich profile and has lots of health benefits. It is high in Vitamin C, E, A, potassium, and magnesium. Butternut squash also is high in fiber, anti-oxidants, and so much more. It aids in skin health, digestive health, and immune function.
White Onion: Onions are full of antioxidants which help fight inflammation. They also have folate, manganese, and some vitamin C. They are antibacterial, help digestion (for some), and can help reduce your risk of cancer.
Garlic: is known for its anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It helps fight many diseases like the common cold, heart disease, and others.
Paprika: Rich in antioxidants, particularly capsaicin, which has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. It is also rich in beta-carotene, which can support eye health and boost the immune system.
Nutritional Yeast: A popular food product that is often used as a condiment or seasoning, particularly in a dairy-free diet.Nutritional yeast is known for its unique flavor, which is described as savory, cheesy, or nutty. Its most interesting nutritional benefit is that it is a complete protein.
Coconut Milk: A dairy-free alternative that is rich in healthy fats, particularly medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which can provide a quick source of energy. It also contains essential nutrients like potassium and magnesium, contributing to heart health and promoting proper muscle and nerve function.
Chicken Broth: When looking for chicken broth be sure you are checking the ingredients and the source that it comes from. I prefer to buy one with no extra preservatives, sugar, coloring, and that is organic.
Gluten-free Pork Rind Breadcrumbs: These are breadcrumbs made from pork rinds, which makes them completely gluten-free and depending on the one that you buy, they usually only have two ingredients.
Salt and Pepper
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to the package and preheat the oven to 400°F
Brown the turkey. In a pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 lbs ground turkey. Season the turkey with salt and pepper and cook until browned. Then add the Sloppy Joseph sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
Make the cheese sauce. In a large pot add cauliflower, butternut squash, white onion, garlic, paprika salt and pepper. Saute for about 5 minutes then add the nutritional yeast, chicken broth and coconut milk. Continue to saute the veggies for another 5 minutes or until the frozen butternut squash is soft.
Blend. Using an immersion blender, blend the veggies until it is a smooth sauce. Then add the cooked pasta to the sauce.
Blend the sloppy joe and the mac and cheese. In a casserole pan layer half of the mac and cheese on the bottom then add the meat mixture and spread an even layer. Lastly, add the other half of the mac and cheese to the top and spread it out until it is a single layer. Then sprinkle the pork rind breadcrumbs on top.
Bake. Add the casserole pan to the oven for about 15 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Butternut Squash: I highly recommend using frozen butternut squash for this recipe to make it a quick and easy recipe. You can use fresh butternut squash but will need to roast it until fork tender, first.
Troubleshooting: Keep extra chicken broth on hand so you can slowly add 1 tablespoon more at a time to make the "cheese" sauce the perfect consistency.
Recipe Variations
Pasta: Any past will do. I like Banza because it is gluten-free and minimal ingredients, but any of your favorite pasta will make a great substitution in this sloppy joe mac and cheese casserole.
Meat: Ground turkey is my go-to for ground meats, however if you don't have that on hand you can use ground chicken or ground beef.
Breadcrumbs: Pork panko breadcrumbs are the ones I like because they are guten-free, but if you don't need to be gluten-free, you can use regular breadcrumbs or regular panko breadcrumbs.
Storage Tips
Store this in an air tight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. I do not recommend freezing thisr recipe because it will change the consistency of the pasta.
FAQs About Recipe
What is sloppy joe sauce made of?
Sloppy joe sauce is usually tomato sauce, tomato purees, vinegar and/or something acidic, and spices. This Noble Made Sloppy Joseph sauce is special beacuse it has no added sugars and is made with all whole ingredients.
What is the difference between sloppy joe and sloppy jane?
The real difference is that a sloppy joe is traditionally made with beef, while a sloppy jane is usually made with chicken or turkey. Sometimes sloppy janes are also served in a sweet potato, too! So this recipe could be called Sloppy Jane Mac and Cheese, but it doesn't have the same ring to it.
Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz Chickpea Pasta I like Banza best
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 lb Ground Turkey
- 8 oz Noble Made Less-Sugar Sloppy Joseph Skillet Sauce
- 1 cup Cauliflower
- 1 ½ cup Butternut Squash (frozen)
- 1 White Onion (small) diced
- 1 tablespoon Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast
- 1 ½ cup Coconut Milk
- 1 ½ cup Chicken Broth (can use more as needed)
- ¼ cup Gluten-free Pork Rind Breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package and preheat the oven to 400°F
- In a pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 lbs ground turkey. Season the turkey with salt and pepper and cook until browned.
- Add the Sloppy Joseph Sauce to the ground turkey and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large pot add cauliflower, butternut squash, white onion, garlic, paprika salt and pepper. Saute for about 5 minutes then add the nutritional yeast, chicken broth and coconut milk. Continue to saute the veggies for another 5 minutes or until the frozen butternut squash is soft.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the veggies until it is a smooth sauce.
- Drain the noodles and add them to the sauce.
- In a casserole pan layer half of the mac and cheese on the bottom then add the meat mixture and spread an even layer. Lastly, add the other half of the mac and cheese to the top and spread it out until it is a single layer.
- Top the mac and cheese with a fine layer of gluten-free pork rind breadcrumbs.
- Add the casserole pan to the oven for about 15 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.
- Remove the pan. Serve and enjoy!
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