Home » Easy Homemade Bison Sloppy Joe’s

Easy Homemade Bison Sloppy Joe’s

These Bison Sloppy Joe’s are packed with flavor, made with real ingredients, no refined sugars and they’re ready in under 30 minutes! This is a weeknight dinner the whole family will be excited about. It’s a satisfying, high- protein twist to classic sloppy joes. 

A skillet filled with cooked sloppy joe mixture made of ground beef, red and green bell peppers, and sauce sits on a white surface. Nearby are two fresh red bell peppers, a bowl of sweet potato fries, burger buns, and a blue napkin.
Bison Sloppy Joe’s.

If you like recipes with ground bison, you’re in the right place. Ground bison recipes have been a staple in our house for many years since it’s leaner than beef- and these Bison Sloppy Joe’s are a new favorite. This recipe is adapted from my Sugar Free Sloppy Joe’s which uses lean ground beef and uses a homemade sauce. We like to serve it with Dave’s Killer Whole Grain Buns for more fiber (or you can use any whole wheat bun). Ground bison works in just about anything beef normally would such as Bison Tacos or Bison Burgers

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Why This Bison Sloppy Joe’s Recipe Works

Ingredients you’ll need  

Ingredients for bison sloppy joe's are arranged on a white marble surface. Bowls hold ground bison, chopped green and red bell peppers, ketchup, diced onions, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil, minced garlic, and spices.
  • Ground bison. It’s leaner than beef and high in protein.
  • Extra virgin olive oil.
  • Sweet onion. Yellow or white works too.
  • Red and green bell peppers. This is where a lot of the flavors come from!
  • Garlic cloves.
  • Ketchup. Any ketchup works but I suggest Primal Kitchen which is sugar free.
  • Apple cider vinegar.
  • Maple syrup. This is optional if you’d like it a little sweeter.
  • Spices, Paprika, oregano, thyme and salt.
  • Whole wheat buns. Use your favorite buns or keep light and low carb with no buns.

How to Make Bison Sloppy Joe’s

Step One: Heat a large pan with the olive oil over medium heat. When ready, add the ground bison. Using a large wooden spoon or spatula, break up the meat and cook for about 5 minutes.

Step Two: Add the peppers and onion. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables start to sweat.

Two images of a skillet: the first shows ground beef—or bison for hearty bison sloppy joe's—cooking with chopped onions and bell peppers; the second features the mixture simmering in a rich, red tomato-based sauce with vegetables mixed in.

Step Three: Add spices and stir. Then add the ketchup and vinegar. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes while gently stirring.Adjust seasoning if needed.

Step Four: Remove from heat when done and stir in the maple syrup if using. Serve immediately with your favorite warm buns and favorite sides.

Storing and Reheating

Store bison sloppy joe meat separately from buns in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or on the stovetop on low. To freeze, cool completely and store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight and then reheat. 

A skillet filled with cooked ground beef mixed with diced red and green bell peppers, onions, and a tomato-based sauce, resting on a blue cloth.

Helpful tips for this ground bison recipe

  • Use a food processor to quickly chop onion, garlic and peppers. It saves time and releases the juices for a more flavorful sauce.
  • Warm the buns before serving.
  • Make a day ahead for better flavor. 
  • Use 90/10 or 93/7 lean ground bison for best results. 
  • Quality sugar free ketchup makes all the difference. Look for organic or unsweetened such as Primal Kitchen.
  • Double the batch for easy meal prep all week.
  • You can find ground bison in most major grocery stores and Costco. 
A sloppy joe sandwich with a whole grain bun, filled with ground beef, red and green bell peppers, and sauce, served on a white plate with sweet potato fries and a small cup of ketchup.

Serving Suggestions

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A sloppy joe sandwich with a whole grain bun, filled with ground beef, red and green bell peppers, and sauce, served on a white plate with sweet potato fries and a small cup of ketchup.

Easy Homemade Bison Sloppy Joe’s

Kristina Cadelina
These Bison Sloppy Joe's are a high-protein, sugar-free twist to a classic comfort food. Ground bison along with a homemade sauce and whole wheat buns make this a nutritious and easy meal on the table in less than 30 minutes.

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 420 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground bison
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 sweet onion diced
  • 1 large red bell peppers diced
  • 1 large green bell peppers diced
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons paprika oregano, thyme and salt
  • 2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt more as needed
  • 4 whole wheat buns Use your favorite buns or keep light and low carb with no buns.

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large pan with the olive oil over medium heat. When ready, add the ground bison. Using a large wooden spoon or spatula, break up the meat and cook for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the peppers and onion. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables start to sweat.
  • Add spices and stir. Then add the ketchup and vinegar. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes while gently stirring.Adjust seasoning if needed.
  • Remove from heat when done and stir in the maple syrup if using. Serve immediately with your favorite warm buns and favorite sides.

Notes

Notes:
Storing and Reheating:
Store bison sloppy joe meat separately from buns in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or on the stovetop on low. To freeze, cool completely and store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight and then reheat.
Helpful tips for this ground bison recipe:
  • Use a food processor to quickly chop onion, garlic and peppers. It saves time and releases the juices for a more flavorful sauce.
  • Warm the buns before serving.
  • Make a day ahead for better flavor.
  • Use 90/10 or 93/7 lean ground bison for best results.
  • Quality sugar free ketchup makes all the difference. Look for organic or unsweetened such as Primal Kitchen.
  • Double the batch for easy meal prep all week.
  • You can find ground bison in most major grocery stores and Costco.
Grocery Planning:
If you’re trying to stay organized with meal planning this month, I’ve been using  Meals Hero  (affiliate link) to save and plan recipes in one place. You can create meal plans using your favorite recipes (even your own handwritten ones, from blogs or social media) and you can order the groceries straight to your door. Click the link above to find out more and give it a try!

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 29gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 836mgPotassium: 722mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 871IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 107mgIron: 6mg
Keyword Bison Sloppy Joe’s, Ground Bison Sloppy Joe’s
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