Ingredients
Makes 6 servings
Step 1
1. Preheat the broiler. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the ground beef or turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add the onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add the carrot and sauté 2 minutes. Add the squash and sauté 1 minute more.
Step 2
2. Stir in the tomato paste and 1 1/2 cups water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add the garlic, chili powder, paprika, and oregano, and season with the salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
Step 3
3. Divide the cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the top buns are toasted.
Step 4
4. Remove the buns from the oven and fill each sandwich with the squash-and-meat mixture. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Per Serving
The easiest way to shred zucchini is to run it through the shredding disc of your food processor. A box grater will also work, but be sure to use the largest holes.
Leave a Review
Reviews (24)
Back to TopThis is one of our favorite summer squash recipes--I use the yellow ones. I always know when my husband wants this--he buys squash. I follow the recipe exactly except that I don't measure the onion and I add extra garlic. The whole family loves this.
chefzoom
Lancaster, PA
6/26/2021
This is an excellent recipe! I used chicken broth instead of water and also added corn. Very flavorful and hearty!
barb_bg
San Bruno, CA
8/20/2016
This recipe is the JAM! I encourage you to go crazy with the spices if you are in to that sort of thing , also definitely use cumin and way more garlic! Being a vege I have made this recipe with mushrooms ground and it was really good and gave that meat texture. Go Nuts and fall in love with this! (:
sileegirlmerco
North bend WA
3/20/2016
Pretty tasty and simple.
dmarymac
Philadelphia, PA
2/20/2016
A four fork idea, but needs some tweaking; it needs more spice. My personal preference is for the zucchini to not be overcooked, so I made a barbecue sauce separately (with chipotle, onions, garlic and a bit of brown sugar or agave nectar) or use a good commercial one. I like it with mushrooms more than carrots.This is quick to make; you can cut things in succession while the meat is browning and add them to the pan in the same order (onions, garlic, mushrooms, zucchini). If you use a commercial BBQ sauce it's a one pot meal. If the sauce is spicy, skip the cheese -- you won't taste it.
foodexplorer
Anchorage, AK
11/8/2014
Excellent dinner! I used broccoli slaw in addition to the zucchini and onion. I also added fresh tomatoes, skinned instead of tomato paste. Came out delicious.
dhannanyit
Commack, NY
5/21/2011
I made a vegetarian version of this (it turns out that turkey doesn't keep even in the freezer for two years!), and it was delicious. Concur with other reviews that say to add a little spicy sauce and some ketchup. Delish.
juliannamkohler
Washington, DC
8/4/2010
Wish I had paid more attention to those who rated this highly but also added more flavorful ingredients. The recipe as written is awfully bland. I will not make these again but will try to incorporate shredded squash into a tastier recipe.
Anonymous
Portland, Maine
7/18/2010
This is really good. I doubled the recipe using boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I ground in the food processor. I added 2T.cider vinegar, a chipped red bell pepper, some hot sauce and a bit of brown sugar per another rater's suggestion. I love recipes that incorporate a lot of vegetables and aren't overridden by tons of sodium. I let it simmer, covered on the stovetop to soften the vegetables for 30-45 minutes. I could see doing this in the crock pot as well after browning the meat. We'll be making this again.
Larawithoutau
Maryland
6/28/2010
Wow. I didn't think these would be good at all, but they are. The carrots add the touch of sweetness that Sloppy Joe's are known for, and then using the Morningstar Farms meat substitute crumbles makes this a vegetarian delight. I'm not even a vegetarian, but I think these are great.
boofinusa
Durham, NC
6/27/2010
great way to make healthy sloppy joes. Great flavor and didn't feel guilty eating it.
mscampie
Omaha
3/7/2010
Great way to eat vegetables :D Used ground turkey, added a green bell pepper, loaded it with hot paprika & Penzey's Chili 3000, plus a dash of Sriracha. Couldn't believe the flavor... delightful surprise for me, crowd pleaser for the family. Plus, since I'd diced most of the veges the night before, it was a quick turn after a long day at work.
mstimpano
madison, wi
8/24/2009
This was definitely very flavorful. It's of course the time of year to find uses for zucchini and this used a half of one that had turned into a baseball bat :-) Nice dish.
reynoldh
MA
7/22/2009
I made this to please kids and adults and it did. I felt it needed a little more flavor so I added: 1/2 C Diced roasted red bell peppers (from a jar), 1-2 TBSP apple cider vinegar, 1-2 TBSP Blackstrap Molasses, a dash of tobasco, and used smoked salt rather than Kosher. YUMMY!
Anonymous
Medina, OH
7/20/2009
Great Recipe, totally worth making! Chopped the veggies into small cubes by hand - it does add a wonderful crunch. My 3-yr loved it as well. And 1-yr old ate it all-right mixed in with some mac-n-cheese.
fikhma
7/7/2009
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