Lately it seems like the only meat that goes on (decent) sale is ground beef, which isn’t something I like to buy or cook often. Ground beef just bores me. Burgers and spaghetti – that’s all I make with it. I’ve been trying to branch out and these sloppy joes ended up being a terrific way to use a pound of beef.
I cannot tell you the last time I had sloppy joe mix from a can so I sadly cannot compare this recipe to that but I can tell you that this is very good. It’s sweet but not too sweet, it’s a little spicy, and it’s messy just like a good sloppy joe should be. When I first found the recipe, I thought the amount of tomato products would be overwhelming but by the end it hardly tasted like a tomato sauce.
If you’re looking to sneak extra veggies into your diet, dice up some carrots, bell pepper, or mushrooms and saute them with the onions.
📖 Recipe
Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ medium onion chopped finely
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the tomato sauce:
- 1 15- ounce can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey mustard
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Instructions
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In a large skillet, heat the oil to medium-high. Add onion and salt, lower heat to medium, and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
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Add garlic and chili powder, and cook for about 30 seconds.
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Add beef, and cook for about 3 minutes, breaking it up as you stir. (The meat will still be a little pink when you move on. Don’t worry. It will keep cooking as it simmers in the tomato sauce.)
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In the meantime, grab a medium bowl, and combine the tomato sauce, water, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey mustard and red pepper flakes.
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Add the tomato mixture to the beef. Stir in the tomato paste. Simmer for at least 10 minutes, or until the mixture reaches your desired consistency.
Rachel in NC says
Yum! We love sloppy joes. I always add bell pepper and extra onion to mine, then broil them with a slice of pepper jack on top.
.-= Rachel in NC´s last blog ..Carrabba’s Tastemaker Event =-.
Yum Yucky says
But it looks so nice and neat. I’m gonna get that on my shirt. (Mmm! you put chili powder in it!)
.-= Yum Yucky´s last blog ..Dear Yum Yucky- Is It Safe to Gnaw On Roadkill =-.
Michelle Sturges says
looks delicious!
.-= Michelle Sturges´s last blog ..Chicken Pot Pie =-.
Pam says
These look good! Now that I found some decent ground meat, maybe I will have to give this one a try!
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Apple Pie Blondies- Take Two =-.
Lisa says
That looks like an absolutely delicious sloppy joe. I’ll have to try it one night for dinner.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies =-.
Roxan says
Ok, I’m so lame… It’s not like I didn’t grow up with sloppy joes myself, but for some reason as I read this I thought to myself ‘i can’t eat these, they’re too messy… oh wait… SLOPPY joes’! Haha, I think it’s still too early for me. These look great!
thesavingmom says
I really don’t care for ground meat either, but it’s easy for the kids to eat so I have a few more recipes…meatloaf, tacos, pizza, roasted meatballs with sweet potatoes and other veggies. Thanks for your recipe. ~Jessica
Cristine says
They look yummy!
And that vanilla-hazelnut spread you mentioned on my blog sounds fabulous!
.-= Cristine´s last blog ..Huli-Huli Chicken =-.