Sloppy Joes
This sloppy Joe recipe from The Mom 100 Cookbook features a richly flavored homemade sauce that elevates the classic sandwich to new heights. Ground beef cooked with onions and garlic is simmered in a tangy, sweet sauce of ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and brown sugar. It's a family-friendly, quick comfort meal ready in about 30 minutes. Perfect for a casual dinner or game-day gathering.
Servings: 8 People
Cost: $15
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 1 can (6-ounce) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (see Note)
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 8 hamburger buns (white or whole wheat; toasted, if desired)
For the Toppings (Optional):
- Pickles
- Onions (raw, sautéed, pickled, or fried)
- Sliced or grated cheese (such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Cheddar)
- Coleslaw (such as Spicy Cole Slaw)
- Potato chips
- Fried egg
Instructions
- Spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the beef, and cook, using a spoon to stir and break up the meat into crumbles, until it is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the beef in a colander.
- Wipe out the skillet and return it to the burner. Add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are tender, 4 minutes. Add the ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper, and stir until well combined. Add the water, Worcestershire sauce, and cider vinegar, then return the beef to the pan. Bring to a simmer, adjust the heat if necessary, and simmer uncovered until the liquid has reduced and thickened into a sauce, about 5 minutes.
- Place an open bun on each plate, and using a large spoon, scoop some of the beef filling onto the bottom half of each bun. Add toppings, if desired, top with the other half of the bun, and dig in.
Notes
The filling can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 467kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 1081mg | Potassium: 822mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 635IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 5mg