When I'm looking for a no-fuss, easy dinner recipe the whole family will eat I reach for this Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe.
5servings
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 30 minutesminutes
Ingredients
1Tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
½cupwhite onionfinely chopped
1teaspoonminced garlic
½cupchopped celery (or equivalent of green pepperchopped
Salt and black pepperto taste
1 ½lbs.ground beef80% lean/20% fat (or greater
1 15ouncestomato sauce
1Tablespoontomato paste
2TablespoonsWorcestershire sauce
1-2Tablespoonsbrown sugaradjust amount depending on personal preference
1Tablespoonyellow mustard
4-6Hamburger buns
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, minced garlic, and celery. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until the vegetables soften and start to develop some color.
Add the ground beef and break into small pieces with a spatula. Cook over medium low heat until the meat is thoroughly browned, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet.
Return to heat and add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and mustard. Simmer, uncovered, until heated through and slightly thickened, about 5-8 minutes.
Spoon some of the warm meat sauce onto the bottom portion of each bun. Cover and serve with your choice of sides.
This freezes well - go ahead and make a double batch!
TO MAKE AS A FREEZER MEAL
Label a gallon sized freezer bag. Cook ground beef and drain fat. Allow to cool and add to the freezer bag. Add remaining ingredients to the freezer bag. Remove excess air and lay flat to freeze.
TO COOK FROM A FREEZER MEAL
Thaw. In a large skillet, simmer contents of freezer bag for 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender and flavors combine.
To make sloppy joes in the crockpot
Cook the vegetables and ground beef in a skillet as instructed; then transfer to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 4-5 hours on low.To thicken the sauce, remove the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes or so until thickened.
Notes
This freezes well - go ahead and make a double batch!
TO MAKE AS A FREEZER MEAL
Label a gallon sized freezer bag. Cook ground beef and drain fat. Allow to cool and add to the freezer bag. Add remaining ingredients to the freezer bag. Remove excess air and lay flat to freeze.
TO COOK FROM A FREEZER MEAL
Thaw. In a large skillet, simmer contents of freezer bag for 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender and flavors combine.
To make sloppy joes in the crockpot
Cook the vegetables and ground beef in a skillet as instructed; then transfer to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 4-5 hours on low.To thicken the sauce, remove the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes or so until thickened.