Monday, August 30, 2010

Not Your Average Sloppy Joe

 
If you've been reading my blog for a while you have come to see that our family likes to indulge every once in a while. I know that I have featured quite some decadent and rich recipes in the past, but I need to clarify that we don't eat like this on a daily basis. Most of these "special" meals are reserved for weekend indulgences. During the week my kitchen has a much quicker, more efficient, and most of all fairly healthy approach to dinner time.

This recipe for Sloppy Joe has been cooked and served in our home for many years. Unfortunately I'm not sure where it came from anymore, so I can't even give credit. Since then, it has been shared with several friends and relatives who have come to love this dish as well. It is a great, healthier take on the classic comfort food. Sloppy Joe is another one of those foods, I did not grow up with. My husband on the other hand, had his fair share growing up. When I first found this recipe, after getting the request for this particular meal from him, I wasn't sure if his "refined" palate, that had only been exposed to the "Manwich" kind, would be happy with my version. I worried for absolutely nothing and he hasn't requested the canned kind since. This recipe is also a great way to "sneak" in a decent amount of vegetables, and even the pickiest of eaters will happily eat this as long as it is disguised as "junk food" and served on a hamburger bun with a sprinkle of cheese.

This meal has always been my go-to recipe for when I'm short on time. It is made quickly, and you can even make it a day ahead and warm it up later. Chopping the vegetables ahead of time is another great way to get this dinner quickly on the table. Since the dish needs very little babysitting once the ingredients are added (besides the occasional stir), this will free you up to fix a side salad or an additional side dish. I like to serve this on top of hamburger buns with extra onions and shredded cheddar cheese, but pickled jalapenos are another great way to impart additional flavor to the finished sandwich along with a little kick (this is the way my husband loves it). I hope you'll give my "healthier" version a try, maybe it will make your dinner time a success as well!



Not Your Average Sloppy Joe
~serves 6~

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I use 93 %)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 stalks celery, finely diced
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons steak sauce (I use A1)
2 teaspoons mustard
3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika powder
6 Hamburger buns
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
Diced onion (optional)

Preparation:
In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef, onion, green pepper, and celery until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Add the next nine ingredients; mix well.
Simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve on hamburger buns with shredded cheddar cheese and onions if desired.


27 comments:

  1. We eat very simple and quick meals during the week too and I am always looking for quick ideas like this. I have very fond memories of sloppy joes. As a kid, all the moms served them at birthday parties. Yours look great!

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  2. Your sloppy joes look great. What is it about men and sloppy joes? I used to always know when my husband wanted them--he would come home with a can of Manwich.

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  3. Promise not to laugh. This is one of my favorite "closet" foods. The kind of dish you never tell anyone you like but actually adore. There is still a part of me that is 12 years old :-). I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Maryhua

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  4. We had canned sloppy joes for dinner last night... now I wish we would have waited :) Your filling looks amazing, I love how chunky it is. Thanks for sharing ;)

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  5. I'll have to try this. I have always avoided sloppy joe's (Manwhich) becuase of health value but using lean meat, I don't think this version would be that bad.

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  6. I haven't seen one of these since I was little, yes I'm ratting my mom out, it was the "manwich" version! Your looks way better and how the heck did you get the meat to fall so perfectly out of the bun, you must share some tricks with me!

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  7. It's been forever since I have had sloppy joes. These look great.

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  8. This is definitely a family pleasing meal. My kids used to beg for Sloppy Joes!

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  9. hi Susi
    how could you not love sloppy joes!! Yours do look so very good, I do love mine loaded with cheese, although these days I use turkey of chicken for mine!
    thanks for sharing your recipe, I will definitely try your seasonings next time I make it!
    Dennis

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  10. These are like the ones my mom used to make! They look delicious!

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  11. I loved my "manwich" sandwiches growing-up. Ours came out of a can. We mixed it and served it up on buns.... I have not eaten them since childhood, This more grown-up version would be delicious,

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  12. I need that burger right now! It looks so damn good.

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  13. I can imagine this would please quite a few people (myself included!) I just found your blog tonight, and I'm glad that I did. You have some great posts, and I look forward to reading more!

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  14. I haven't had a sloppy joe in years! These look so good Susi that I have a hankering for one now! Much better than the one's my Mom used to make.

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  15. looks delicious, would definitely try this out. I'm craving for cheese and beef this will definitely satisfy my cravings. Thank you :-)

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  16. These look delicious! I haven't had a sloppy joe in a while so I think I'm gonna have to give this recipe a try.

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  17. i'm not a huge fan of sloppy joes but yours make me wanna :) it looks delicious!

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  18. YUM!! I don't eat beef, but will try these with ground chicken or turkey. Funny how something so simple touches memories in so many people...
    Well done!
    Congrats on top 9!

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  19. Looks wonderful. I haven't had sloppy joe's in forever. Must make soon. ;)

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  20. I love all your ingredients in the sloppy joes, I haven't made them for years but it was a family favorite in our house as well, thanks for sharing your delicious sounding recipe:)

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  21. This look awesome. Our family loves these messy kind of meals. Thanks for your recipe.

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  22. The "sloppier" it is, the better! it looks fantastic! congrats :)

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  23. when I was in Girl Scout years ago we used to make sloppy joes....who doesn't love them???

    congrats on top 9!!!

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  24. I love this recipe! I have always loved sloppy joes, but my Mom made it really simple, basically just barbecue sauce, maybe it's time I tried something new.....

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  25. Made these this week. So good! Huge hit with the husband. Thank you!

    --Kim

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