I love sloppy joes. And when I found this recipe in Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine a couple of years ago I had to try it. It is now one of the yummy, simple, go-to meals that I fall back on from time to time. I'll also be honest and say that it wasn't too long ago that I would have been happy with the canned sloppy joe sauce you add to browned meat.....what can I say, I'm a simple girl. But this recipe is so much better than anything you'll find in a can and I'm sure it's a lot better for you, too.
Serves: 4
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced small (2 cups)
- 1 large celery stalk, diced small (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced small (1/2 cup)
- coarse salt and ground pepper
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 3 Tbsp dark brown sugar (you can add less if you don't want it as sweet....I don't always add 3Tbsp)
- 3Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups prepared tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef/chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth (I use the low-sodium chicken broth because I usually have it on hand. Also I usually add just a little broth at a time. If I don't have time to let it simmer long I don't add the whole cup. It cuts down on the sloppiness and Phil and I prefer our sloppy joes a bit thicker.)
- 2 tsp hot-pepper sauce--optional (I usually add a couple of dashes of Texas Pete)
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat
- Add onion, celery, bell pepper, season with salt and pepper then cook until vegetables soften, about 2 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute more
- Add beef, breaking up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned, about 2 minutes
- Add brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and stock/broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
- Add hot-pepper sauce (or Texas Pete) if desired and remove from heat.
- Generously spoon beef mixture over toasted buns & enjoy! Phil likes his sloppy joes with a slice of cheese. :)
