My poor daughter recently said to me, “Mom I keep reading all these books that talk about Sloppy Joes, and I’ve never had one before. Can you please make some so I can finally try it like everyone else??” Gosh, she is so deprived! Seriously though, if that’s her biggest problem this week I will gladly take it. Not to mention it was a “problem” easily solved with this recipe below. And just for the record both kids went back for seconds. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine did! :)
Sloppy Joes
Serves: 4 to 5
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 pound ground beef (grass-fed recommended)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- A couple dashes of pepper
- 1 15 ounce can plain tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon, we prefer fresh. (Optional: This was the "secret" ingredient that reminded me of the Sloppy Joes from my childhood, but I realize it's out of the ordinary so decide for yourself if you like this addition!)
- Toasted whole-wheat buns for serving (for sliders use small buns or dinner rolls!)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrot and cook until they begin to soften but not brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and garlic, and cook while breaking up the meat with a spatula. Season with the salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the meat has browned all the way through. Drain the excess fat and discard.
- Add the tomato sauce, honey, chili powder, vinegar, mustard, and cinnamon (if using) to the pan and simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm with whole-wheat buns and some yummy vegetables on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Sally |
I make this all the time. I usually use ground turkey (we have Better access to better turkey). I rarely have celery around but I usually add 2 or 3 carrots instead of 1 because we looove carrots.
Eliza |
These are fantastic! I am Paleo so i just put the “Joes” on top of a cooked sweet potato – yum!
jm |
My family LOVES these!!!
Judy |
I grew up eating lots of sloppy Joes because my father loved them. We always spread thin layer of yellow mustard on bottom half of bun, sloppy Joe mix, then a bit of slaw on top of sloppy Joe mixture.
IF eating with fork, we omitted top half of bun.
Kathleen |
We loved these! My kids had never had them either. 2 out of 3 liked it. I’ll take that ;)
Lori |
I made this tonight and it was really good. I served it with your macaroni casserole and it was a big hit. Actually, if you mix the sloppy jo into the mac n cheese, it’s really yummy! We call it ‘Sloppy Mac’. :)
Sarah Dickison |
Whole family ate dinner tonight…for once ! YaAY!