Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are so much more than the sweet and messy lunch lady sandwich from the cafeteria. I have no guilt about this simple and easy to make weeknight dinner. My parents didn’t make this as far as I remember. I only remember thinking of the dish with a certain disdain although I have no idea why. It just wasn’t something in our normal rotation. But, when Mike started making his grandmother’s scratch recipe for me I knew I had been missing out.
This recipe is quick and has minimal ingredients, perfect for a busy weeknight. We like to serve them open face on onion buns or hamburger buns, but that’s not make or break. The most important detail is the Heinz Chili Sauce. I keep a bottle on hand at all times and stock up when it goes on sale. I’m sure the other brands are great, but, in our house, they are not allowed in this recipe. I’m usually an advocate of trying new things and improvisational cooking but the standards are classic for a reason and this recipe is not one with which I get creative. We have bumped up some of the ingredients over time to spice things up a bit but it remains mostly original.
Mike’s mom made a family recipe cookbook for him when he was a bachelor. Aside from hoping to keep him well fed on a budget, it was a great way to pass along memories of time spent with his grandmother. This, as with many of his family recipes, is inexpensive, fast, and makes plenty. We like to serve it up with some green beans or frozen vegetable medley. This is a lifesaver for a night when no one wants to cook and the budget is on the slim side. But, most of my favorites are…..
Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 4oz can Green Chilies, diced
- 1 Bottle Heinz Chili Sauce
- ½ bottle water
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 cap Lemon Juice or juice squeezed from 1/2 lemon
- 2 tbsp Worchestershire Sauce
- ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flake
- Toasted onion buns or hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat. Drain fat and add onions. Cook until onions are softened and add garlic, cooking until just fragrant.
- Add Chili Sauce then fill the Chili Sauce bottle half full of water, add to pan. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10-15 minutes until thickened.
- Toast buns on a stovetop griddle or under the broiler. Serve and enjoy!
