When was the last time you had sloppy joes? Think long and hard about that one! For me I think it had been AT LEAST 15 years. To be honest, I haven’t really thought about sloppy joes that much over the years until I came across this recipe from Cook’s Illustrated. When I saw the recipe it made me realize that I NEEDED sloppy joes in my life.
The first time I had a sloppy joe was when I was 5 and my daycare was closed for renovation. I had to spend the summer at Hillcrest daycare and they had the best food! They really won me over with these sloppy joe concoctions they were like magic. (Side note: this also happened to be the summer where I learned that “the carpet matches the drapes” if you know what I mean… but I digress). After that I made my mom make me sloppy joes (much to her disdain). I don’t know about you but my memories of sloppy joes always involves a can of Manwich it is never made from scratch. In fact, it didn’t occur to me that one would make sloppy joes from scratch.
The recipe is super easy. You basically sautee some onions and garlic, throw in some meat and spices and then add the tomato puree and let it simmer. It’s just that easy.
I served these on the trashiest white hamburger buns I could find. I didn’t want a sturdy bun. I wanted the melt in your mouth goodness of Wonder Bread or something.
These sloppy joes were AMAZING. As in, I kind of want to make them every week. Even my mom loved them and she’s never been a fan of sloppy joes.
Oh, you can make them with ground turkey but really, why would you want to??
SLOPPY JOES
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 1 medium clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 3/4 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup water
• Dash hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco (optional)
• 4 hamburger buns
1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onion and saute, stirring often, until softened and browned around the edges, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and chili powder and saute until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add the beef, salt, ground black pepper, and brown sugar and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, using a wooden spoon to help break the meat into small pieces, until the meat is no longer pink, about 3 minutes.
2. Add the tomato puree, ketchup, water, and Tabasco (if using). Cook until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon 1/2 cup of the meat mixture into each hamburger bun and serve immediately.
sandwiches
(From Cook’s Illustrated)
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I’ve gotta say, that is the prettiest sloppy joe I’ve ever seen!
that looks great! Thanks for posting. I like the brown sugar, wouldn’t have thought of that.
I think I’m going to add alphabet soup instead of water, just for nostalgia