WHY ARE THEY CALLED SLOPPY JOES?
The Sloppy Joe has been around since the 1950s. It came about as a variation on what used to be referred to as loose meat sandwiches. Legend has it that Joe, a cook at Floyd Angell’s cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce to a loose meat sandwich, and that was the start of what we now call the Sloppy Joe. Thanks, Joe! I appreciate your creativity, and so does my family!!
HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOE INGREDIENTS
Ground beef – use ground beef with a bit of fat in it for flavor.
Vegetables – onion, green bell pepper, and garlic
Apple Cider Vinegar – for a bit of tanginess
Condiments – mustard, barbecue sauce, and ketchup
Worcestershire Sauce
Brown sugar – light or dark brown
Seasonings – chili powder and black pepper
Hamburger Buns -or brioche buns
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOES
Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook until the veggies are soft and the ground beef is no longer pink. Next, carefully drain any excess fat. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Now stir in the apple cider vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, spicy barbecue sauce, ketchup, chili powder, and water. Simmer the meat mixture for about 20 minutes over low heat. Serve over any soft roll or, for a change of pace, serve over cooked rice, egg noodles, or homemade pizza dough for sloppy joe pizza.
HOW TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES IN A CROCK POT
Over medium heat, in a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain any excess grease. Add the onion and pepper and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Drain any excess grease and add it and the other ingredients to the crock pot. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
RECIPE TIPS
Use ground beef with a bit of fat in it. The fat is what flavors the meat and makes it juicy and tasty. Drain the excess fat after browning the ground beef and cooking the veggies.
Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork can be substituted for the ground beef.
Use a spicy barbecue sauce with limited sugar. I like Stubbs Barbecue Sauce.
If the mixture seems to be a little drier than you like, add a little more water, barbecue sauce, or ketchup.
Spoon over brioche bun, freshly baked hamburger buns, rice, or pasta.
Add a couple of pinches of red pepper flakes, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne, or a teaspoon of hot sauce to spice up the taste.
