A Perfect Classic

If you were a child of the 80s, you may have fond memories of Sloppy Joe sandwiches. You might have had them at the school cafeteria. You may even be familiar with the ode to Sloppy Joes and lunch ladies made famous by Adam Sandler. If not, Google it. The song may forever be stuck in your brain, as it is in mine. Sloppy Joes, Sloppy, Sloppy Joes….

Anyway, the origins of the tomato sauce-based minced meat sandwiches can be disputed, but many of us grew up with the Manwich version. A can of Manwich sauce could elevate a pound of ground beef and make a fast and satisfying weeknight meal to feed the family.

It is still something I occasionally crave. But now I have a new favorite way to make Sloppy Joes from scratch, thanks to a recipe from www.heatherlikesfood.com. She puts an amazing twist on the classic that needs absolutely no tinkering because it is already perfection. It is so much better than Manwich.

I have made this recipe quite a few times and it is now the ONLY way I make Sloppy Joes. You need a pound of ground beef and a few staples from your fridge and pantry along with the secret ingredient – a can of diced green chilis.

Start by browning a pound of ground beef with a finely diced onion. Once it is all browned, pour the meat out onto a platter lined with paper towels. This step is genius, as it is an efficient way to drain the fat off the meat. Allow the meat to sit a bit, while you mix your sauce ingredients in the same pan you browned the meat. Add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, chili pepper, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, diced green chili peppers and a dash of salt. Stir it all together and add the meat and onions.

The best flavor comes from a nice and slow simmer – the longer the better. I like to simmer it for at least 20 minutes to a half an hour. While it is simmering, you can gather any toppings that you like, and prep the buns. I like to butter nice golden brioche buns and toast them lightly in a pan on the stove top. You could also broil them a bit to make them toasty.

I like mine simple, just delicious Sloppy Joe meat on a buttery bun. But some of my family likes it with cheese on top. This week, my youngest daughter added mac and cheese to her Sloppy Joe and honestly, it was amazing.

However you want to top them, I am sure you will love this Sloppy Joe recipe. If you desire to make them in a slow cooker or an instant pot, Heather tells you how to do that, too. I am sure the flavor is just as wonderful however you make them.

Give them a try and let me know how you top yours.

https://heatherlikesfood.com/the-best-sloppy-joes/