Growing up, I was not a beef eater; however, when married to a man who grew up on a beef and dairy farm (and who enjoys eating his fair share of beef-based meals), one learns to cook things like steaks, pot roast, and sloppy joes (oh, my!). Below is a sloppy joe recipe (arrived at by combining several different recipes over the years) that Kyle would happily eat at least once a month either as-is or on a hot dog. It makes a fairly large amount but it freezes and re-heats well, so it is perfect for making and then stashing away any leftovers for those busy weeks we all have.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 c ketchup
- 3/4 c water
- 2 tbsp light-brown sugar
- 1 1/2 to 2 tsp chili powder
- 3/4 tsp dry mustard
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- several dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat (~12 minutes); if needed, drain and discard most of the fat.
- Add the onion, green pepper, and garlic; cooking until vegetables become tender (~5 minutes).
- Add all remaining ingredients, stir to combine well, and then reduce heat to simmer for about 15-18 minutes. Add any extra seasonings as needed, serve on a toasted bun, and enjoy!