Sloppy Joes Five Ways

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Sloppy Joes Five Ways gives you the traditional Sloppy Joe plus four delicious variations…Southwest, Hawaiian, Moroccan and Asian.

Sloppy Joes Five Ways recipe

Sloppy Joes are a classic American loose meat sandwich featuring seasoned ground beef cooked in a tangy tomato-based sauce, served on a hamburger bun. They are known for their messy, flavorful filling and are popular for casual meals and gatherings.

Cooking Tips

  1. Choose the Right Meat: Ground beef is traditional, but you can also use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
  2. Cook the Meat Properly: Brown the ground meat thoroughly, breaking it apart with a silicon meat chopper or spatula. Drain excess fat if needed to prevent the filling from becoming too greasy.
  3. Use Flavorful Seasoning: Incorporate diced onions, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper while browning the meat for added flavor.
  4. Balance the Sauce: Typical sloppy Joe sauce includes ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of mustard or hot sauce. Adjust the sweetness and tang to your liking.
  5. Simmer for Depth: Let the mixture simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to meld flavors and thicken the sauce. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  6. Toast the Buns: Lightly toast the hamburger buns or sandwich rolls for added texture and to prevent sogginess.
  7. Add Toppings: Consider adding cheese, pickles, or sliced onions for extra flavor and crunch.
  8. Serve Hot: Sloppy Joes are best enjoyed warm, straight from the stove to the bun.

A SILICON MEAT CHOPPER is a MUST when preparing dishes like this.

 

 

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Sloppy Joes Five Ways

Sloppy Joes Five Ways recipe
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Sloppy Joes Five Ways gives you the traditional sloppy Joe plus four delicious variations…Southwest, Hawaiian, Moroccan and Asian.

Ingredients

Units Scale
Filling 1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion 1 cup finely chopped green, red or yellow bell pepper 1 (15 ounce) can no salt added or regular tomato sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 4 hamburger buns, split, warmed Toppings (optional) Dill pickle slices Cole slaw American or Cheddar cheese slices

Instructions

  1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef, onion and bell pepper; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally.
  2. Stir in tomato sauce, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, as desired.
  3. Divide beef mixture evenly onto rolls. Garnish with toppings, if desired.

Southwest Sloppy Joes

  1. Prepare recipe as directed above, substituting 2 cups salsa for tomato sauce and omitting Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Add 1/2 cup drained canned black beans and 1/2 cup frozen corn with ingredients in step 2.
  2. Serve in warmed taco shells. Garnish with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, shredded pepper-Jack cheese, chopped avocado, pickled or fresh jalapeño slices and chopped cilantro, if desired.

Hawaiian Sloppy Joes

  1. Prepare recipe as directed above, substituting 1/2 cup sweet barbecue sauce for tomato sauce and omitting Worcestershire sauce. Add 1 undrained (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice with ingredients in step 2.
  2. Serve in small sweet Hawaiian honey wheat dinners rolls. Garnish with dill or sweet pickle slices or pickled jalapeño slices, if desired.

Moroccan Sloppy Joes

  1. Prepare recipe as directed above, omitting Worcestershire sauce. Add 1/2 cup raisins, 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice and 1 teaspoon ground cumin with ingredients in step 2.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon nonfat Greek yogurt.
  3. Serve in naan or pita pocket breads. Garnish with cucumber slices, nonfat Greek yogurt and chopped pistachios, if desired.

Asian Sloppy Joes

  1. Prepare recipe as directed above, adding 1 tablespoon ground ginger with ingredients in step 1. Substitute 2 tablespoons hoisin for Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Serve in warm crusty rolls. Garnish with cucumber slices, shredded carrot and chopped cilantro or chopped green onion, if desired.

Notes

Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Cattlemens Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

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