Easy Sloppy Joe recipe by Chef Pharrell

Easy Sloppy Joe recipe by Chef Pharrell

Easy sloppy joe recipe is the perfect activity to get kids involved with your Memorial Day plans. 

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

Category: Kid friendly/ family favorites/Easy recipes/ Ground beef recipes/

Yield: 6 servings

Preparation time: 45  minutes

Total time: 5 hours

Source: Artful Chefs/ Chef Pharrell

This easy sloppy joes recipe will become one of your family favorites. And you can feel good about serving it because you can select all organic ingredients. Substitute ground turkey if you prefer to use that instead of ground beef.  Prepare the whole recipe the day before with your kids.  Simmer it in your slow cooker for 4 hours on low heat if you want a no fuss Memorial Day  recipe.

Ingredients:

Sauce:

1.25 cup sweet onion, minced

2 teaspoons garlic

1 tablespoon safflower oil

28 ounces crushed tomato

1/4 cup water, divided

1/3 cup honey

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon mustard powder

1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

Ground meat mixture:

2 pounds’ lean ground beef or lean ground turkey

1 large sweet onion – chopped

3 large garlic clove – minced

1 cup  red bell pepper – chopped

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar – packed

3 tablespoons  prepared mustard

3 tablespoons  cider vinegar

2 tablespoons  mild chili powder

Garnish Ingredients:

6 hamburger buns – toasted

1 cup  shredded cheese – optional topping

1/2 cup chopped red onion

Directions for easy sloppy joes:

Make the  sauce first:

Five hours ahead or the night before make the sauce. In a large non-reactive saucepan, caramelize the onion over medium heat, it takes about 10 minutes, be patient. Stir the onion often and after they finish sweating, stir constantly to prevent scorching. After they are browned, add the garlic and stir for one minute.  Pour the tomato immediately in the pot and stir, to prevent the garlic from burning. Add all the remaining sauce ingredients, turn the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.

After the sauce flavors have melded, it is time to make the meat mixture.

For the meat mixture:

Cook onion until softened in a large stainless skillet. Add the garlic and tomato paste, cook for an additional minute. Add the ground meat, beef or turkey and break up the pieces in the pan as it is cooking with a spoon or spatula. Cook the meat until it is brown, drain off the fat carefully. Using a strainer works the best for this. Add the remaining ingredients, including the sauce.

Transfer the mixture to a Dutch oven or a large pot with a heavy bottom. Simmer on the stove for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

To serve, toast the buns, spoon the sloppy joe mixture on top of the bun and top with cheddar cheese or onions if desired.

Enjoy.

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