Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

Buy

• 1 small onion , finely chopped
• 1/2 small green bell pepper , seeded and finely diced
• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 lb lean ground beef , 85%-90% lean
• 4 hamburger buns , toasted if desired

On Hand

• 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt , or to taste
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper , or to taste
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup water , optional, or added to desired consistency

Instructions

• Finely chop the onion . Seed and finely dice the green bell pepper .
• In a bowl, combine the worcestershire sauce, mustard , brown sugar , and tomato sauce .
• Place a large skillet or dutch oven over medium/high heat. Add olive oil and ground beef . Saute the beef for about 5 minutes until cooked through and no longer pink, breaking it up with a spatula. Season with salt and black pepper and add in the diced bell pepper and onion . Cook another 5 minutes until the veggies are tender and beef is browned.
• Add the minced garlic and saute 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add in the sauce and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 10-15 minutes or until thickened to your liking. Season to taste with salt and black pepper and add water if you prefer a looser consistency. Serve on toasted hamburger buns for Sloppy Joe Sandwiches.

Notes

• Refrigerating – Let the meat sauce cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
• Freezing – Once the mixture is cooled, add to freeze-friendly containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2-3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
• Reheating – A general rule of thumb is that it’s best to reheat a recipe the same way it was cooked. Warm the meat sauce on the stovetop in a skillet or saucepan until hot. You can microwave, but use a microwave shield to catch messy splatter.