We like em’ extra sloppy! The Sloppy Joe is a classic, dating back to the 1950’s and in some areas is referred to as loose meat.
Traditionally, this recipe calls for ground meat, diced peppers and onions, ketchup and beer (or water). So, when it comes to Joes, if you’re looking for the classic taste, you better stick to that ketchup base. Our tip for keeping your Joe on the healthier side, stick to whole wheat buns, lean ground beef or turkey and create the ‘ketchup’ from scratch. By making the ketchup yourself, which is simply, tomatoes, vinegar and sugar, you control how much sugar you use as well as eliminate any added ingredients that may be present in some brands.
What You’ll Need:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 green pepper
1 onion
1 tablespoon mesquite seasoning (I used trader joes, African Smoke)
2 tbsp coconut sugar
1/2 cup concentrated crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Start by chopping your onion and green pepper and tossing them into your skillet with a dab of olive oil over medium high heat. Add your ground beef and brown, which takes roughly ten minutes.
Once your meat is cooked, drain any grease and add the sugar and mesquite seasoning. Stir.
Now, add the rest of your ingredients and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer.
Simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened and enjoy!
Be sure to pair this with lots of veggies for a well rounded meal!
