Everybody loves Sloppy Joes, right? I mean, it's good, wholesome comfort food from our childhood. The problem is: who ever makes them from scratch? I mean, why do that when you can just as easily buy a can of Manwich, right?
Well, I say to hell with that!
Sloppy Joes are easy to make, even from scratch, and I guarantee this version will taste better than anything coming out of a can. Sure, it takes a little more effort, but trust me, it's totally worth it. Even better, it's not even pricey, and the whole thing takes about 45 minutes from start to eat. Don't believe me? Well, read on then.
THE INGREDIENTS!!!
1 to 1 1/4 lbs ground beef ($3.50)
1 medium onion, diced ($0.75)
1 red bell pepper, diced ($1.75)
2 tsp diced garlic, or 2-4 cloves (staple)
1 8oz can tomato sauce ($0.25)
1/2 cup ketchup (staple)
1/2 cup chili sauce (from a $1.50 bottle, see below!)
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (staple)
3 tbsp brown sugar (staple)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (staple)
1 tsp cumin (staple)
hot sauce, to taste (optional)
ground red pepper, to taste (optional)
salt and pepper, to taste (not optional)
Final price? $7.75
Ok, I admit, some of you may not keep some of the things I listed as "staples" on hand at all times like I do. So you can round up to $10-15 if you want. The Worcestershire sauce is probably the most expensive at about $3-4/bottle. Trust me though, it's worth it. And since all of these things will keep forever, you'll get plenty of meals out of each.
THE METHOD!!!
This couldn't be simpler. To begin, brown your beef in a skillet set over medium to med-high heat. When you can't see any more pink, drain off the fat.
Next, add your onion, garlic, and bell pepper, plus a good pinch of salt, and cook until the veggies begin to soften, about 5 minutes or so.
When that's done, add all your tomato sauce, ketchup, and chili sauce, and stir to combine. A quick aside: no, the chili sauce is not spicy. It's not Sriracha or anything like that. Essentially, it's a flavored ketchup, but it adds a nice spice-flavor to the mix. If you can't find it, just replace it with more ketchup.
Last, add the Worcestershire, sugar, vinegar, cumin, salt and pepper. If you're adding red pepper or hot sauce (woo, Frank's!), now would be the time to add that too.
Stir it all up, give it a few minutes for the flavors to meld, and voila! you're done. Serve on buns, or over rice or potatoes.
Like I said: super easy. And it all gets made in one skillet, so clean-up is a breeze too. So let's go over our acronym, shall we?
Fast: 45 minutes, from the time I stated pulling out veggies to the time I started piling food on the bun. Check.
Easy: Brown the meat. Add veggies. Add flavors. Done. Check.
Affordable: I'll give you that some of the staples may not be normal fare in everyone's kitchen, but they should be. Still, we're talking under $10 for about eight sandwiches worth of food. So I say check.
Super Tasty: Meaty. Savory. A touch of sweet. A touch of spice. The aromatic smell of fresh onion and pepper and garlic, combined with floral scent of tomatoes and earthy aroma of cumin. Trust me, your whole kitchen will smell delicious. Check.
The best part is: you can adjust the meal to suit your tastes. Don't like spices? Forget 'em! Want it a bit sweeter? Up the sugar by a tablespoon or two. Want to be adventurous? Go forth to your spice cabinet and have at it! I've seen methods calling for everything from chili powder to cloves to mustard. Besides, everyone should have their own favorite way to make Sloppy Joes. They're just that good.
Anyway, as always, thanks for reading. Go forth and eat well!
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