This easy sloppy joe recipe makes enough to feed a family of four. Twice. Most of the ingredients are organic from Harris Teeter and their HT Organics brand, and you can certainly make them all organic by purchasing organic beef and steak sauce.
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
2poundsground beef80/20 preferred
1cupketchup
2-3Tablespoonshoneydepending on how sweet you like things
2Tablespoonsred wine vinegar
2Tablespoonsfreshly squeezed lemon juice
2TablespoonsA-1 Steak Sauce
1Tablespoonyellow mustard
To Serve
8sandwich buns of your choice
Instructions
Heat a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the oil and heat for a few seconds.
Add the onion along with a heavy pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are translucent.
Add the garlic and red bell pepper and cook for another 5 minutes.
Make a space in the center of your pan and add the 2 pounds of ground beef, breaking it up well with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook until the beef shows no remaining pink, stirring the vegetables back in as you cook. This step will take about 7 minutes.
Move the meat and vegetables to one side of the pan and tilt the pan so the fat gathers in the "empty" side. Spoon off as much of the fat as you would like. Leave at least a couple of tablespoons behind, but you can leave more if you choose.
Spread the meat back out in the pan and add the ketchup, honey, vinegar, lemon juice, A-1, and yellow mustard.
Stir together and simmer for 5-10 minutes to marry the flavors. Taste and adjust seasonings.
To Serve
Add a heaping 1/3 cup of the sloppy joe mixture to each of 8 buns, and serve with sides of your choice. Save extra sloppy joe mixture in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Storing
Store the sloppy joe mix in a tight-fitting container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat to a temperature of 165F before eating.
To Freeze Sandwiches
Prepare your sandwiches by putting your desired amount of meat mixture on buns. Wrap each sandwich individually in a square of aluminum foil and freeze on a tray. Once frozen, store the sandwiches in a heavy-duty freezer bag and remove as needed. Thaw and reheat in the microwave until at least 165F.