March 18 is National Sloppy Joe Day!
National Sloppy Joe Day, celebrated every year on March 18, is a holiday that is dedicated to the greatest sandwich of all time, the sloppy Joe. The sandwich has been around for approximately 95 years now, playing a key role in fast-food restaurants and kitchen tables.
The day aims to explore the wholesomeness of an extraordinary sandwich that has transformed the way people look at sandwiches. The sloppy Joe has garnered global appeal with its base recipe featuring onions, ground beef, and tomato sauce, and depending on what part of the world you are in, delicious varieties are made available from infusing other local ingredients.
Check out this recipe…
The VERY BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe
The VERY BEST Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe is not only delicious, but it’s quick and easy to make using REAL ingredients instead of a store-bought can of sauce. Hundreds of rave reviews agree!
Servings4 sandwiches
Calories258kcal
Equipment
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Large Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef (OR turkey)
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 to 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Hamburger buns
- Sliced pickles
Instructions
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Make the sauce in a 2-cup glass measuring cup (or a medium bowl). Stir together the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined; set aside.
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Set a large pot over medium-low heat. Add a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil, and saute the garlic for a minute or two until just fragrant and very light golden brown. Add ground beef, increase heat to medium/medium high, and cook until nicely browned with no pink remaining, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks. Drain the grease.
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Pour the sauce over the browned meat, stir to combine, and simmer for at least 10 minutes until heated through, stirring occasionally.
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Serve warm on hamburger buns or rolls with sliced pickles on top.
Notes
- This Sloppy Joe sauce is intended to be slightly sweet, but it’s really a matter of taste. If you prefer a more savory sauce, feel free to use less brown sugar. Additionally, you may use unrefined sugar or even a squeeze of honey in place of the brown sugar, if you wish.
- If you like your Sloppy Joe meat with onions and peppers, you may dice up half an onion and half a bell pepper and cook them in a tablespoon of olive oil until softened (about 5 to 10 minutes) before browning the beef. Remove the onions and peppers from the pot and proceed with the recipe as directed, cooking the meat and then stirring the onions/peppers back in at the same time you add the sauce.
- The simmering time is up to you. If you’re in a hurry, 10 minutes is all you need. However, if you have more time, simmering for 30 to 45 minutes (or longer) will really allow the flavors of the sauce to develop and meld. Just remember to stir occasionally to prevent sticking/burning and add a splash of water if the sauce starts to get overly thick.
Nutrition
Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 742mg | Potassium: 714mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 3.7mg
