Homemade Sloppy Joes

When I think of sloppy joes, I think of golf.  Golf?!? you might ask?  Yes, golf.  When I was growing up my mom would often make sloppy joes for dinner on Sunday.  Of course, to my dad who is a huge golf fan, Sunday at dinner time meant the finale of that weekends golf tournament.  My mom, dad, sister and I would often spend Sunday dinner seated around the TV watching the end of the weekends golf tournament.  For some reason, although my mom is a good cook and made many different things for Sunday supper, sloppy joes just tend to stick out.  It's been many years since I've bought that iconic can of Manwich, but I've found many recipes for homemade manwich, which have been just as good, if not better!  This recipe might take a little longer to make than by using the can, but I don't mind.  This one is adapted from The Pioneer Woman and since I enjoy her so much, it has become one of my favorites and one I make most frequently.

Sloppy Joes
Makes: 5 Servings

1 Tbs Olive Oil
1 1/4 lb ground chicken
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
1 Tbs brown sugar
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp mustard powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbs tomato paste
1 tsp Worcester sauce
1 tsp Hot sauce
salt, to taste
fresh ground pepper, to taste
5 hamburger buns

Pour olive oil a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add ground chicken and cook, breaking apart, until it's no longer pink. Add the onion, green pepper and garlic. Saute until vegetables get soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the ketchup, water, brown sugar, chili powder, mustard powder and red pepper flakes. Stir to incorporate throughout chicken and veggie mixture.  Let simmer for 15 minutes.  Then add the tomato paste, worcester sauce and hot sauce.  Taste it and add salt and pepper as needed.  Put a good heaping on each hamburger bun and it's as easy as that!

 

xoxo Melissa