Classic Sloppy Joes

I'm going to tell you something that might surprise you - I've never eaten sloppy joes out of a can.  I know, I know - it seems un-American, but it's true.  My mom wasn't a serve "dinner out of a can" kind of cook so in my defense - I never even knew that such a thing existed until I married a manwich fan.  My husband did his best to try and sell me on the ketchup based meat product but after growing up eating my mom's homemade sloppy joe, nothing about meat in a can sounded appealing.  Despite his best efforts, my meat loving husband never managed to convince me to sample the canned sloppy joe that he so adored.  Instead, I made it my mission to convert HIM to a homemade sloppy joe fan.

I started with the simplest of ingredients and sautéed and simmered for the better part of an afternoon before offering him my delicious tomato based ground beef on a bun.  Unfortunately, he was underwhelmed by my attempt at homemade sloppy joe.  Being a girl who thrives on disbelief, I took that as a challenge.  I was more determined than ever to create a recipe that would convert a canned sloppy joe consumer to a homemade sloppy joe lover.  

So I'm counting on this America's Test Kitchen recipe to be the life changing sloppy joe recipe that turns my husband away from canned sloppy joe FOR GOOD.  The sweet and savory combination with a dash of spicy red pepper is really hard to beat.  

Classic Sloppy Joes
2 Tablespoons water
​1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound 85% lean ground beef
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/3 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire 
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
4 hamburger buns

Combine 1 T. water, salt and baking soda.  Add beef and toss to coat.  

Cook onion and 1/8 t. baking soda in skillet over medium heat 3-4 minutes.  

Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.  Stir in sugar, paprika, red pepper and 1/8 t. salt.

Add tomato paste cook 3-4 minutes. 

Add beef and cook until no longer pink. 

Stir in ketchup, vinegar and Worcestershire.  

Combine cornstarch and 1 T. water.  Pour over beef mixture and stir to incorporate. 

Cook 1 minute until sauce thickens.  Season with extra sugar, salt and vinegar to taste. 

Spoon mixture into buns and serve. 

The verdict is in - my manwich loving husband is a fan of these homemade sloppy joes!  Success! 

Ciao!

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