Recently, a reader, Shannon, suggested, “You oughta put some meat on Kitchen Scrapbook again.” Reflecting on it, I realized it had been a while since I featured a hearty meat dish. A quick check confirmed it – out of the last 27 posts, only Haystacks included meat, and even then, meat wasn’t the star of the show. So, here we are, diving into a satisfying meat-centered recipe: Sloppy Joes! While it might not be a massive steak, it definitely brings the beefy goodness.
It’s true, main courses aren’t always my focus. My passion truly lies in baking, creating desserts, decorating cakes, and generally playing with food in fun, creative ways. Main dishes, while essential, sometimes feel less inspiring compared to the joyful freedom of sweet treats. However, I understand the appeal of meat, especially for those who love grilling and smoking. While I happily remain on the “eating” side of that equation, I can certainly appreciate a good meaty main course.
This marks my first time sharing a Pioneer Woman recipe on this blog, although I’ve cooked many of them. Her cinnamon rolls are still on my must-try list – I’m particularly curious to see if using white sugar instead of brown sugar before rolling them up truly makes a difference. Perhaps a side-by-side comparison is in order, justifying the need for two cinnamon rolls, of course! But I digress… back to Pioneer Woman and Sloppy Joes. Sharing her recipe here might seem redundant since it’s already beautifully presented with her signature humor on her own site. It’s not about feeling competitive; Ree Drummond is in a league of her own! You can find the original recipe here: Pioneer Woman’s Sloppy Joes. But for your convenience, and in case you prefer to stay right here, I’m also posting it below.
For these photos, I actually resorted to my cell phone camera because my regular camera battery was out of juice! Also, I made a half batch, so the amount in the skillet might look smaller than expected. Thinking about it now, I should have made a full batch and frozen half for another easy meal!
Pioneer Woman’s Sloppy Joes Recipe
This recipe, adapted from the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, is incredibly easy to follow and results in the best sloppy joes you’ll ever taste. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, these sloppy joes are packed with flavor and are sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Worcestershire sauce, to taste
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- Tabasco sauce (optional; to taste)
- Salt; to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Kaiser rolls
- Butter
Instructions:
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Melt butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
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Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off most of the excess fat.
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Add diced onions, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables start to soften.
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Stir in ketchup, water, brown sugar, chili powder, and dry mustard. Combine well and bring to a simmer.
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Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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For a richer flavor, stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce (if using). Taste and adjust seasonings as needed to achieve your preferred flavor profile.
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While the sloppy joe mixture simmers, prepare the Kaiser rolls. Spread butter on the inside of each roll and toast them on a griddle or in a skillet until lightly browned. This step adds a wonderful texture and flavor to the final sloppy joe.
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Spoon the flavorful meat mixture generously over the toasted Kaiser rolls.
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For an extra touch of deliciousness, top each sloppy joe with a slice of provolone cheese and place them under the broiler for a minute or two until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
These Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joes are truly the best I’ve ever had! They are bursting with flavor. I personally toned down the chili powder a bit as I prefer my sloppy joes to be flavorful but not overly spicy. However, a little zing is definitely perfect. This recipe has officially become my go-to for sloppy joes, unless I stumble upon another one that can surpass it!
In other news, we’re planning to grill tonight. The grilling menu is still undecided, but I’m leaning towards featuring it in my next post, whatever it ends up being. Our meat options include burger, chicken breast, fish, and a 1.14-lb sirloin steak. And when I say “we’re grilling,” it’s often a very loose interpretation of “we.”
What are you grilling tonight? Feel free to use the term “you” loosely as well!
