Growing up I can remember when my mother would buy from the local grocer’s a can of “Manwich”—as it was and still is called and available today—and of which meant we were going to have sloppy joe’s— a messy ground beef sandwich in a delicious tomato-like or red sauce.
Well, it had been such a long time since my teenage days and the passing of my mom back in 2011, that I had this tasty meat sauce sandwich. At least, until I decided one day to start making my own about 3 years ago being an ‘organic health foodie’ careful about what I eat. Anyway, I still make my sauce as of this day, and I wanted to share my homemade sauce recipe which is equally as tasty if not better than the store brought.
I decided and now prefer to make many of my own sauces because at least I can control what’s in them. Then there are trusted sellers out there that are committed to making organic and wholesome products like Primal Kitchen that I do patronize. See with knowledge it becomes our responsibility to make wise choices as a lot of the foods on the market today are loaded with chemicals, additives and preservatives that are harmful to our bodies in the long run. Anyway, that’s maybe for another post.
So, back to my delicious Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce for both ground beef or ground turkey and served on regular or slider buns. My simple recipe is below, and the condiments to make it are probably in your kitchen. Of course, you can also order online from the website listed above or your local organic or Whole Foods Market.
Best Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce
Delicious homemade sloppy joe, sweet and savory red sauce, that compliments and pairs well with ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken.
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 2-1/2 heaping tbsp Dark Brown Sugar
- 1-1/2 cups Ketchup
- 3 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 3/4 cup Beef Broth
- 1/2 cup Onions, diced
- 1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper, diced
- 3 Garlic Clove, minced
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch Combine and stir into beef broth to make what's called a slurry.
- 1 tbsp Cilantro, chopped optional
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
For seasoning the meat
- 1 pd Ground Beef or Turkey
- 1 tbsp Dark Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Goya Adobo Spice Seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 12 Slider Buns
For the glaze
- 2 tbsp Melted Butter unsalted
- 2 tbsp Zero Sugar Honey by Wholesome Yum
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
For the topping the bun
- Sesame Seeds
- Black Poppy Seeds
- Dill pickles slices, optional
Instructions
Preparing the meat
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Heat up tablespoon of olive oil in a pan on medium high heat.
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Season ground beef with the spices above. Cook until browned.
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Next, add meat mixture to the sauce and continue cooking for an additional 15-20 minutes, allowing the sauce to slowly simmer and thicken.
For the homemade sauce
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Chop and dice all of the vegetables.
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In a medium pan on medium heat, add oil and cook onions, pepper and garlic till just tender. Then stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, and beef broth mixed with the cornstarch (to make a slurry). Cook for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the flavors to mell and blend together.
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Turn off stove and add in chopped cilantro (optional).
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Serve mixed with seasoned ground beef, turkey or chicken.
For the Sloppy Joe Sliders
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On a buttered dish, add cheese to bottom side of slider bun and then top with cooked meat sauce. Add another layer of cheese and place top half of slider bun over sandwich.
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Baste top of buns with glaze and sprinkle with sesame and black poppy seeds.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
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Using a toothpick, top with dill pickle slices if desired.
For the glaze
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Combine melted butter. honey, and garlic powder. Brush on top of buns before baking.
