This was such a fun episode to film because it reminded me of my childhood. I didn’t eat Sloppy Joe’s at home when I was growing up. My mom mostly served us traditional Greek food! However, I did eat these at friend’s houses and at school sometimes. I know they are still popular because my kids like them and I hear they still serve them at school!
The key to a good Sloppy Joe recipe is to make it just the right balance of spicy and sweet. Kids don’t want it to be anything fancy at all. It should simply be easy, good seasoned beef served on a soft roll that absorbs the sauce. In our house I’ll pile these high on a plate to serve before the Big Game or when there is a crowd of people coming over. It’s pretty easy to get these on the table quickly if you have all of the ingredients ready.
Since Sloppy Joe’s are casual fare, I think it’s best to keep the side dishes casual, too. This means things like slaw, potato chips or French Fries, and a really good selection of soda.
If you are in a rush, you can easily make the sloppy joe filling in advance and keep refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it. Simply reheat it on the stovetop and it’s ready to be served.
No matter how you make it, have fun. Make sure to add the cheese at the end so it melts into the beef. Enjoy the taste of nostalgia if you want, or just get a kick out of seeing your kids eating something you loved at their age, too.
Sloppy Joe
I didn’t eat these growing up, but my kids love them. What can I say – it’s a classic! This is how we make them in our house. Hope you enjoy them!
Made 6 sandwiches
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
¼ cup chopped green pepper
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 pound ground beef
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp brown sugar
¾ cup ketchup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp yellow mustard
Rolls to make sandwiches
Shredded cheddar cheese
1. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, green pepper, salt, and pepper and cook for about 10 minutes until softened.
2. Add the beef to the skillet and cook it well, breaking it up into small pieces.
3. Add the garlic powder and brown sugar, stir well.
4. Stir in the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard and stir until well incorporated.
5. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture into the rolls and top with cheddar cheese. Serve hot!
Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT.. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekascollective.com or call 203.658.8659.