CLASSIC SLOPPY JOES

My family always loved this recipe for Sloppy Joes. My kids would get so excited knowing we were having Sloppy Joes for dinner. They thought it was so much fun to eat a sloppy hamburger type sandwich. My husband and I like hot sauce on top of ours. You can also make these into sliders, which is a little less messy to eat.

1 T avocado oil

1 ½ lbs lean ground beef

1 medium onion, finely diced
1 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional)

1 large clove garlic, pressed or minced
1 15-oz can tomato sauce

½ cup ketchup

Spices

2 T brown sugar

1 T chile powder

1 T red wine vinegar

1 T dry mustard

1 T Worcestershire sauce

1 t paprika

1 t sea salt

½ t black pepper

Hamburger or Kaiser buns, lightly buttered and toasted on a griddle.

Hot sauce

In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add oil and swirl around in the pan.

Add the ground beef and brown, while breaking it up with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes.  

Add onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño, continue cooking for another 5 minutes. 

Add garlic and cook another minute.

Mix spice ingredients together in a small bowl and add to skillet.

Reduced the heat and simmer 10 to 12 minutes.

Using an ice cream scoop, pile onto buns.

Serve with your favorite hot sauce and a green salad or you can top with coleslaw.

Serves 6