I call them Sloppy Joes. But you might call them Sloppy Janes, Barbecue, Dynamites, Steamers, Wimpies or Yum Yums. Whatever you call them, I know that you’ve had them. I think it would be hard to find a family reunion, concession stand, church mixer or fundraiser that doesn’t have them.
Sloppy Joes are omnipresent because they’re easy to make. And, they are affordable. Which makes them the perfect food to feed a hungry crowd.
Every year, on Thanksgiving Eve, our family hosts an Oyster Night. They eat oysters every which way. Raw, fried, broiled. I say “they” because, believe it or not, I still don’t enjoy oysters. I admit, it’s hard for me to get past the appearance. I can’t imagine anything that looks that slimy would actually taste good. So, for the non-oyster eating crowd, I always make another main dish. This year, you guessed it, it’s sloppy joes.
We have approximately 25 guests coming this year. And, there’s lots of other food to eat, besides oysters. Delicious things like artichoke dip and strawberry pretzel salad. So, not everyone will be eating sloppy joes. After a little bit of research, I decided I would make 4 lbs. of sloppy joes. This is estimating 6 sandwiches per pound of meat. I use Martin’s Sliced Potato Rolls, the 12 pack size which is a bit on the smaller side. And, for the record, I can’t imagine why anyone would eat a sloppy Joe on any roll other than a Martin’s Potato Roll!
My recipe, although I am sure every family has one, is simple. 4 ingredients. Ground Beef. Ketchup, Brown Sugar and Vinegar. I like a little tang with my sweet.
Oh, and before I forget, Happy Thanksgiving!
Sloppy Joes
4 lbs. ground beef (you can buy regular ground beef at Johnnies and browned ground beef)
3 cups Ketchup
2/3 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Vinegar
12 pack of Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls, Sliced
Brown ground beef. Drain.
Return to a large pot or crock pot. Add ketchup, brown sugar and vinegar. Allow to simmer on low, stirring occasionally, for 30-45 minutes. Sometimes I will allow the mix to simmer on low for several hours. I think the flavor gets better the longer you cook.
Serve warm on Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls. (always available at Johnnies)
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