“Sloppy Joe” Meat Sauce

Here’s an easy one-pot dish that is flavorful and also full of vegetables!  I remember when my mom used to make the canned sauce version of “Sloppy Joe” burgers when I was little – messy sandwiches that required a handful of napkins.  I like the nostalgia associated with this dish, but have made it a bit healthier with lots more veggies and a homemade sauce base.  This recipe is easily doubled to feed a crowd.  Based on a recipe found over at thekitchn.com (slightly modified by me).

Makes about 3-4 servings with pasta.

You will need:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, grated or finely chopped
• 4 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 package white/button mushrooms (~8 oz), cleaned and chopped
• 8 oz. can of tomato sauce (Not tomatoes, not pasta sauce, not pizza sauce, not tomato paste. Plain tomato SAUCE.)
• 2 t sugar
• 1/2 t salt, or to taste
• 2 T apple cider vinegar
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce (No substitutes! This is key.)
• Hamburger buns or 8 oz. cooked pasta (1/2 a box) – optional

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the beef and break it up into smaller pieces.  Once cooked through and browned, turn off the burner and tilt the pan to one side.  Use a spoon to carefully remove all but about 1 T of rendered oil.
• Turn the burner back on to medium-high and add the onions and garlic.  Cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes with stirring.  Add in the rest of the veggies and continue to cook until they are soft.
• Stir in the rest of the ingredients, cover the pan and simmer for about 30 minutes to allow flavors to combine.  Continue simmering without the lid for 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened/reduced.  Taste and season if needed.
• Serve on hamburger buns for a traditional “sloppy joe” sandwich, or toss in your favorite cooked pasta to use as a hearty pasta sauce (I suggest macaroni elbows or rotini, so the curves in the pasta will catch all the yummy bits in the sauce).

* Extra sauce freezes well for future use!