Simply Classic Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe Sandwiches is a favorite meal at our house.  When I worked, and cooked less often, I would often stop at the local butcher and pick up some ground beef and a packet of Sloppy Joe mix.  My experience with the saucy, ground meat mixture before that was always the canned stuff, so a powdered mix that you add your own ingredients to was just about homemade in those days!  

Now, being a stay at home mom that cooks just about every meal we eat, I love to try new recipes as well as eliminate processed foods when possible.  In this case, just a few extra steps for much better quality and flavor is definitely worth it!  

In addition to ditching the powdered mix, I also swapped our usual ground beef with ground turkey, just like when I make Sloppy Joes with hidden veggies! .  Last week, there was a sale on ground turkey.  We bought a 3lb. pack and I'll be making a huge batch of Sloppy Joe's for tonight's dinner!  Whatever we don't eat tonight, will be frozen for future meals!  

Simply Classic Sloppy Joes
     adapted from Heinz

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/2 cup Vidalia onion, diced
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced 
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 lb. ground turkey 
• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 1 cup ketchup 
• 2 Tbs. brown sugar 
• 1 Tbs. Worcestershire Sauce

Directions: 

• Cook onion, pepper and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat until tender.  
• Add the ground turkey, chopping and stirring to combine.  Cook until browned. 
• Drain the grease. 
• Stir in the remaining ingredients. 
• Reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly thickened.  

This recipe was a hit!  So much so, that we've made two weeks in a row!  The first time, we served on leftover hot dog buns!  Hamburger buns, crusty rolls or even a baked potato would be great options as well!