School Food That Is Kinda Like Sloppy Joe

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Sloppy joes are meaty, saucy and fun!

This recipe has the flavor a pepperoni pizza which makes it fun and extra delicious!

We are now into our first full week of school! We are back into the swing of activities, homework and packing lunches. My kids prefer to pack their own lunches whereas when I was a kid, I thought buying the school lunch was a huge treat!

One of the best days to buy lunch was on sloppy Joe day! It was soooo good! It was saucy, salty, and messy, just how I liked it!

I was feeling very nostalgic when the kids started school. It had me craving those old sloppy Joes! My version is a little different, it takes what I love about sloppy Joes and combines it with what I love about pizza!

What Are Sloppy Joes?

Sloppy Joes are usually made with ground beef, onions, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoning simmered together and served on a hamburger bun, These sandwiches were especially popular for those of us who grew up in the '70s, but homemade sloppy Joes are still bringing some fun to the dinner table!

How Were Sloppy Joes Invented?

Legend it has it that a cook named Joe working in a cafe in Iowa decided to add tomato sauce to the loose meat sandwich that was normally found on the menu. It was a success and now "Joe" is famous!

How To Make Pizza Sloppy Joe

Aside from the taste, the best thing about this recipe is how quick and easy it is to prepare! This one-pot meal is made within 30 minutes.

This recipe starts by browning ground beef in a large skillet. I love using ground beef because it is so versatile. From American Goulash, to BBQ Walking Tacos ground beef is a family favorite.

When purchasing ground beef, be sure to select ground beef with a bright, red color that is firm to the touch and doesn't have excess liquid in the package.

Store ground beef in your refrigerator for 1-2 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Ground beef is a go-to when feeding a hungry family in a hurry, but remember not to over-mix it when preparing to cook. Over-mixing ground beef will result in burgers, meatballs or meatloaves that are too firm and compact.

For sloppy Joes, season the beef with minced garlic and pizza seasonings like dried basil, oregano, and salt. Stir in diced pepperoni slices.

For a little color and texture, I added in finely diced yellow pepper. But you can almost any of your favorite pizza veggies like green bell peppers, onions, mushrooms or olives.

To deepen the flavor of the beef mixture, I stirred in a little balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce along with tomato sauce and ketchup. Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for about 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

Place your sloppy Joe meat on the bottom of toasted hamburger buns and top with provolone slices. Broiler the sloppy Joes just until the cheese has melted. Top with remaining bun halves and serve!

Can Sloppy Joes Be Frozen?

Sloppy Joe filling can be frozen. Once the filling has cooked until thick, allow to it cool. Place the filling in a zip-top bag, remove the air and seal. Place the bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, allow the meat mixture to thaw then pour the contents into a large saucepan.

Beef Facts and Tips

• A 3-ounce serving of beef (about the size of an iPhone) provides more than 10 essential nutrients and 25 grams of protein for less than 200 calories.
• In a 3-ounce serving of beef, students will get nutrients they may be lacking in – like protein, iron and zinc – which aid in brain development and cognition and support a healthy immune system.
• Protein helps keep kids focused during the school day, and the B vitamins in beef provide students with energy to perform at their best.
• Beef is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is one of the most satisfying nutrients. Eating a protein-rich diet will help students feel full all day and prevent overeating during meals.
• For student-athletes and active kids, there is no better choice than beef. The protein in beef helps build muscle and provides enough energy to support kids on-the-go.
• There are 17,000 beef farming families in Ohio, who are committed to providing excellent care for their animals, protecting the environment for future generations and producing safe, healthy beef. Meet Ohio beef farmers who may live near you at www.OhioBeef.org.
• The Ohio beef community includes more than just farmers! Small business owners, community leaders, animal caretakers, nutritionists, and environmentalists are all dedicated to producing safe, wholesome, nutritious beef.
• Although many believe that industrial farming has taken the place of family farms and ranches, 97 percent of beef farms are family-owned and operated.

More Beef Recipes

Chili With Beef and Bulgur

Chili Dogs

Taco Hand Pies

Carne Asada Fries

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped sliced pepperoni
• 1/2 cup diced yellow pepper
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 4 slices of provolone cheese
• 4 hamburger buns

Instructions

1. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray skillet with non-stick spray and add ground beef.
2. Crumble the beef and cook until no longer pink.
3. Add garlic, basil, oregano, and salt.
4. Stir in chopped pepperoni and peppers. Cook until the peppers begin to soften.
5. Stir in the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, and ketchup.
6. Reduce heat and simmer the meat mixture until it begins to thicken.
7. Toast the bottoms of 4 hamburger buns. PIle the meat mixture on the 4 toasted bottoms. Top each with a slice of cheese and broil until the cheese is bubbly; top with remaining but halves and serve.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 711 Total Fat 39g Saturated Fat 17g Trans Fat 1g Unsaturated Fat 18g Cholesterol 154mg Sodium 1984mg Carbohydrates 36g Fiber 2g Sugar 11g Protein 52g

School Food That Is Kinda Like Sloppy Joe

Source: https://www.lemonsforlulu.com/pizza-sloppy-joe/

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