Anyone do a mean sloppy joe?

[curious aardvark]

pretty sure I've never had a sloppy joe.

I was under the impression it was a hotdog with chili on top.

Is this not the case then ??

[Bearcarver]

Very interesting Recipes---I gotta try some.

All Mrs Bear ever does is mix our Venison/Beef/Pork Burger with "Manwhich Sloppy Joe Mix". We love it, but I'm sure some of your recipes would surpass it.
Great Thread !!

Bear

[shellbellc]

So I've gone through different sloppy joe phases, growing up with my moms it was just ground beef added to a combination of ketchup (has to be Heinz), brown sugar, squirt of mustard, salt and pepper. That's it, nothing fancy, more on the sweet side of things. As I moved out of the house I was introduced to other types of homemade joes and even Manwhich from a can and the extra chunky manwhich from a jar. When I started making things for the VFW I did a combo of the original plain mom stuff with some green pepper and onion added. My problem is that the veggies have to be very soft for my liking because certain things I don't want the crunch. Now I'm back to doing just plain ketchup and brown sugar version. Everyone loves it so something is going good with it! (And it's great on potato chips!). I would say for that many people and it just sitting around in a chafer, I'd make it on the saucier side to allow for evap and drying out.

(and for the home version we'll lay a layer of Pillsbury cresent roll in a pan, lay sloppy joe on top, then a layer of cheese, then topping of another layer of cresent rolls and bake until brown)

[bwerth42]

pretty sure I've never had a sloppy joe.

I was under the impression it was a hotdog with chili on top.

Is this not the case then ??

I've always known that as a chili dog. The sloppy joes I grew up with were ground beef mixed with a purchased can of something, probably the Manwich stuff someone already mentioned, and served on a hamburger bun. I don't really know how mom made them, but we always looked forward to them as kids.

[bwerth42]

Thanks again for all the recipes, everyone. I haven't thought about sloppy joes in years but when I did I knew this was the place to ask about it.

[gracoman]

Sloppy Joe's for a crowd - Makes about 50 sloppy Joe's

10 lb. ground beef

Dry Ingredients:
2 tbsp chili powder
3 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp crushed red pepper
1 tbsp kosher salt
5 tbsp granulated garlic

Fresh Ingredients:
5 stalks of celery diced
2 green peppers diced
4 onions diced

Sauce Base:
1 cup catsup
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
2 - 6oz cans tomato paste
1/2 cup yellow mustard
1/4 cup spicy mustard
1/4 cup Worcestershire
1 can beef broth (start with 1/2 can, reserve the remainder and add later if needed)

Place raw ground beef in an oven roasting pan(s) and sprinkle all dry ingredients on top (do not mix in) and roast in a 375° oven for about 1/2 hour. Note: the beef will not be completely cooked through, but will finish during the main cook.

Saute celery, green peppers and onions in Nesco roaster or large stew pot. Combine all the sauce base ingredients in a large bowl and blend.

Add the browned beef and some of the pan drippings to the roaster with the sautéed veggies. Add the sauce base. Mix well, breaking up the beef as needed, and cook at 275° for a couple of hours. Add the reserved beef broth if needed for the consistency you are after.

Here is the logic behind roasting the ground beef with the spices on top: The heat wakes up the spice flavors and the fats from the meats allow those flavors to melt into the meat. After the 1/2 hour the meat is not fully cooked, that happens in the roaster, but it's a good method for getting flavor, because the spices form a crust, you just don't get the same flavor as when they are dumped into meat and stirred around.

[bwerth42]

Thanks gracoman, that's exactly what I was looking for.

[gracoman]

Thanks gracoman, that's exactly what I was looking for.

You're entirely welcome bwerth. I wish I could take credit for this wonderful recipe, but it comes from a friend who describes himself this way: "Well, I'm a third generation backyard barbecuist, a food blogger, a regular member of several barbecue forums, and a Certified BBQ Judge."
You will love the end product.

Be careful of the "serve yourself" part. Folks, on their own, tend to take a bit to much. Especially kids. Some will be wasted and it increases the probability you will run out. Just keep this in mind when figuring how much you prepare.

[bwerth42]

Will do! I appreciate the advice. I know the hostess is planning on several additional sides so there will be plenty, I think.

[sweet_magnolia]

I have only made sloppy joes one time. Recipe was a lot like ChefRob's....but I threw in some crushed red pepper.

(and for the home version we'll lay a layer of Pillsbury cresent roll in a pan, lay sloppy joe on top, then a layer of cheese, then topping of another layer of cresent rolls and bake until brown)

That is going on my Dutch Oven to do list!

[Ozric]

Here's the "history" of Sloppy Joes.