Easy Sloppy Joe for Now or Later

You've got a crowd of hungry kids to feed and it's now late. What can you cook quickly to satisfy the hangry mob? Sloppy Joes! It's a crowd pleaser and super easy. The best part? You can hide some extra veggies in the sauce and the picky eater won't even notice! You can make it ahead and keep it warm in the crock pot or make a huge batch and freeze some for later.

What you'll need:

• 2 pounds ground beef (you can order here)
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 c finely chopped bell pepper*
• 1 c tomato Sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 T old Fashioned molasses*
• 6 rolls or hamburger buns*

To complete the meal you can add green beans or a lettuce salad, or any vegetable your family likes. This recipe feeds about 6 average eaters with buns. If you prefer the bun-less option, it’s closer to 4 average eaters. Feel free to double or triple for a crowd or freezer meal prep. If I'm cooking for a meal plus a freezer meal, I triple the recipe for my family of 5. We tend to do the bun-less sloppy joes as well.

*Substitution suggestions. For the bell pepper you can omit or substitute another vegetable your family isn't fans of, like kale or carrots. Just make sure they are finely chopped.

If you don't have old fashioned molasses, you can substitute 2T brown sugar.

For gluten sensitivity, use gluten free bread or omit completely and use the sloppy joe mix as a chip dip. Potato chips are my kids favorite.

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef, with onion, until no longer pink.
2. Add bell pepper and tomato sauce, molasses, salt and pepper. Cook until peppers are tender.
3. Serve hot on buns or with chips for a bun-less sloppy joe.

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