AMAZING SLOPPY JOES
BY CLAYTON DIXON _____________________________________________________
Ingredients:
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 ¼ cups ketchup
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground dry mustard
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 8 sandwich buns
Optional but totally worth it:
• 8 slices of cheese
• 16 strips of crispy bacon
Directions:
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion together, breaking up the meat as it browns. Continue cooking until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are soft and translucent—about 7–10 minutes.
Carefully drain the grease from the skillet and return it to the heat.
Stir in the ketchup, water, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, dry mustard, and chili powder. Mix well until everything is fully combined.
Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken and become rich and flavorful.
While the meat mixture simmers, toast the sandwich buns. You can do this in a dry skillet, under a broiler, or on a grill for extra flavor. Toasting gives the buns a nice crunch and helps them hold up to all that juicy goodness.
Optional: If you’re using cheese, place a slice on the bottom bun right after toasting so it starts to melt.
Spoon the sloppy joe mixture generously onto the bottom half of each bun.
Top each one with two strips of crispy bacon, then cap it with the top bun.
My Favorite Way to Serve It:
Cheese + bacon + toasted bun = game changer.
Don’t skip the toasting step—it makes every bite even better. Serve with kettle chips, pickles, or coleslaw for the full experience!
Future of Q magazine is published six times yearly on an every other month basis. The digital issues are FREE and will be released on the 15th day of the month.