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Figuring out what to serve a family of hungry kids over and over again can be exhausting. But sometimes, rather than trying to brainstorm a new and exciting weekly menu that the adults and kids will both like, it’s better to look into the past. Classic comfort foods are classics for a reason, and Ree Drummond (also known as The Pioneer Woman) knows how to make them just right for a crew of hungry diners. Her 5-star homemade Sloppy Joes, so named because of the stellar reviews they’ve received, are a flavorful, satisfying, and kid-friendly meal that’s totally worth bringing out of retirement the next time you can’t figure out what to make for dinner. This just might be one of her best and most comforting recipes.
Drummond’s homemade Sloppy Joes feed a crowd — eight to be exact. But if you have growing tweens and teens at home who seem perpetually ravenous, it’s perfect for a smaller group, too, and the leftovers (if there are any) make for some easy lunches. If you grew up eating Sloppy Joes from a can, or with canned Sloppy Joes sauce, then you’ll be impressed by the depth of flavor Drummond manages to pack in with her homemade Sloppy Joes.
One of the keys to boosting the flavor is Worcestershire sauce. We like to use classic Lea & Perrins, which adds a savory punch to pretty much anything, including these homemade Sloppy Joes. The Worcestershire sauce is joined by onions and green bell peppers, ketchup (which provides the sweet tomato tang that’s the base of the dish), and garlic, along with spices that include chili powder, dry mustard, and red pepper flakes. The browned ground beef simmers in the sauce in a large pot (we love The Pioneer Woman’s pretty aluminum cookware for kitchen tasks like this) until the flavor melds and the sauce is slightly thickened.
The homemade Sloppy Joes mixture is served on toasted buttered rolls. The end result features a sweet, tangy, savory ground beef Sloppy Joes filling that contrasts with the crispy toasted interior of the rolls. Yes, the sauce and beef will spill out the sides of the rolls — that’s what makes this messy meal so fun! You might want to serve some extra rolls on the side so everyone can scoop up what’s left on their plate, because there’s no way you’ll want to leave even a speck of these homemade Sloppy Joes on your plate.
The Pioneer Woman has done it again with her kid-friendly homemade Sloppy Joes recipe that feeds a crowd. If you want to try even more of her classic homemade fare, you should check out her book The Pioneer Woman Cooks — Dinner’s Ready!, which features “112 Fast and Fabulous Recipes” that your kids and teens are sure to love. And when your kids are ready, you can have them start to help make dinner so the responsibility doesn’t fall solely on you — start with these 17 easy recipes every teen should know how to cook.
Before you go, check out Ina Garten’s easy weeknight dinner recipes below:
