Sloppy Joes For Crock Pot Or Stove-top

Total Time: 4 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 medium onions or 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
• 2 large celery ribs, diced
• 1 green bell pepper (seeded and chopped, can use 2 small peppers)
• 2 teaspoons dried red chili pepper flakes (optional or to taste add in for some heat)
• 1/2 cup beef broth or 1/2 cup water
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup ketchup (or use bbq sauce)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (or to taste)
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 -2 teaspoon seasoning salt (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup flour (add in for the crock pot only)
• 6 -8 hamburger buns (sliced in half)
• cheddar cheese (optional and to taste)

Recipe

• 1 for the crock pot/slow cooker method; in a dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef, onion, garlic, celery, green pepper and chili flakes until the meat is no longer pink; drain fat.
• 2 add the beef broth or water tomato sauce, ketchup or bbq sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, paprika worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, black pepper and flour; mix well and bring to a simmer then transfer to the crock pot/slow cooker and cook on high for about 4 hours.
• 3 for the stove top method; proceed with method as directed (omitting the flour) cooking the complete recipe in a dutch oven over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 1 hour (the longer you cook this the thicker it will be).
• 4 spoon about 1/2 cup mixture each bun, top with grated cheddar cheese if desired.