I never have buns!! I mean I buy them for cook outs and such but it is never on my weekly shopping list. I always buy 2 bags when we have hot dogs or brats cause they come in 8 count packages and hot dogs come in 10 count (one of those mysteries of life, like a crop circle I guess). We use them and I try to sneak some in lunches but they always get pushed back to the back until they are fuzzy, green ,hockey pucks…
Tonight I want to make Sloppy Joe and guess what?…No Buns! I always have fridge dough on hand. (biscuit, crescent, pizza it really is all the same) So I whip up a little dinner time magic I am gonna call “Not So Sloppy Joe Casserole”!
The veg…I always start with chopping the veg. I add a lot cause I can and it really adds to the flavor, texture and some extra nutrition to this dinner. I chop 2 carrots, 1 large celery rib, 1 med onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 red bell pepper and 1/2 green bell pepper.
I used a mix of ground pork, ground beef and ground venison. We are hunters and that is how we roll. I like the three together for flavor, fat and texture. You could use ground chicken or turkey if that is what your family likes. Brown and drain. As a rule I don’t normally kneel at the throne of Rachel Ray, I have learned a very good tip from her…use your potato masher to break up your ground meat! It works! Add your veg and cook a few minutes until your veg starts to soften a bit.
We make our own Sloppy Sauce around here. If you want to use a can of the “Mam” sauce or whatever it will be fine. I use…1 8oz can of tomato sauce, 2/3 cup Ketchup, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Mix your sassy sauce with your meat and veg bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer about 10 minutes.
Can you see the steam rising off? Hmmm this smells good! Now this is where you would normally spoon this sweet and savory goodness on a bun–but you know by now, we ain’t normal!
So I ladle this into a 9×13 Pyrex and unroll my crescent roll. I lay them on top of my meat sauce and spray lightly with butter flavor PAM and sprinkle toasted sesame seed on top to add a little interest and mimic my missing buns.
Exactly 20 minutes later in a 375o oven and you have a hot and bubbly dinner with that delicious baked crescent roll smell. I like this for dinner, maybe a pot luck or church supper or for people who use a folk for sloppy joe’s anyway.
There is our dinner tonight. My boys have been eating cucumber “fries” (english cucumbers cut with a slicer into french fry shape) and we have Sun Chips too. I hope this sounds yummy to you and you give it a try!
Enjoy this Not So Sloppy Sloppy Joe Casserole!
Sincerely, Sara
