Easy Tasty Sloppy Joe (Feed your Freezer!)
Super Easy and Most Delicious Sloppy Joe
This week my local grocery is running a great sale on lean ground beef. I’ll be making up a few batches of this sloppy joe and freezing it in quart-sized bags. Although my husband and kids aren’t crazy about sloppy joe usually, they do enjoy this recipe, and it’s sure handy to have several dinners’ worth of this stashed in the freezer for busy evenings. I have found that having quick dinner solutions in the freezer really saves us a boatload of money . . . and time!
3 pounds ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 12-ounce bottle chili sauce (or use ketchup)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon yellow prepared mustard
Brown the beef, and make sure it isn’t clumpy. Put beef into slow cooker, then cook the onion and celery in the oil that remains in the skillet (or add a little oil or margarine if you need to.) Add to beef in slow cooker. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir thoroughly. Cook on low for 3 or 4 hours, or until heated through.
I have 2 slow cookers, and will often fill both at the same time–one batch in each. It’s just as easy to make 2 batches at the same time, when you have all the measuring stuff and tools and ingredients out.
This is a slightly tangy-sweet taste, really yummy. I usually serve it in buns, with a thin slice of cheddar. But if I don’t have buns on hand, I’ll serve it rolled in tortillas like a wrap.
It’s also a great, easy recipe to have your kids help assemble. I find that they enjoy eating what they’ve helped to make–plus cooking together is SUCH a great learning experience.
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I like doing this too!
Usually, while I’m at it….. I’ll p/up a bag of hamburger buns (on sale of course), and stuff them into a freezer bag and attatch them to the sloppy joe mix. That way I am REALLY organized!
Just love your blog!!!!
I visit you each day.
Michele
I don’t like celery. is it necessary for this recipe?
Celery isn’t necessary – just leave it out if you don’t like it!
That’s a great recipe! Even if you used it all at one time to feed a crowd. Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
How long will this be good in the freezer?
Hi Barb,
I typically use frozen soups and casseroles within 3 to 4 months, however, here’s a link to the “official” word from the USDA on freezer storage guidelines.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp#12
Thanks for this recipe! We’ll have to try this one – I just happen to have a package of ground beef in my fridge.
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