Ultimate Sloppy Joes with Smoked Cheddar and Bacon

Sweet, tangy, smoky and spicy — these are not your mama’s sloppy joes!

  • 24
    Ingredients
  • 55
    Minutes
  • 4
    Servings

Ingredients

    • 4 slices bacon, finely chopped
    • 8 oz (250 g) lean ground beef
    • 8 oz (250 g) lean ground pork
    • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
    • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) black pepper
    • 1 stalk celery, diced
    • 1 jalapeño pepper, diced
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder
    • 1 tsp (5 mL) paprika
    • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried oregano
    • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) cayenne pepper
    • 1/4 cup (60 mL) tomato paste
    • 1/2 cup (125 mL) tomato sauce
    • 1/2 cup (125 mL) reduced-sodium beef broth
    • 3 tbsp (45 mL) pure maple syrup
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) grainy Dijon mustard
    • 1 tbsp (15 mL) Worcestershire sauce
    • 4 brioche buns, split and toasted
    • 8 Cracker Barrel Smoked Cheddar Slices
    • 16 slices pickle
    • 4 rounds red onion

Directions

  1. Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes or until starting to crisp around edges. Increase heat to medium-high. Stir in beef, pork, salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up beef and pork with wooden spoon, for 5 to 8 minutes or until beef and pork are starting to brown.
  2. Stir in celery, jalapeño, onion, garlic, chili powder, paprika, oregano and cayenne. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until starting to soften. Stir in tomato paste. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
  3. Stir in tomato sauce, beef broth, maple syrup, vinegar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes or until sauce is reduced and thickened to barbecue sauce–like consistency.
  4. Meanwhile, preheat broiler.
  5. To assemble sloppy joes, arrange pickles and onion on bottom buns. Divide meat mixture and Cheddar among bottom buns.
  6. Broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until Cheddar has melted. Cap with bun tops.

Helpful Hint:

Serve with kettle chips or fries on the side if desired.

For adult sloppy joes, add a splash of bourbon or whisky to beef mixture in Step 3.