Sloppy Joe: Tasty Camping Meal

Can you believe dinner can be made in 30 minutes? Give Sloppy Joes a try.

We’re convinced this is the best recipe for easy camping meals. Ground beef mixed with saucy tomato served inside a soft burger makes for a great dinner.

Enjoy after a busy day!

Key Ingredients

The amount of ingredients I used is enough to make 4 full-sized sandwiches or 6 sliders. You can refer to or adjust according to how many sandwiches you make:

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 pound ground beef (I often use 80/20 (fat) to make juicy, flavorful Sloppy Joes.)
• 1 small onion, diced (Yellow onions are my choice, you can also choose white or red onions, which have just as well.)
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup (It makes a difference!)
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (Don’t confuse it with cayenne pepper – it’s a whole other level of spiciness!)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Burger buns, sandwich buns or slider buns

Equipment

You need to bring a medium-sized pot to brown the beef and simmer the sauce. We used a cast iron pot because it’s heat-resistant and perfect for cooking over a campfire!

Besides, you can also bring a few other tools like a spoon to shred the meat and stir everything together. You also need a cutting board and knife to dice onions, bell peppers and garlic.

Don’t forget to pack a pair of gloves or a pair of tongs to ensure safety as getting too close to the fire can cause some unexpected accidents.

How to Cook Sloppy Joe

In just a few simple steps with these simple ingredients I process into an unforgettable camping meal.

1. Cook the Beef: First, I heat the oil in a medium pot over a campfire. Then, I add the ground beef, spread it out, and let it cook. Then, I used a spoon to shred the meat and continue cooking until it turns brown.
2. Add the Vegetables: Once the meat is cooked, I add the chopped onion and bell pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes until softened and the onion is starting to brown. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
3. Make the sauce: To bring out the flavors, I stir in the tomato paste and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Then add the ketchup, mustard, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and salt. Mix them well and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce has thickens.
4. Enjoy: Finally, add the filling to the bun. I used burger buns, but you can also substitute with sandwiches. Then, toast the buns over an open fire if you like crispy edges!

Note: If you use ground beef, which is higher in fat than lean, make sure the fat is drained before starting step 2.

Notes for Your Sloppy Joe Dish

Learn from flavor tips to storage tips and some pre-cooking tips I’ve applied to ensure your Sloppy Joe is the perfect one.

Make – Ahead Tips

On busy camping days, I like to prepare my Sloppy Joe at home to save time:

I cook the meat and sauce mixture by the recipe, and then let the meat cool slightly and place in a storage container. Store in the refrigerator or freezer for best freshness. It can be keeped for up to four days.

When it’s time to eat, simply reheat the mixture in a pot over a camp stove or campfire. Once it’s warm and saucy, spoon it into the buns and enjoy.

This make-ahead method saves a ton of time and gives you a little more time to enjoy the outdoors.

Serving

You can get creative and enjoy your dish in plenty of delicious ways. Here are a few ideas I’ve tried and loved:

• The Classic: You can simply place the stuffing on a grilled hamburger bun for the classic sloppy joe experience.
• Grilled Cheese: By adding a meat mixture, you turned your grilled cheese sandwich into a hearty meal immediately.
• Pizza: Spread the filling on homemade pizza dough, sprinkle with cheese, and bake for a delicious sloppy joe pizza.
• Fries: You must try top crispy fries with a sloppy joe mixture and melted cheese for the ultimate camp snack.
• Chili Dog: Drizzling your hot dog with meat sauce to upgrade it. This is a big change for the meals.
• Baked Potatoes: Turn your baked potato into a meal by adding this savory meat sauce.

Conclusion

Sloppy Joe is an absolute lifesaver when you’re camping. This dish can be prepared quickly and packed with flavor, which is perfect for a quick bite after a day of adventure. Have you tried making Sloppy Joes on your camping trip?

Share your results in the comments at greententlife.com. Your experiences and feedback help us and other campers keep improving and serve delicious outdoor meals.

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