Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sloppy Joes For a Backyard Picnic - Crockpot Style

You may think of sloppy Joes as a "kid" food but I still love to eat them and I serve them to my family on a regular basis. I recently held a picnic style gathering at my house for my family and friends. I didn't  want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen so I have decided that I would use my crockpot and make my famous Large Crowd Pleasing Sloppy Joes. This recipe has been a favorite at many covered dish events.  It is so simple to prepare and it will serve 24 hungry diners.

Ingredients

3 pounds ground beef
1 cup coarsely chopped onion 
3/4 cup celery
1 cup barbeque sauce
1 can (261/2 ounces) sloppy Joe sauce
24 hamburger buns

Directions

* Cook beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally until beef is brown.
* Drain.
* Transfer beef mixture to 31/2 to 6 quart crockpot.
* To beef mixture, add chopped celery, barbecue sauce, and sloppy joe sauce. Mix thoroughly.
* Cover and cook on low heat setting for 7 to 9 hours (or cook on high heat setting for 3 to 4 hours) or until vegetables are tender.

Quick Tips

1. Spray crockpot with cooking spray for easier cleaning.
2. Buy onions and celery already chopped.
3. Sloppy Joes will stay warm for about 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent mixture from getting too brown around the edges.

You can serve any side dish with the sloppy Joes.  To keep preparation simple I usually serve potato chips.

This recipe only takes about 15 minutes to prepare but your guests will think that you spent all day in the kitchen. Be prepared for compliments!

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