Summer is just around the corner, and that means family reunions and summer camps.  One of our favorites for a crowd is the all-American Sloppy Joe.  These sandwiches remind me of our huge community parties when I was young – you always knew what was on the menu.  Sloppy Joes, Chips, and Homemade Root Beer!

I  love the idea of serving them on little slider buns, especially if my grandkids are around.  Think about it, have you ever seen a 4 year old with a big ‘ol Sloppy Joe?  {That’s why they call them Sloppy, right.}  And speaking of serving a crowd, this is my mom’s recipe, she was the queen of church dinners and feeding the masses.  Note the servings in the upper left corner!

Don’t worry, if you don’t need to feed 100, I’ve adapted it so you can feed your family any night of the week, or double/triple it when you serve a crowd.  Sloppy Joes are a personal favorite of mine;  I always make enough for plenty of leftovers.  {I also recommend you serve it with coleslaw.}  If you want, it also freezes well.  {Cook Once/Eat Twice}  I love knowing I can just grab this out of the freezer, heat it up, and dinner is ready.

Sloppy Joe Sliders

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 cup catsup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup  Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoon chili sauce
1/4  teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon chili powder (more or less to taste)
black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Brown ground beef with the celery, onion, and green pepper.  Cook until the meet is browned and veggies are tender.  Drain well.  Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for about 10- 15 minutes.  Serve on slider or regular buns.