Recipe - Sloppy Joe Sliders

My kids love Sloppy Joes - and what's not to love?  They are yummy and messy and perfect for kids!  I love making Sloppy Joes for my family but I'm not the biggest fan of the store bought sauce that comes in a can.  It is made with high fructose corn syrup and lots of additives and preservatives...a BIG NO GO for my kids!  I found this perfect recipe for tasty, yet healthy Sloppy Joes for my kids as well as my family.  The perfect weeknight meal for the kid in all of us!

Sloppy Joe Sliders
Recipe courtesy of Cooking Light November 2011
Serves 4 (serving size: 2 sliders)
 
Ingredients
1 large carrot, grated
10 oz lean ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup organic/natural (no sugar added) ketchup
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 (8 oz) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
8 slider buns

Directions
1.  Preheat broiler.
2.  Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add carrot, beef, and onion to heated pan; cook 6 minutes or until beef is browned and vegetables are tender.  Add garlic powder, chili powder, and pepper; cook 1 minute.
3.  Combine 1/4 cup ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, red wine vinegar and tomato sauce in a small bowl.  Add ketchup mixture to pan, stirring evenly to coat beef mixture.  Simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.
4.  While sauce thickens, arrange buns, cut side open, in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Broil 2 minutes or until lightly toasted.  Place about 1/4 cup beef mixture on bottom half of each of 8 buns; top each slider with top half of bun.

Serve with a side of grilled or steamed veggies and a tall glass of milk.  Enjoy...