Sloppy Joes and Green Beans Dinner- $1 Per Serving

Note: My method for calculating costs is not very scientific, and I use the prices I paid for the items which includes sale prices and bulk prices, so your cost may be different.  I note these costs simply to give you ideas for inexpensive meals and to show you that healthy and delicious food is in the reach of even a modest budget such as mine if you shop smart.  Enjoy!

Several years ago, my mom made what were immediately declared to be the worst sloppy joes ever.  No one was even sure how she managed to screw them up that badly, especially since she is known to friends and family as an accomplished gourmet cook for good reason.  They were bitter, runny, vinegary, and even the beef tasted off because the sauce was that bad.  Of course since she almost never makes anything that isn’t utterly delicious, we had to make the most of it and not let her live that one down.  For years we taunted her relentlessly whenever the subject came up, and she was afraid to attempt sloppy joes again because she didn’t want to incur any more teasing.

Then, one night when Stephen and I were engaged, we walked into my parents’ house after driving in from Pennsylvania to visit for a school break.  We were tired and hungry, and when we walked in something smelled good.  I couldn’t believe my eyes when I rounded the corner and saw the beef mixture simmering in the skillet and a package of hamburger buns on the counter.  Immediately I burst out laughing and asked her how she could have dared to make this dish, with company coming no less.  Stephen stood there confused, wondering what was so funny and why I thought my mom, who he knew to be a great cook, would not be able to make something as simple as sloppy joes.  My mom gave me her cute trademark sheepish grin and said, “I have a new recipe, and your dad has approved it.  Please just try them.”  Well, these were definitely nothing like her previous attempt, and she and I have both been making this recipe for happy husbands ever since!

I served these on whole wheat hamburger buns with a side of steamed organic baby green beans, which I buy frozen at Costco, tossed with a little butter and Morton Nature’s Seasons(a seasoning blend including salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, and thyme, which I use on all sorts of things and I highly recommend for easy one-step seasoning).  Based on 4 servings and my calculation of percentages of items when only a portion of the package was used, my cost for the entire meal was about $0.97 per serving.

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tbs. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbs. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• hamburger buns or sandwich rolls

1. In a skillet over medium to medium-high heat, brown the ground beef together with the onion until the beef is no longer pink; drain grease.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.  Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes to blend flavors and thicken slightly.  Serve on buns.  Enjoy!

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