Super Savory Sloppy Joes

This veggie-filled beef dish is a wonderful way to make everyone in the family happy with a comforting, savory, and familiar meal. Have leftovers? The mixture is great to use as pasta sauce. And like most savory tomato-based dishes it tastes even better the next day. You can also turn leftovers into chili by adding kidney beans, corn, and some taco seasoning mix or cumin.

Makes 8 servings (2/3 cup per serving)

1 pound 93% Lean Ground Beef
1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, diced
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup red wine (Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel work well) or beef broth
1 medium white onion, peeled, trimmed, and diced (~ 1 ½ cups)
1 celery stalk, trimmed and diced (~ ½ cup)
1 medium carrot, trimmed, peeled, and diced (~ ½ cup)
1 large jalapeno, trimmed and diced (~ 1/3 cup) or 1-4 oz. can diced jalapenos, drained
2-3 garlic cloves, peeled, trimmed, and minced (~1 tablespoon)
1 ½ cups water
1-14 oz. can tomato paste
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ cup Parmesan cheese

1. Place a large sauté pan, skillet, or Dutch oven with a lid over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally to break up the beef.
2. When the ground beef is fully cooked, reduce heat to medium, add the mushrooms, salt, and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the red wine (or broth) and stir to remove any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Cook, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to low, add the onion, carrots, celery, jalapeno, and garlic. Stir to combine, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add the water, tomato paste, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder. Stir to combine, cover, and cook for 20-25 minutes.
6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, cover, and cook for another minute to allow the cheese to melt into the sauce.
7. Serve on hamburger buns with your favorite accompaniments.