Meet the Sloppy Jacob. It’s like a sloppy Joe, ‘cept it’s not.
The Sloppy Jacob is spicier. Like most of my recipes, I start with a traditional concept and spice it the hell up.
Take the classic sloppy joe, a quick sweet and savory meal that’s easy on the wallet and filling on the stomach. My recipe builds off the classic. It used brown sugar, loads of onion, tomato paste, mustard and Worcestershire sauce for that instantly recognizable flavor. Where it differs, however, is that instead of boring old ketchup, the recipe calls for a tomato-based taco sauce or salsa.
And because they come in so many flavors, you can experiment with whatever sounds good. I went with a roasted chipotle pepper salsa/ chipotle taco sauce mix that boasts a “perfected blend of tomatoes, yellow onions and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce has a touch of sweetness and a subtle, peppery kick.” Sounds a lot more exciting than ketchup right? But while shopping I was tempted to try Jamaican Jerk taco sauce or a green chile tomatillo sauce. Endless options. I love it. So pick out whatever salsa or taco sauce sounds good to you. Because in the end, it’s all tomato-based, it gives you a similar flavor profile as ketchup, but you know… also a better flavor profile.
The Sloppy Jacob also calls for a 50/50 ground beef/ground pork mix, along with extra peppers (chipotle, jalapeno, green chilies) to spice things up some more.
But because of the brown sugar, all that spice is subdued, becoming just a subtle kick. The result is something that’s surprisingly familiar, albeit more flavorful. A comfort food that pushes you a little out of your comfort zone – the Sloppy Jacob.
Time You Need
- ~10 minutes prep
- ~25 minutes cooking
- Yields: ~5-6 sloppy jacobs
What You Need
- ~½ pound ground pork (or chorizo)
- ½ pound ground chuck
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cup of taco sauce / or thick salsa of choice
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce
- 1 minced chipotle pepper
- ~7 ounce can of diced green chilis
- ½ cup diced jalapeno
- Hamburger buns of choice, for serving
- Slices of pepper jack cheese or sharp cheddar, for serving
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- Salt, pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp onion powder
What You Do
- Heat a well-oiled large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground pork and chuck, breaking the meat up as you stir. Then add brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Cook meat until browned (about 10 or so minutes). Then add onion, jalapeno, minced garlic, diced chilies, and chipotle pepper. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Then stir in mustard, vinegar, worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and your salsa. Mix everything really well, then cook on a low simmer for about 10 more minutes, until sauce thickens.
- Pour hearty helpings over hamburger buns, and serve with a slice of cheese. (and *optional* pickles!)