Add easy, kid-friendly Sloppy Joes to your weeknight meal rotation

One fine day, my son told me that he was ready to join the Sloppy Joe fan club. Had I been physically able to do a backflip, you’d better believe I would have flipped for joy across my kitchen floor.

Sloppy Joes are super easy to make, and they are true crowd-pleasers. I immediately added them to the weekly menu rotation.

• Karen Nochimowski is the author of the cookbook “6-Minute Dinners (& More!),” featuring more than 100 simple recipes. Karen also started and runs Momma Chef’s Soup Kitchen and Momma Chef’s Little Free Pantries. Part of her cookbook proceeds go toward feeding those facing food insecurity. Find her book on Amazon.

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The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes

1 tablespoon (15 ml) cooking oil of choice

1 pound (454 g) ground beef*

½ cup (120 ml) ketchup

2 teaspoons (10 ml) apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons (28 g) light brown sugar

4 hamburger buns, split (**If making gluten-free, get gluten-free buns.)

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and cook the ground beef, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat, until browned, about 5 minutes.

Drain any excess fat (if needed), and return the beef to the pan.

Stir in the ketchup, vinegar and brown sugar, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Serve on the hamburger buns.

Serves 4

*Tip: You can use ground turkey in place of ground beef. By the way, these are called “Sloppy Janes.” No joke!

Dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free**, nut-free, sesame-free

— Karen Nochimowski