Salsa Sloppy Joes

Tonight on the menu was Salsa Sloppy Joes with homemade buns.  I have tried so many sloppy joe recipes and my husband likes one and I don't... then I try another which I love and he hates.  I found this one on a blog and I thought that it was probably a loser like the rest but worth the try.  This one did not disappoint!  We both loved them.  There was a lot of flavor and sauce without being overpowering.  The best part is that it was super easy to make.

First, I made the ground beef and used paper towels to get out all the grease. 

Then I got out all the other ingredients- tomato soup, salsa and brown sugar (originally) and then most of the other times I made it with tomato paste mixed with water or tomato sauce.

I poured the salsa in the tomato soup... My family likes the flavor of salsa but not the texture so I blended it in a blender before it was time to make dinner and had it in the fridge.  It is very yummy if you have never tried it to eat with chips and salsa or in salsa sloppy joes!!!

I must admit, I lost a little confidence because it looked a little gross with the tomato soup but I thought it was much better with the tomato paste.  I might have also thought it said one jar of salsa and not one cup so there was a little more salsa in there then called for in the recipe the first time.

Brown sugar came next.  Look, I made a face without even meaning too :)

Stir it all together and you have... SLOPPY JOES!

I wish I had taken a picture of my plate but we had company and it is a little weird to pull out the camera at the table and take pictures of every one's plates... right?  We topped with some sliced mozzarella which got super melty.  We all ate and enjoyed and wish we had room for seconds.  They were great on the homemade buns (pictured below).

I hope that you try this recipe with your family!!  Let me know what you think about it.  Check out the recipe below and the original post from Eat Cake for Dinner (or in this case Sloppy Joes).

Update:  I have made this recipe lots of times since this and not made a special trip to the store to get tomato soup because that is not something we keep in our pantry.  I use tomato paste and add water first and stir.  Then, I add in the blended salsa and stir in water until it is a good consistency.  A lot of the water will cook off but it helps the tomato paste mix out.  After it is combined, I add the brown sugar.  I have also used tomato sauce and that worked out well too.  This is a great recipe to use whatever you have around the house but I highly recommend trying it.  Great to make ahead and freeze!!!

Salsa Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground beef

1 c salsa

Tomato sauce or tomato paste with water (or 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed tomato soup)

1 1/2- 2 tbsp brown sugar

Hamburger buns

Brown meat in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the salsa, tomato product and brown sugar.  Stir well to combine.  Simmer for 10 minutes (or until it is time for dinner).  Serve on hamburger buns.

***Note: I make these a lot and don't use tomato soup anymore but I use tomato paste and water or tomato sauce (unflavored) depending on what is on hand.  Great to make a double batch and freeze the leftovers.  Also good served over baked potato for something different for lunch the next day!