American · Pork
BBQ Pork Sloppy Joes
Ground pork cooked in a tangy BBQ sauce with pickled onions served on toasted buns with roasted sweet potato wedges. This elevated take on the classic sloppy joe features complex flavors from the homemade BBQ sauce and quick-pickled vegetables.
The Method
Instructions
Alright, let's get started by preheating your oven to a nice, hot 450 degrees . While the oven is warming up, take a moment to wash and dry all your fresh produce,this always makes the kitchen feel more inviting, don't you think? Now, grab those sweet potatoes and slice them into wedges about half an inch thick . Don't worry about making them perfect, just nice and even so they cook evenly. Toss these wedges onto a baking sheet, drizzle them with a little vegetable oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to give them a lovely seasoning. Pop them into the oven and roast until they're beautifully browned and soft on the inside. This should take about 20 to 25 minutes . You'll want to check on them halfway through and give them a little shake or turn to get an even roast.
While the sweet potatoes are roasting away, let's work on the onions and garlic. Take your onion, cut it in half, and peel off the skin. We want to slice one half as thin as possible until you have about ¼ cup of thin slices (or ½ cup if you're making 4 servings). These thin slices will be quick pickled later on, and their crunch will add a nice bite. Chop the remaining onion half finely,that's going to cook with the pork and add great flavor. Peel your garlic cloves and chop them up finely too; the smaller, the better to get that fragrant aroma into the dish. Now grab your lime and cut it in half. Squeeze the fresh juice into a small bowl,you want all that bright, zesty goodness. Lastly, slice your buns in half so they're ready to be toasted, and in a separate small microwave safe bowl, add butter,about 1 tablespoon for 2 servings or 2 tablespoons for 4. Pop it in the microwave for just about 30 seconds until melted, then use a brush or spoon to spread that buttery goodness on the cut sides of the buns. Trust me, this step makes all the difference.
Let's make that quick pickled onion now! To the bowl with your fresh lime juice, add the thinly sliced onions, sprinkle in ¼ teaspoon sugar (or ½ teaspoon for 4 servings ), and a pinch of salt. Stir everything together gently so the sugar starts to dissolve and the onions get coated in that tangy, sweet mixture. Set this bowl aside to let the onions soak up all those flavors while you cook the rest of your meal. It's like a little magic happening right in the bowl.
Time to cook the pork mixture. Heat a drizzle of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium high heat . Once the oil is shimmering, add the finely chopped onion. Season generously with salt and pepper. Keep stirring occasionally as you cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until these onions turn soft and translucent,this step builds a lovely base of flavor. Add in the chopped garlic, and stir for just another 30 seconds until you can smell that amazing garlic aroma filling your kitchen. Now, toss in your pork, season it again with salt and pepper, and start breaking it apart with your spoon or spatula. Cook the pork for about 4 to 6 minutes , stirring as you go, until it's well browned and cooked through. You want it nicely caramelized in spots for extra flavor.
While the pork is sizzling, let's mix up the BBQ sauce that will bring everything together. Grab another small bowl and combine your barbeque sauce, the quick pickling liquid from the onions (don't worry, it's going to add a fantastic tang), 3 tablespoons of ketchup (or 6 tablespoons for 4 servings ), ½ teaspoon of sugar (or 1 teaspoon for 4 ), and some water,about ¼ cup ( ⅓ cup for 4 ). Give it a good stir until it's well mixed and set it aside for a moment. Once your pork is cooked through, pour this BBQ sauce mixture straight into the pan with the pork. Keep cooking and stirring for another 2 to 3 minutes until you see the sauce thicken up nicely and cling to the meat. Give it a quick taste, and add salt and pepper if you think it needs a little extra something.
Now, let's get those buns toasted! You can either pop them into the oven or a toaster oven, and toast until they turn a gorgeous golden brown,this usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes . The butter you spread earlier will help them get that beautiful crust and rich flavor. Once toasted, arrange the buns on your serving plates. Pile on as much of that saucy, tender BBQ pork as you want,don't be shy, this is the best part! Top each sloppy joe with a generous spoonful of those tangy pickled onions and a drizzle of hot sauce if you like a little heat. Serve those crispy, warm sweet potato wedges alongside, and you're ready to dig in. Enjoy every messy, delicious bite!
While the sweet potatoes are roasting away, let's work on the onions and garlic. Take your onion, cut it in half, and peel off the skin. We want to slice one half as thin as possible until you have about ¼ cup of thin slices (or ½ cup if you're making 4 servings). These thin slices will be quick pickled later on, and their crunch will add a nice bite. Chop the remaining onion half finely,that's going to cook with the pork and add great flavor. Peel your garlic cloves and chop them up finely too; the smaller, the better to get that fragrant aroma into the dish. Now grab your lime and cut it in half. Squeeze the fresh juice into a small bowl,you want all that bright, zesty goodness. Lastly, slice your buns in half so they're ready to be toasted, and in a separate small microwave safe bowl, add butter,about 1 tablespoon for 2 servings or 2 tablespoons for 4. Pop it in the microwave for just about 30 seconds until melted, then use a brush or spoon to spread that buttery goodness on the cut sides of the buns. Trust me, this step makes all the difference.
Let's make that quick pickled onion now! To the bowl with your fresh lime juice, add the thinly sliced onions, sprinkle in ¼ teaspoon sugar (or ½ teaspoon for 4 servings ), and a pinch of salt. Stir everything together gently so the sugar starts to dissolve and the onions get coated in that tangy, sweet mixture. Set this bowl aside to let the onions soak up all those flavors while you cook the rest of your meal. It's like a little magic happening right in the bowl.
Time to cook the pork mixture. Heat a drizzle of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium high heat . Once the oil is shimmering, add the finely chopped onion. Season generously with salt and pepper. Keep stirring occasionally as you cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until these onions turn soft and translucent,this step builds a lovely base of flavor. Add in the chopped garlic, and stir for just another 30 seconds until you can smell that amazing garlic aroma filling your kitchen. Now, toss in your pork, season it again with salt and pepper, and start breaking it apart with your spoon or spatula. Cook the pork for about 4 to 6 minutes , stirring as you go, until it's well browned and cooked through. You want it nicely caramelized in spots for extra flavor.
While the pork is sizzling, let's mix up the BBQ sauce that will bring everything together. Grab another small bowl and combine your barbeque sauce, the quick pickling liquid from the onions (don't worry, it's going to add a fantastic tang), 3 tablespoons of ketchup (or 6 tablespoons for 4 servings ), ½ teaspoon of sugar (or 1 teaspoon for 4 ), and some water,about ¼ cup ( ⅓ cup for 4 ). Give it a good stir until it's well mixed and set it aside for a moment. Once your pork is cooked through, pour this BBQ sauce mixture straight into the pan with the pork. Keep cooking and stirring for another 2 to 3 minutes until you see the sauce thicken up nicely and cling to the meat. Give it a quick taste, and add salt and pepper if you think it needs a little extra something.
Now, let's get those buns toasted! You can either pop them into the oven or a toaster oven, and toast until they turn a gorgeous golden brown,this usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes . The butter you spread earlier will help them get that beautiful crust and rich flavor. Once toasted, arrange the buns on your serving plates. Pile on as much of that saucy, tender BBQ pork as you want,don't be shy, this is the best part! Top each sloppy joe with a generous spoonful of those tangy pickled onions and a drizzle of hot sauce if you like a little heat. Serve those crispy, warm sweet potato wedges alongside, and you're ready to dig in. Enjoy every messy, delicious bite!
Pairs Well With
