Sloppy Joe Lettuce Cups
A tangy tomato sauce turns ground beef, peppers and onion into a familiar Sloppy Joe filling. Spoon it into crisp lettuce leaves just before eating. Tomato paste adds body, so the sauce can thicken without a packet or a lot of added sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb 93% lean ground beef raw
- 1 medium bell pepper about 5 oz finely chopped
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1 cup canned tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 tsp prepared yellow mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 12 large lettuce leaves about 6 oz
Instructions
- Wash and dry lettuce leaves. Keep them separate from raw beef and its utensils. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; no extra oil is needed.
- Add beef, bell pepper and onion. Break beef into small crumbles and cook 8–10 minutes, stirring, until no longer pink and vegetables soften. Keep the pan juices in the recipe. Add garlic and paprika; stir 30 seconds.
- Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered 8–10 minutes until thick, stirring often. Check several spots in the beef mixture reach 160°F. Add a splash of water only if it becomes too thick.
- Divide the filling into four equal portions. Spoon each portion among three lettuce leaves just before serving.