Ellie Krieger's Sloppy Joes

In 'The Food You Crave' by Ellie Krieger

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb lean ground beef or 1  lb  extra lean ground beef
• 1  medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 4  garlic cloves, minced (about 4 teaspoons)
• 1  jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1  medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 (15 1/2ounce) can  small  red beans or 1 (15 1/2ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1⁄2 cups no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 2  tablespoons tomato paste
• 1  tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1  tablespoon unsulphured molasses
• 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1  teaspoon dry mustard
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
•  fresh ground black pepper
• 8  whole-wheat  hamburger buns

Directions

1. Brown the meat and onion in a large nonstick skillet over med-high heat for 5 minutes, breaking up the meat into crumbles as it cooks.
2. Pour the drippings out of the pan and discard.
3. Add the garlic, jalapeno, and red pepper and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, except the buns; decrease heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Place a 1/2-cup scoop of the mixture onto each bun and serve.