Real Food Sloppy Joes

Adapted from The Great American Slow Cooker Book by Bruce Weinstein, Mark Scarbrough.

• Ready In: 6 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 1⁄2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1  large yellow onion, minced
• 1  large green bell pepper, minced
• 3  medium celery ribs, minced
• 2⁄3 cup tomato paste
• 1⁄3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1⁄3 cup molasses
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons mild paprika
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2  teaspoons  minced garlic
• 3  teaspoons prepared mustard, to taste
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons ground black pepper
•  salt, to taste
• 8  toasted  hamburger buns

Directions

1. Use 4-5 1/2 quart slow cooker.
2. Warm a large skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, then pour in the oil and swirl it around to coat the hot surface.
3. Crumble the ground beef into the skillet; cook, stirring often, until well browned, between 4-8 minutes.
4. Use a slotted spoon to get the ground beef into the slow cooker.
5. Stir in onions, bell peppers, celery, tomato paste, vinegar, molasses, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, mustard, and pepper until the tomato paste is dissolved.
6. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the vegetables have almost melted into the thickened sauce. Season to taste with salt.
7. Serve by spooning the spiced beef mixture into the buns.