Spicy Smoky Joes

In ‘ Slow Cooker Revolution’ by ATK

• Ready In: 8 hrs 45 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2  slices  white bread, torn into quarters
• 1⁄4 cup  whole milk
• 2  lbs lean ground beef (85%)
•  salt
•  pepper
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 2  onions, minced
• 2  tablespoons chili powder
• 4  garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1  cup ketchup
• 1  tablespoon  minced canned chipotle chile in adobo
• 2  teaspoons brown sugar
• 1  teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  hot sauce
• 8  hamburger buns

Directions

1. Mash bread and milk into paste in large bowl using fork.
2. Mix in ground beef, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper using hands.
3. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over med-high heat until shimmering.
4. Add onions, chili powder, and garlic and cook until onions are softened and lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.
5. Stir in beef mixture, 1 pound at a time, and cook, breaking up any large pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes per pound.
6. Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, scraping up any browned bits; transfer to slow cooker.
7. Stir remaining tomato sauce, ketchup, chipotles, sugar, liquid smoke, and hot sauce into slow cooker.
8. Cover and cook until beef is tender, 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-5 hours on HIGH.
9. Let meat mixture settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat form surface using large spoon.
10. Break up any remaining large pieces of beef with spoon.
11. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
12. Spoon mixture onto buns and serve.