Isn’t it funny things you do, just because your Mom did. Adding cabbage to my sloppy joes is something I have always done because that’s the way my Mom made them growing up. To some it may sound strange, but I can’t think of eating sloppy joes without the texture and flavor of cabbage with the sweet and spicy sauce. I love it!! I am sure my Mom added the cabbage back in the day to help the meal stretch, but it has become one of my favorite quick, go-to meals when I am in a hurry. I served these sloppy joes with a simple spinach salad and some peppered yams (that I will blog about tomorrow) and it was an inexpensive, healthy, and simple meal. Great for this time of year. Enjoy 🙂


- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/4 head green cabbage, sliced thin
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef (or 1 lb. turkey and 1 lb. beef)
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinager
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2-1 tsp. crushed red pepper
- 1 Tbls. mollasses (optional)
- 2 Tbls. worchestershire sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 2 Tbls. tomato paste
- 1 tsp. salt
- Dice the onions and slice the cabbage and set aside. In a large sauce pan place the ground beef and begin to saute on medium-high heat, breaking up the beef into crumbles. Add the onions and brown the meat until cooked through. Turn the meat to low while you make the sloppy joe sauce. For the sauce, pour the remaining ingredients into a bowl and whisk together. Pour the sauce over the meat and stir. Add the sliced cabbage and continue to stir. Let the meat simmer on low heat until the cabbage softens and wilts. Place a good portion of the meat mixture onto the hamburger buns and serve.