Total Time

　　Start to finish: 30 minutes

　　Prefer the big taste of beef in your Joes? Substitute lean ground beef. Or bison. Or a blend. Sloppy Joes are a total what-have-you recipe. Somebody in the family off carbs or gluten? These are awesome in lettuce wraps, too.

　　Don't be intimidated by the number of ingredients. This recipe comes together effortlessly in minutes.

　　Editor's note: This recipe makes 4 servings, plus more for leftovers. Please see "Next-Day Sloppy Joes" and "Sloppy Joes Chili" below for tips on how to enjoy the leftovers.

　　

Ingredients

Servings: 4 mains, plus leftovers

　　12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained

　　1 cup tomato sauce

　　8 ounces white button mushrooms

　　1 small yellow onion

　　1/4 cup ketchup

　　2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

　　1 tablespoon brown sugar

　　6 anchovy fillets

　　4 cloves garlic

　　1 teaspoon mustard powder

　　1 teaspoon hot sauce

　　1 tablespoon olive oil

　　3 pounds ground turkey

　　Kosher salt and ground black pepper

　　4 burger buns

　　Shredded cheddar cheese

　　

Step 1

In a blender, combine the red peppers, tomato sauce, mushrooms, onion, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, anchovies, garlic, mustard powder, and hot sauce. Puree until smooth, then set aside.

　　

Step 2

In a large sauté pan over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the ground turkey and brown, breaking up any chunks, for 10 minutes. Add the tomato-red pepper mixture, stir well, then bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Spoon the sloppy Joes onto the buns and top with cheese.

　　One Dinner, Two Lunches

　　NEXT-DAY SLOPPY JOES

　　Sloppy Joes are like stew—they taste even better the next day. And just add beef or chicken broth to turn them into a substantial stew.

　　Wimpy salads need not apply for this lunch. Sliced tomato and fresh mozzarella are the way to go.

　　SLOPPY JOES CHILI

　　Just add canned beans and sloppy Joes become chili.

　　A robust take on simple green salad: chopped fennel and avocado, tossed with vinaigrette and black pepper.

　　Copyright © 2013 by J.M. Hirsch, from Beating the Lunch Box Blues published by Rachael Ray Books/Atria, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Available wherever books are sold.