Homemade Sloppy Joe Meatballs

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Manwich for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

If I could name one food from my childhood that I still love just as much today, it would be Sloppy Joes. My mom had a full-time job growing up and our dinners on weeknights had to be easy to put together but also tasty. And my favorite night was always Sloppy Joe night. To me, the tang of the Manwich sauce combined with the hamburger and pickles I always added was irrestible. I never get tired of them and my kids love them just as much today, which is a good thing because they would have no choice. I’d make them just for me! It’s always fun, however, to add a spin to a classic to spice up dinner and that’s why I made these Homemade Sloppy Joe Meatballs. They pack the same great flavor we all love from a Sloppy Joe and add something new to the dinner rotation.

This recipe combines two comfort foods into one dish-meatballs and Sloppy Joes. And if you pair them with mashed potatoes, you’ve added a third! I love this recipe too because the meatballs can be frozen and used on busy nights when you need something quick. We have found that sitting down for meals as a family is invaluable time-our kids open up about their day, we have time to laugh together, and sometimes have some very important learning moments with our children. And because Manwich is best enjoyed with both hands, it gives moms and dads an easy, quality ingredient to bring the family’s attention back to mealtime and away from everyday distractions, texting or video games. Manwich is a great meal solution for any night of the week that gets your family around the dinner table: Make Tonight a Manwich Night.

When you see a can of Manwich, you know your meal is going to be good. That hearty, sweet and tangy sauce means a tasty meal is on the way. Manwich comes in 3 flavors: Manwich Original, Manwich Bold and Manwich Thick & Chunky.  I love that Manwich is meat free, so it can make a unique tangy sauce for sandwiches, pastas, and more!  I’m even working on a a pizza recipe with it! You can go to Manwich.com to snag some great recipes and more.

I use to think that making meatballs homemade was a process that took all day, but it really is easy. Especially because you can make extra and freeze them for next time.

To start, grab your ground beef and throw it in a bowl. Add in the bread crumbs, minced onion, milk, and salt and pepper. Now it’s time to get your hands dirty! If you’d rather not, you can use gloves or try and mix it up with a spoon. But I prefer to get as involved as possible!

Once the mixture is ready, roll it up into 1 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Pop it in the freezer for about 20 minutes. This helps the meatballs stay together for the next step.

Remove the meatballs from the freezer. You want them to be nice and solid. If they seem like they need a little more time, pop them back in for a few more minutes.

This is the part that my kids like to help me with. When the meatballs are solid, they are easy to work with and much less messy. Look at that sweet little face. I love spending time with this kid!

With the meatballs ready, dredge them in flour. There is no measurements here. Just roll them around in a bowl until they are covered nicely. And don’t let your kids mistake them for cookies-we nearly had a problem with that! They do look like they’re covered with powdered sugar, don’t they?

Next, add some oil in a frying pan. We aren’t going to cook the meatballs, just brown them. It’s easier to do them in smaller batches, about 10 at a time. Once they are browned, add them to a 9×13 pan.

Mix together one can of Manwich Bold, brown sugar, and diced onions. Pour over the browned meatballs. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes unitl nice and bubbly and cooked through.

Serve with mashed potatoes, on a sandwich, or with your favorite side dish. My family ate the entire pan in a flash! And we always prefer mashed potatoes to just about anything as a side dish. I still ask them if they’d like something else even though I already know the answer!

I have a video too if you enjoy watching the steps.

Be sure to follow @Manwich on Twitter for more great recipes and ideas.