Italian Sloppy Joes

What’s better than a sloppy joe on a rich slice of Texas toast topped with melted provolone cheese?  This is an open faced sloppy joe your family is sure to devour.  For a low carb version you can dish the sloppy joe mixture over roasted spaghetti squash.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 red bell pepper diced

½ sweet onion diced

3 cloves garlic diced

14 ounces crushed or diced tomatoes

3 ounces tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

4-6 slices provolone cheese

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

4-6 slices Texas toast (or make your own garlic toast)

Directions:

1. Brown the beef in a large nonstick skillet sprayed with olive oil spray.  Break up the chunks and drain any liquid.  Cook on medium for 8 minutes.
2. Add the peppers and onion to the beef.  Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic, tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes stirring.
4. Add tomatoes, oregano, and basil and bring to a simmer.  Simmer for 10 minutes to allow it to thicken.
5. Meanwhile cook Texas toast according to package directions.  Heat 1-2 minutes less than listed cooking time. 
6. Divide the tomato mixture over the slices of Texas toast.  If there is extra save it to eat on a wrap, bun, with zoodles, in a salad, etc…
7. Sprinkle fresh parsley on each slice.
8. Top each sloppy joe with a slice of provolone cheese.
9. Broil on high 3-5 minutes.
10. Enjoy!