One of the ways to introduce kids to a new ingredient is to pair it with something already familiar to them. Sloppy Joes are a favorite at my house but instead of using ground beef, I like to substitute with bison because it has less fat and total calories then beef. Ground bison is simmered in a rich tomato sauce flavored with apple cider vinegar, molasses, and Worcestershire sauce. I add canned pinto beans to make the filling heartier. This meal comes together in less than 30 minutes and was a huge hit at my house.
Bison Sloppy Joes
Recipe Courtesy of The Bison Council
1 tbsp. canola oil
1 pound ground bison
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
One 15-ounce can low-sodium small red beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 ½ tbsp. unsulfured molasses
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. yellow mustard
¼ tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 whole wheat burger buns
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bison and onion and cook for 5 minutes, crumbling the meat as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rest of the ingredients, except the buns, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Place a ½-cup scoop of the mixture onto each bun and serve.
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