🍔 Sloppy Joe Sliders — A Quick, Hands-On Meal for Learning Independence

We’re in the season of teaching Avery how to cook — not just for fun, but because cooking is a life skill. For autistic teens like her (and many others), learning to prepare simple, satisfying meals is a big step toward independence.

That’s why we’re focusing on easy, low-stress recipes she can make with a little support now… and all on her own someday.

This one? It’s a keeper.
👉 Sloppy Joe Sliders.
Not claiming to be healthy. Just warm, savory, a little messy — and super easy to make together.

👩‍🍳 What You’ll Need:

• 1 lb ground beef (we use lean = less draining)

• ¼ green bell pepper, diced very small

• ¼ onion, chopped tiny

• 1 jar Sloppy Joseph’s Less Sugar Skillet Sauce

• Slider buns (we like them toasted)

👣 Step-by-Step (With Cooking Tips for Learning)

1. Start by softening the veggies.
   Sauté the onion and bell pepper in a pan over medium heat.
   ✅ We chop them tiny so they melt into the sauce — no crunchy surprises

2. Add the ground beef.
   Cook until fully browned. If there’s extra fat, carefully drain it (we’re teaching Avery how to do this safely).

3. Stir in the sauce.
   Pour in the Sloppy Joseph’s and mix it all together. Let it simmer a few minutes until thick.

4. Toast the slider buns.
   We pop them under the toaster for a minute.

5. Assemble and enjoy!
   Spoon the mixture onto buns and serve warm. Grab napkins — this one gets messy.

❤️ Why This Recipe Works for Us:

• Simple steps + easy ingredients = cooking success

• Mild flavors, and similar to a burger

• You can chop veggies in advance or freeze extra meat mixture for another night

• Most of all: it’s a confidence-builder

🍴Avery’s Bite Check:

👍 Thumbs Up for a cozy, familiar dinner that’s fun to eat and even better as leftovers.

Teaching independence isn’t about big, perfect moments — it’s about small, repeatable wins in the kitchen. This meal is one of them.

More recipes like this coming soon as we grow our Avery’s Bite Check series!