Cooking On The Ranch

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Roundup
  • Contact Me
  • Join Community
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Soups, Stews, & Chilis
  • About
  • Recipe Roundup
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Soups, Stews, & Chilis
    • About
    • Recipe Roundup
    • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home

    Church Supper Sloppy Joes For a Crowd, Serves 60

    October 5, 2009 By Lea Ann Brown 47 Comments

    Sloppy joes for a crowd. A sloppy joe served on a plate with potato chips.

    Sloppy Joes for a crowd. This is a recipe from our old Church cookbook for Sloppy Joes to serve a large group. This recipe from the book is titled Sloppy Joes for 60. So if you’re looking for a recipe for Sloppy Joes for a crowd for your next party, this will fit that bill. Let’s take a look.

    Sloppy Joes on a bun with potato chips on the side.

    Where did this Sloppy Joe Recipe Come From?

    This old fashioned sloppy joe recipe is from my church cookbook.  The church that I attended when I was growing up in the middle of Kansas.  

    You’ll find Sloppy Joes for 60 along with Baptist Punch for 100, which is an odd combination of ginger ale, Kool-Aid, Hawaiian Punch and 7-Up.  I was surprised to see they didn’t add five cups of sugar, I wonder if it’s sweet enough.  Do they even make Hawaiian Punch anymore?  

    Church ladies often published these types of recipes serving large groups because of Church socials or Church suppers. And most of these church dinner ideas are cheap recipes for large groups.

    This is a great recipe to keep on hand in case you’ve invited 58 friends over for dinner, or if you’re the Osmonds and have 58 of your great grandchildren over for lunch  (hey, I–am–not–making–that–up,  it was on Oprah on Friday). 

    Or if you’re empty nesters like us it will yield you 30 Sloppy Joes each. 🙂

    For tonight’s dinner we weren’t all that hungry, so I decided to scale the recipe down from 60 servings to 2. 😉  

    But below you’ll find the original recipe. 

    The flavor of this recipe is perfect sloppy joe flavor in our books. Sweet tangy and savory. 

    Ingredients to Make Sloppy Joes for A Crowd

    Ingredients to make sloppy joes for a large crowd
    • Hamburger Buns: Not all hamburger are created equal. There are some very large buns available for sale. Choose the smaller 3 ½ inch buns for this recipe to accommodate the number of servings.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Brown Sugar: Dark or light brown sugar will work for this recipe.
    • Mustard: Plain ol’ yellow mustard. Keep in simple with good old fashioned flavor.
    • Ketchup
    • Onion: Chopped sweet or yellow onion is best for this recipe. A red onion will add too strong of flavor and may compromise the overall flavor.
    • Celery: Chopped
    • Ground Beef: Save the 80/20 blend of ground beef for those burgers on the grill. Buy lean or extra lean ground beef for this recipe, 90% lean is a good guideline. You can use 80-20 but you’ll need to drain the grease before adding ingredients and the yield of final beef amount will lessen.
    • Flour: We’re adding just a little all-purpose flour to the mix to thicken the consistency. If you need to make gluten-free Sloppy Joes, omit the flour.

    How many pounds of hamburger do I need for 50 Sloppy Joes? 7 – 8 pounds of hamburger is am ample amount for 50 – 60 Sloppy Joes, depending on the bun size. The celery, onion, and liquid ingredients bulk up the hamburger weight to make enough fill a smaller burger bun.

    How To Make Sloppy Joes for 60

    Once you’re done chopping the onions and celery, this recipe is very easy to throw together.

    Browning ground beef for sloppy joes to serve 60.
    • Step 1: Brown the ground beef. Find the largest fry pan you can and brown hamburger meat in three batches. Once the first batch is about half way browned, add ⅓ of the onion, ⅓ of the celery and ⅓ of the flour. Once the meat is browned, move the mixture to a big soup pot and repeat with two more batches.
    Cooking ground beef for sloppy joes for 60
    • Step 2: Use an 8 quart soup pot. I have used a 6 quart, it works but a little tight on space.
    Sloppy joes for a large crowd cooking in a big soup pot
    • Step 3: Once all of the ingredients are in the big soup pot, add remainder of the ingredients and simmer for at least 30 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, or needs a little punch of flavor, I add a little bit of your favorite bottled bbq sauce.

    Important Note: Please make sure to check the notes in the recipe card below, depending how the amount served per bun, this recipe can be a recipe for Sloppy Joes for 50, if using ½ cup servings per bun, or ⅓ cup servings will give you a Sloppy Joes Recipe for 60. And then there’s always that Sloppy Joe Sliders equasion.

    The History of Sloppy Joes

    When I decided to prepare this recipe, I wondered about the origin of the name “Sloppy Joe”, so I Googled “Where did the name Sloppy Joe come from”  sure enough I was rewarded with answers:

    One web site claims:   The Original Sloppy Joe Sandwich was invented at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West. The original is still available and consists of ground beef in a sweet rich tomato sauce, with onions, peppers and spices.

    Hence the sandwich was named for the establishment, not the consistency, as suggested by the Manwich recipe people.

    (Ok now this really bothers me, what’s up with those Manwich “people” starting ugly rumors?)

    Another web site suggests that it was named after a Green Bay Packer team member Joe Krzrwinski … aka “Sloppy”, a nickname given to him for his inconsistent play on the field. The first creation was made with ground sausage during 1930.

    According to another story, the sandwich was named after the Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Havana, Cuba which was the first to serve a sandwich of this variety.

    So depending on if you’re a Cheese Head, or a Parrot Head you’ve got your answer.

    Even James Beard, the 20th Century Godfather of American cooking wrote about Sloppy Joes: “This is a product of the modern age, and though it is not a palate-tingling delight it has a large public.”

    Perhaps Beard’s generous use of a ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce in his version of Sloppy Joes had something to do with his unenthusiastic view.  Plus I think it’s a slap in the face to white-trash food.  Just who does he think he is???  (Oh, that’s right, he’s the 20th century godfather of American Cooking.)

    Sloppy Joes for large group gatherings are an easy way to feed that crowd. 

    Sloppy Joe Recipe For Large Crowd

    A sloppy joe sandwich recipe to feed 60 people.

    These Sloppy Joes are a super easy way to serve a main course to a large group.

    I made these for a block party a few years ago, and I can’t tell you how many times I was asked for the recipe.

    I hope you give this Sloppy Joe Recipe a try next time you’re hosting a large group. And if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating and leave a message about your experience with the recipe.

    And if you have a recipe for feeding a large group, let me know, I’d love to give it a try. I host our yearly block party and am always looking for recipe ideas.

    What Side Dishes Go With Sloppy Joes?

    Looking for side dish recipes to serve a crowd with these Sloppy Joes? Just double or triple these recipes. Pioneer Woman’s Best Pasta Salad, Classic Potato Salad, or a big pot of Calico Beans.

    More Recipes To Feed A Crowd

    If you’re looking for cheap recipes for large groups take a look at these. You’ll need to double or triple these recipes, depending on the size of the crowd.

    • Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
    • Brine for Pork Butt, Makes Great Pulled Pork Sandwiches
    • Large Batch Skirt Steak Fajitas
    • Hatch Green Chili, Colorado Style

    And if you’re in the sandwich mood, don’t miss my Sandwich Category. You’ll find lots of fun ideas. Including the most popular sandwich recipe on my site for my Party Sub Club Sandwich. A party sandwich that’s big on flavor and popularity.

    If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    Sloppy joes for a crowd. A sloppy joe served on a plate with potato chips.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 36 votes

    Church Supper Sloppy Joes for 60

    Sloppy Joe Recipe For Large Crowd, Church Cookbook Recipe.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course Beef
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 60
    Calories: 263kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 8 pounds ground beef extra lean
    • ⅓ cup flour
    • 2 ½ cups celery diced
    • 2 ½ cups onion diced, about 2 medium onions
    • ½ cup mustard or more to taste
    • ½ cup vinegar
    • ½ cup brown sugar light brown, or dark brown
    • 28 ounces catsup 3 ½ cups
    • 2 cups water
    • 60 Hamburger buns small ones, but not slider buns

    Instructions

    • In a very large fry pan, brown hamburger meat in three batches. Once the first batch is about half way browned, add ⅓ of the onion, ⅓ of the celery and ⅓ of the flour. Once the meat is browned, move the mixture to a big soup pot and repeat with two more batches.
    • Use an 8 quart soup pot. I have used a 6 quart, it works but a little tight on space.
    • Once all of the ingredients are in the big soup pot, add remainder of the ingredients and simmer for at least 30 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, or needs a little punch of flavor, I add a little bit of your favorite bottled bbq sauce.
    • Adjust seasonings to taste and serve on hamburger buns.

    Notes

    Important Note: if using ½ cup serving of sloppy joe mix per bun, this will make 50 Sloppy Joes. ½ cup makes an ample serving per bun with a little spillage off the sides of the bun. Like we all expect a sloppy joe to look.
    Using ⅓ cup serving per bun will yield 60 Sloppy Joes with a smaller about of meat per bun.
    If you’d like to Sloppy Joes using slider buns, this should yield about 80 – 100 Sloppy Joe Sliders.
    Hamburger Buns: Not all hamburger buns are created equal. There are some very large buns available for sale. Choose the smaller 3 ½ inch buns for this recipe to accommodate the number of servings.
    Make Ahead:
    Make these sloppy joes ahead of time and freeze. Use gallon zip lock bags. Just push the air out of the bags, once you put meat in and they'll lay flat in the freezer for easy storage. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat when ready.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 84IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2mg

    Sloppy Joes for a Crowd …It’s What’s For Dinner

    Rustic Great Northern Bean Soup with Bacon

    October 3, 2009 By Lea Ann Brown 31 Comments

    A bowl of great Northern bean soup topped with corn bread and bacon.

    Rustic Great Northern Bean Soup with Bacon is the kind of meal I turn to when I want something honest and unfussy. Creamy white beans, smoky bacon, and a broth that turns silky after a long simmer is simple food. The good “comfort food” kind that fills the kitchen with savory aroma.

    Great northern bean soup topped with bacon bits and two slices of cornbread.

    What Makes This Soup Rustic?

    A rustic soup can be defined by its simple ingredients, hearty and unpretentious nature. Usually thick, chunky it features common chopped vegetables like carrots, celery and onion. A base broth with rich aromatics. Rustic soups are often prepared in one pot. In my opinion, this Colorado inspired soup, using thick cut smoked bacon and the humble Great Northern Bean defines rustic. It’s pure Classic all-American Comfort Food.

    Here in Colorado, we cook for altitude and appetite. You’ll feel both in this recipe. With smoky bacon and a rich broth, you’ll feel like you’ve just prepared a recipe you’d find in a mountain lodge. And that’s exactly where I got the inspiration to make this in my own kitchen.

    It’s not fussy, a bit “stick to your ribs” in nature, without being heavy. Perfect for chilly Fall evenings or snowy days. Inspired by my stay at a lodge in the Sawatch Mountain Range let’s take a look.

    Why Are Great Northern Beans a Good Choice for Soups?

    I love cooking with white beans, Navy Beans, Great Northern Beans, Cannellini Beans. They’re easy to cook and creamy by nature. For this soup recipe I chose Great Northern Beans. They’re a bit larger than Navy Beans but smaller than Cannellini beans, medium-sized Great Northern beans are known for their mild, nutty flavor and firm flesh.

    Great in soups and stews, they hold their shape better than Navy beans, take on the flavors of the foods they're cooked with, and are commonly used in French cassoulets.

    Why Use A Crock Pot To Make This Soup

    Whenever I’m cooking with dried beans, I rely on my crockpot for easy hands-off meal. You may picture a big cast iron soup pot, hanging over an open flame to make this recipe, but I find my slow-cooker a reliable method to infuse flavor and turn out creamy beans every time.

    Key Ingredients

    Ingredients to make Great Northern Bean Soup with Bacon.
    • Smoky thick cut bacon. We’ll fry it up, chop it up and add it to the soup for some deep flavor. Don’t skimp, this is the backbone of the recipe.
    • Bay Leaf and Lard: Whenever I cook dry beans, I always add a scoop of lard and a bay leaf to the slow cooker. The lard makes those beans even creamier.
    • Chicken Broth: Rather than using straight water to cook the beans, I love using chicken broth. It simply brings more flavor.
    • Soup Seasoning: I highly recommend you make and use my recipe for Soup Seasoning Mix to make this recipe. It’s a mix of herbs and spices that really brings the “wow” factor to bean soups.
    • Vegetables: A traditional mix of celery, onion and carrot … a rough chopped Mirepoix.

    What is Mirepoix? (pronounced Meer-pwah) is a classic French aromatic flavor base, commonly used in soups and sauces. It’s made by lightly cooking a mixture of two parts chopped onion, one part chopped celery and one part chopped carrot. For instance, 2 cups onion, 1 cup celery and 1 cup carrot. The vegetables are cooked slowly in butter or oil to bring out thier flavors without browning or caramelizing.

    Do You Have To Soak Great Northern Beans?

    The short answer is no. But you probably should. I cook a lot of beans and probably soak only 50% of the time. If I’ve planned ahead for a meal the next day, I rinse and then soak in water overnight. No need to refrigerate. Drain the next morning and then proceed with the recipe. Soaking will help the beans cook quicker. If you haven’t soaked, they’ll cook up just fine.

    Flavor Variations

    • Green chile twist: Add a Southwestern spin and stir in roasted Colorado or New Mexico green chile peppers near the end. A little smoky flavor, a bit of heat will jazz things up.
    • Ham hock swap: Use a ham hock instead of bacon for a deeper pork flavor. Just remove it at the end of cooking and when cool enough shred the meat from the bone and add back into the soup. Old school with rich flavor.
    • Creamy version: Blend a cup or two of the beans and stir back in to thicken the soup.
    • Vegetarian spin: Skip the bacon and add a teaspoon or more of smoked paprika, or even a splash of liquid smoke.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Step 1: Cooking great northern beans in a crock pot to make great northern bean soup.
    Step 2: Cooking bacon to make great Northern Bean Soup.
    1. Step 1: Place beans in a crock pot, along with the lard and bay leaf. Cover with 4 cups of chicken broth. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until tender. Check crock pot periodically to make sure beans don’t go dry. Add more stock if necessary.
    2. Step 2: In the meantime, cook the bacon, turning, until browned and crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain, reserving the fat and bacon separately.
    Step 3: Cooking vegetables to make Great Northern Bean Soup.
    Step 4: Finishing great Northern Bean Soup using the crock pot.
    1. Step 3: Heat a tablespoon of the bacon fat in a skillet. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 40 seconds.
    2. Step 4: Once the beans are tender, add the cooked vegetables, remaining 4 cups broth and soup seasoning mix to the crockpot. Cook for one hour.
    Step 5: Chopping bacon to finish Great Northern Bean Soup.
    1. Step 5: Use a knife to rough chop the bacon. Add half of it to the crock pot and let it cook for another 30 minutes.
    A bowl of great northern bean soup topped with bacon bits and two slices of cornbread.
    1. Step 6: To serve, ladle some of the soup into soup bowls and garnish with crumbled bacon.

    Presentation Tip: I love shallow wide bowls to serve any soup, it just shows off the ingredients in a perfect way.

    What To Serve With Great Northern Bean Soup

    • Bread: Rustic crusty bread. Nothing says comfort food like tearing off a chunk and dipping it in the broth.
    • Cornbread: Homemade Cornbread is another traditional side to serve with bean soups. I happen to love the sweetness it adds to the soup. I crumble a little in with each bite.
    • Salad: a simple salad. Greens with a sharp vinaigrette, like my recipe for Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette, to balance the richness.

    Storage Freezing and Reheating

    • Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
    • Reheating: Gently reheat stovetop in a saucepan until warm. Or use your microwave oven. The 50% power feature is your best friend. Place individual servings in a microwave safe bowl and reheat in 30 second increments until warm enough to eat. This lower setting helps avoid those splattering microwave food explosions.
    • Freezer: Place any leftovers in a freezer safe zip-lock style bag. Fill the bag while it’s standing up, then press air out and seal well. You can store the bag laying down to optimize freezer space. Label with date and contents and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

    FAQ’s

    Can I Use Navy Beans Instead?

    Yes, they’re a bit smaller, a bit softer once cooked and still delicious. Kidney Beans and also Cannellini Beans (White Kidney Beans) can be toxic when cooked in the crock pot. They contain toxic levels of lectin which can cause stomach and gut illness. To eliminate this threat, you need to boil these beans for 30 minutes before adding them to a crock pot meal like this soup.

    Why Are My Beans Still Hard?

    More than likely they need to be cooked longer. Older beans do need a longer cooking time.

    Can I Make This Ahead For Meal Prep?

    Absolutely, these types of soups are perfect for meal prep. It's even better the next day. I make a big pot on Sunday and have leftovers for a few days. Then freeze any leftovers if I’m tired of having the same thing several days in a row.

    Honestly, this Rustic Great Northern Bean Soup with Bacon is one of those back-pocket recipes I lean on again and again. It's simple but not boring. Cozy without trying too hard. Creamy beans, smoky bites of bacon, broth that somehow tastes richer the next day. Make a big pot for dinner and the leftovers will taste even better the next day. It's the kind of straightforward, real-deal comfort food that never lets you down. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need.

    Explore More Colorado Style Comfort Food Soups

    If you love cozy, mountain-style cooking, stick around. I've got more where this came from. Hearty and straightforward, the kind of food that feels like home.

    • Red wine bean and beef soup in a shallow white bowl.
      Hearty Red Wine Bean and Beef Soup
    • A bowl of 15 bean soup.
      A Superior 15 Bean Soup In A Crock Pot
    • Bison chili with black beans.
      Award Winning Bison Chili Recipe with Black Beans and Lime Crema
    • Spicy cabbage and chicken soup garnished with cilantro and corn chips.
      Spicy Chicken and Cabbage Soup

    Love homemade comfort style soups? Don’t miss my Soup Stews and Chile Category, you’ll find lots of slurp worthy recipes. And this Colorado inspired favorite for Porter Beer Bison Stew. The broth is spiked with an ale from Breckenridge Brewery in Breckenridge, Colorado, for a robust bowl of stew.

    If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    A bowl of great Northern bean soup topped with corn bread and bacon.
    Print Recipe
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Great Northern Bean Soup with Bacon

    A soup perfect for a crisp Fall night.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time6 hours hrs
    Total Time6 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course: Soup, Stews and Chilis
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 434kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound Dried Great Northern Beans rinsed and sorted
    • 8 cups chicken stock divided
    • 1 scoop Lard
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 pound thick-sliced bacon cooked until crispy
    • 1 sweet onion finely chopped
    • 3 large carrots chopped, about 1 ¼ cups
    • 3 large celery ribs chopped, about 1 ¼ cups
    • 4-5 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 Tablespoon Soup Seasoning Mix 1 teaspoon each dried thyme and rosemarry
    • Salt and freshly ground pepper

    Instructions

    • Wash beans and pick out any misfits. Place beans in a crock pot, along with the lard and bay leaf. Cover with 4 cups of chicken stock. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until tender. Check crock pot periodically to make sure beans don't go dry. Add more stock if necessary.
    • Cook the bacon, turning, until browned and crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain, reserving the fat and bacon separately.
    • Heat a tablespoon of the bacon fat in a skillet. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 40 seconds.
    • Once the beans are tender, add the cooked vegetables, remaining 4 cups broth and soup seasoning mix to the crockpot. Cook for one hour.
    • Add half the cooked, chopped bacon to the soup. Let it cook for 30 minutes.
    • Discard the bay leaf, spoon soup into bowls, garnish with some of the remaining chopped bacon and serve.

    Notes

    This recipe can easily be cooked stove top. Use a 6-quart Dutch oven to cook the beans, covered. Then follow the recipe from there. Easy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 600mg | Potassium: 1037mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3643IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 3mg

    Great Northern Bean Soup with Bacon …It’s What’s For Dinner

    Ina Garten’s Creamy Dijon Vinaigrette

    September 17, 2009 By Lea Ann Brown 8 Comments

    Dijon Vinaigrette on a leaf of Romaine Lettuce.

    This Dijon vinaigrette recipe is one of the simplest variations on the basic vinaigrette formula and a delicious salad dressing in its own right. Ina Garten’s Dijon Vinaigrette is our go-to vinaigrette.

    Dijon vinaigrette on a leaf of romaine lettuce.

    I hardly ever buy bottled dressings anymore.  Years ago, I discovered that one can lead a perfectly normal life without a bottle of  Wishbone in the refrigerator. 

    Homemade dressings are so easy, so delicious and so fresh and most will keep in the fridge for about a week and sometimes longer.

    What Is Dijon Vinaigrette?

    Dijon Vinaigrette is a salad dressing made from a combination of oil, vinegar and Dijon mustard. Dijon adds a tangy and sharp flavor and it’s creamy acidic makeup helps stabilize the dressing. It’s a classic French style salad dressing.

    Ina Garten’s classic small batch Dijon Vinaigrette recipe is my go-to for a quick simple dressing. A big-time family favorite for us. Predictable with vinegar, and bright Dijon mustard, it becomes creamy with the use of an egg yolk. The end result is a luscious, beautifully colored homemade vinaigrette that becomes irresistible.

    Simple ingredients, simple in procedure, let’s take a look. All you need to know is how to make a good emulsion.

    What Is An Emulsion?

    An emulsion is a blend of two liquids that normally don’t play well together. In this case olive oil and vinegar. When adding oil to dressings, it’s added at the end, it’s added slowly and whisked or beaten vigorously to blend well with the other ingredients. You can create an emulsion in several ways:

    • Use a whisk to vigorously blend the ingredients while slowly adding the oil.
    • I’ve used a Mason or Ball style canning jar and just used good old fashioned elbow grease to shake the heck out of it.
    • Use a blender, food processor or even an immersion blender.

    With that said …

    Standard Ratio To Make A Vinaigrette

    Culinary School taught us that no matter what aromatics and flavors you’re choosing for any vinaigrette, the best vinegar-to-oil ration is to follow the 3:1 rule. Three parts oil to one part acid. In this case, for the acid we’re using vinegar and Dijon mustard. However, all rules can be broken, depending on the flavor profile and the sharpness and brightness you’re looking for you can switch things up to a 2:1 ratio.

    Ingredients To Make Dijon Vinaigrette

    Ingredients to make Dijon Vinaigrette
    • Champagne Vinegar: Champagne vinegar is a mild floral vinegar typically made from Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes. Like other vinegars, it’s allowed to age and ferment. It will bring a bright tangy taste, without the harshness of some other vinegars. If you don’t have Champagne vinaigrette, you can substitute with Seasoned Rice Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar.
    • Olive Oil: It may not seem like a big deal, but using a high quality extra virgin olive oil can make all of the difference in a good vinaigrette. Using the same high production olive oil that you cook with will compromise the texture and bring a heavy over all flavor balance.
    • Egg Yolk: Adding a raw egg yolk to a vinaigrette will serve as an emulsifier to bind ingredients and keep the oil from separating. It will also create a thicker and creamier texture.
    • Shallot: Ina’s Dijon Vinaigrette recipe calls for chopped garlic. I didn’t have any on hand so substituted a shallot. Either will work well here.
    • Sugar: Adding sugar will balance acidity and mellow flavors.

    Step by Step Instructions – It’s Easy

    Step 1 to make Dijon vinaigrette.
    Step 2 to make Dijon Vinaigrette.
    • Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, garlic (or shallot), egg yolk, salt, and pepper.
    • Step 2: While whisking, slowly add the olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified.

    Tips for Success

    • We’re using a raw egg yolk to make the Champagne Vinaigrette a very luxurious dressing. Use a very fresh egg. Ina instructs that if you’re afraid of raw egg yolk, simply omit. But please note, you’ll be sacrificing that creamy texture.

    Uses For Dijon Vinaigrette

    • Arugula: Arugula is a sturdy leafy green that’s a member of the mustard family and known for it’s peppery tangy flavor. It’s tough texture is good for any vinegary dressing, as it won’t wilt as easily as more delicate greens, such as butter lettuce.
    • Tossed Salad: I love using Dijon Vinaigrette on a Pickled Beet Salad. The tart and tangy flavors of the dressing work well with the sweet and tangy flavor of pickled beets and salty Feta cheese.
    • Marinade: Because it contains acid (vinegar) and oil, the main components of a marinade, it can be used to flavor and tenderize meats, poultry or even seafood. Try marinating bone-in, skin on chicken thighs in Dijon Vinaigrette for about 10 minutes. Drain excess liquid and grill.
    • Vegetables: Drizzle it on any oven roasted or grilled vegetables.

    Storage – How Long Will Dijon Vinaigrette Last In The Fridge?

    • Most vinaigrettes will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Ina’s recipe includes a raw egg for creaminess, so to be safe, use this dressing within 2 – 3 days. If you omit the egg, this dressing will last longer.
    • Tip: I like to store any leftover homemade dressing in a Mason-style canning jar. Always remember to label and date. Masking tape works well here.
    • If the vinaigrette separates during storage, just give it a good shake before use.

    Creamy Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe

    Ina Garten’s Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette proves that simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavor velvety in texture, a tangy kick and effortless preparation, this versatile dressing elevates everything to crisp greens to roasted vegetables.

    More Popular Homemade Salad Dressings

    • A container of homemade blue cheese dressing.
      Best Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
    • Cranberry Vinaigrette with pear, walnut, blue cheese salad.
      Easy Balsamic Cranberry Vinaigrette
    • Catalina dressing in a mason jar.
      Homemade Catalina Dressing Recipe

    And if you’re salad lovers like us, don’t miss my Salad Category. You’ll find lots of salad side dishes and dressings. And you’ll find the most popular vinaigrette recipe on my site for Red Wine Vinegar Salad Dressing.

    Here’s Ina’s incredible Creamy Dijon Vinaigrette recipe. I hope you give it a try.

    Ina recipes are so reliable, you have to try Ina’s Gruyere, Arugula, Tomato and Onion Sliders. This is an OMG for sure.

    If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    Dijon Vinaigrette on a leaf of Romaine Lettuce.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Ina Garten’s Creamy Dijon Vinaigrette

    This Dijon mustard vinaigrette recipe is one of the simplest variations on the basic vinaigrette formula and a delicious salad dressing in its own right
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Salads, Salad Dressings and Vinaigrettes
    Cuisine: French
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 173kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 3 Tablespoons Champagne vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon minced fresh garlic or shallot
    • 1 extra large egg yolk at room temperature
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • ¼ tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ cup olive oil good quality
    • Salad greens or mesclun mix for 6 to 8 people

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, garlic, egg yolk, salt, and pepper. While whisking, slowly add the olive oil until the vinaigrette is emulsified. Toss the greens with enough dressing to moisten and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Tips For Success
    We’re using a raw egg yolk to make the Champagne Vinaigrette a very luxurious dressing. Use a very fresh egg. Ina instructs that if you’re afraid of raw egg yolk, simply omit. But please note, you’ll be sacrificing that creamy texture.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 298mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

    Creamy Dijon Vinaigrette … It’s What’s For Your Next Tossed Salad

    Chipotle Peach Salsa Recipe

    September 2, 2009 By Lea Ann Brown 11 Comments

    spicy peach salsa recipe served with tortilla chips

    Chipotle Peach Salsa. A very special spicy salsa for fresh peach season. The flavor is so addictive. Fresh tomatoes, juicy sweet peaches, sweet onion, cilantro and chipotle chiles. Everything you want in a robust salsa.

    spicy peach salsa recipe served with tortilla chips

    So What Makes This Spicy Peach Salsa So Good?

    Lots of fresh chopped tomatoes, Chipotle Peppers, cilantro, sweet onion, lime juice and that all important splash of apple cider vinegar. The biggest reason: fresh juicy Colorado Peaches.

    I received my case of Fresh Colorado Western Slope Peaches this week and have been enjoying every single sweet juicy peachy bite. 

    For those of you who aren’t familiar with the state of Colorado, we live on the Eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, referred to as the front range.

    Our Colorado peaches are grown in the western part of our state in the area of Palisade, Colorado near Grand Junction. The same area where our Colorado Wineries are located. We call this The Western Slope. And we call our peaches, Palisade peaches or Western Slope Peaches.

    I call them “beyond exquisite”.

    Hot days and cool nights give us exceptional fruit and some pretty decent wine if I don’t say so myself.

    So, when there’s only two of us, how on earth do I manage to use up all of those peaches? One of my favorite way is to make this Spicy Peach Salsa Recipe.

    This spicy peach salsa is not only delicious used as a typical salsa for dipping chips, but we love it over salmon fillets.

    Spicy peach salsa served over a salmon fillet that's been seasoned with salt pepper and smoked paprika

    The salmon fillets are simply seasoned with salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Roasted in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees and you’ve got an easy and exciting main course salmon meal.

    Pan seared pork chops with balsamic glaze and peach salsa.

    This peach salsa also works very well with grilled pork. Seasoned with my Southwest Spice Blend and brushed with Balsamic Glaze Recipe, topped with a spoonful of my peach salsa recipe – delicious.

    Spicy peach salsa on a dark gray plate served with tortilla chips and limes.

    And of course, have some tortilla chips on hand. You’ll want to dip, dip and dip some more. And enjoy every beautiful fresh bite.

    Spicy Peach Salsa Recipe

    I hope you give this spicy peach salsa recipe a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.

    And if you have a favorite fresh peach salsa recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

    More Recipes with Fresh Peaches

    • Fresh Peach Blueberry Pie
    • Grilled Peach Salad with Arugula and Goat Cheese
    • Fresh Peach Curd Tart
    • Butter Lettuce Pistachio Peach Salad
    • Vanilla Roasted Peaches with Mascarpone and Raspberries
    • Zesty Homemade Peach Barbecue Sauce

    More Salsa Recipes

    • Essential Mexican Restaurant Style Salsa
    • Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
    • Salsa Macha Recipe

    And don’t miss the most popular salsa recipe on my site for Black Bean Corn Salsa Dip. It’s simply party perfect.

    Love Mexican food as much as we do? Don’t miss my Category for Mexican Food Recipes. You’ll find lots of great recipes, including the most popular on my site for Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas. It’s a crowd pleaser.

    If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    spicy peach salsa recipe served with tortilla chips
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Chipotle Peach Salsa

    A traditional salsa made with peaches.
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer Recipes
    Cuisine: Southwestern
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 51kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 5 medium tomatoes chopped
    • 1 cup peaches heaping cup, peeled and diced
    • ½ sweet onion diced
    • 1 lime juiced
    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
    • 1 Jalapeno chile seeded, veins removed and minced
    • 1 small poblano pepper roasted, minced
    • 2 chipotle chiles in adobo seeded and minced
    • 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from the can of chipotles in adobo
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon apple cider vinegar

    Instructions

    • In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir gently but well to combine. Will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1269IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

    Spicy Peach Salsa Recipe …It’s What’s For An Appetizer

    Homemade Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Recipe

    July 6, 2009 By Lea Ann Brown 2 Comments

    homemade snickerdoodle ice cream in a white bowl.

    This is a recipe for Snickerdoodle Ice Cream. An easy custard-style ice cream, made in an electric ice cream maker and loaded with vanilla and cinnamon flavors. Everything you love about snickerdoodle cookies in ice cream form.

    The bird we didn't see - A Black Vulture

    Two days ago, a Black Vulture was sighted at Castlewood Canyon State Park.

    homemade snickerdoodle ice cream in a white bowl.

    And then I made this Snickerdoodle Ice Cream ….

    July 4, 2009.  This is a very rare bird for Colorado with only a handful of records over the years.  We got the phone call yesterday around noon, so we dropped everything and drove over with binoculars and dreams of adding a new bird for our Colorado State list. 

    Believe me, we’ve seen plenty of Black Vultures in Florida and Texas, but none here.  After a couple hours of scanning the sky and searching through soaring Turkey Vultures, we left the canyon Black Vultureless so decided to be at the park again this morning.

    We wanted to arrive before the temperatures heated up so we could be present for the big lift off. 

    You see, vultures wait for the warming thermals before taking to the air.  Castlewood Canyon hosts a large number of roosting Turkey Vultures, it seems our guest Black Vulture has fallen in with a bad crowd.

    There were about 16 of us at the Homestead parking lot.  After about an hour we decided to move South to the next parking lot for a better vantage point.  We enjoyed a singing Red-Eyed Vireo, many Bluebirds, lots of calling Spotted Towhees….no Black Vulture.  We stayed at the park from 8:30 – 11:00 scanning the sky, again sifting through Turkey Vulture after Turkey Vulture.  No Black Vulture.  At 11:30 as we were almost home, we got a phone call on my cell alerting us that the bird had been seen.  “We watched it for a good ten minutes”, said Steve. 

    We didn’t turn around and head back, instead I made Snickerdoodle Ice Cream.  I mean com’on Black Vulture – I’ve got a National Holiday to celebrate.

    Recipe for Homemade Snickerdoodle Ice Cream

    I hope you give this homemade snickerdoodle ice cream recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.

    Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite homemade ice cream recipe, let me know, I'd love to give it a try.

    More Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

    • Peach Ice Cream
    • Balsamic Roasted Strawberry Ice Cream
    • Caramelized Banana Ice Cream

    And if you’re looking for more dessert recipes, don’t miss my Dessert Category. You’ll find lots of great ideas for that sweet tooth. Including the most popular dessert recipe on my site for Cream Cheese Flan.

    homemade snickerdoodle ice cream in a white bowl.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Snickerdoodle Ice Cream

    An easy custard-style ice cream, made in an electric ice cream maker and loaded with vanilla and cinnamon flavors. Everything you love about snickerdoodle cookies in ice cream form.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Amerian
    Servings: 7
    Calories: 348kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup whole milk
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 4 egg yolks
    • 2 cups heavy cream
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Warm the milk in a small pan.  
    • Whisk the eggs with the sugar in a separate bowl. Slowly add warm milk to sugar mixture continuing to whisk.
    • Pour mixture back in the pan and heat slowly until thickened, stirring constantly. It should look like very liquid pudding. Do not boil! Let cool to room temperature add cream, vanilla and cinnamon. 
    • Chill overnight. Follow directions on ice cream maker for churning.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 208mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 108mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1205IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    Here are some pictures from the missed Black Vulture Event:

    Ira Sanders, Larry Modisett, Joe Roller birdwatching at Castlewood Canyon State Park for the Black Vulture
    Male Yorkshire terrier standing in a red camping chair

    We’ll try again tomorrow morning for the Black Vulture.

    July 5, 2009.  We arrived at Homestead Parking lot in Castlewood Canyon at about 9:00.  Our location was to watch for from the parking lot.

    Loch was stationed on the North end of the park, and Larry had climbed to the top of the ridge. So the wait began. 

    Several of us present chatted about recent birding adventures, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen, A Gray Catbird sang for us and finally the cell phone rang with news of the bird on the Southern horizon. 

    Sure enough, we found the bird and watched it for a good ten minutes.   Third times a charm!

    « Previous Page
    Next Page »

    I'm Lea Ann

    Welcome to my Colorado kitchen. If you're a fan of rustic homestyle cuisine, you've come to the right place. I'm a Culinary School Grad with a passion to inspire you to cook as often as you can. I offer reliable, approachable and easy to follow recipes. So grab that skillet and let's cook.

    More about me
    Graphic for Hatch Chile Recipes

    Reader Favorites

    • Super Moist Cheesy Cornbread with Creamed Corn
    • Flemings steakhouse macaroni and cheese in a white bowl.
      Flemings Steakhouse Mac and Cheese
    • Layered Mexican Casserole in a 9 x 13 pyrex dish with ground beef and corn tortillas, garnished with tomatoes and cilantro
      Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef and Corn Tortillas
    • Beef Tagliata, thin sliced flank steak served over arugula and cherry tomatoes.
      Beef Tagliata (Italian Steak)
    • Ham and cheese quesadilla made with corn tortillas and topped with a fried egg.
      Crispy Ham and Cheese Corn Tortilla Quesadillas
    • Spinach chicken mushroom skillet dinner.
      Chicken Mushroom and Spinach Skillet

    Cozy Winter Comfort Food

    • Chicken Fajita Pasta in a large skillet.
      Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta
    • Spicy meatloaf made with sofrito.
      Spicy Sofrito Meatloaf, The Secret Ingredient For Ultimate Flavor
    • Hamburger potato soup served in an orange bowl.
      Old Fashioned Hamburger Potato Soup
    • Pork tenderloin tacos with guajillo chile sauce.
      Pork Tenderloin Tacos In Chile Guajillo Red Sauce

    Footer

    • Contact
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2024 Cooking on the Ranch • Powered by Feast+

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required