I think the last time I ate a sloppy joe was a decade ago, but I decided to made them this week on a whim. As soon as I took one generous bite and the sloppy contents plopped onto my plate, I knew there was a reason why I loved sloppy joes as a kid. It's completely acceptable (and unavoidable) to be messy while eating a sloppy joe. For kids, it's like receiving permission to cover your hands and face with your food. As an adult, I will unabashedly admit that it's still fun.
If you're living in an apartment and/or don't have a grill, sloppy joes are a great faux-grilled food. The bacon in this sloppy joe offers the smoky satisfaction you get from grilling burgers. Serve these with beer, potato chips, pickles, and a stack of napkins, of course!