avocado slices and halved cherry tomatoes next to egg mushroom and ground beef dish with marinated red onions on a blue plate with a wood handle fork on a wood counter

Joe’s Special: it’s simply a revelation. I recently asked followers what recipes they are looking for for back to school. There was an overwhelming consensus: recipes with ground beef that are reasonable and easy for fall!  I wanted to change it up by adding pork and exotic mushrooms but stay true to the original with ground beef, onions, spinach and eggs.

egg spinach mushroom and ground beef dish in a pan with a wooden spoon and a green checkered napkin

Joe’s Special is a Northwestern diner staple!

If you have never heard of a Joe’s Special, you are not alone. A Northern California and Pacific Northwest diner staple of eggs, ground beef, and spinach, it originates in the 1920’s in an Italian-American restaurant in San Francisco, called New Joe’s (although there is a debate about whether it was actually New Joe’s or Original Joe’s!)  While the New Joe’s is long gone, the tradition of a Joe’s Special remains. The perfect fall dish that’s great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

eggs spinach salt cayenne black pepper oregano basil olive oil sliced mushrooms diced shallots marinated red onions ground beef and sausage in bowls on a white surface
eggs in a blender jar behind a bowl of broken egg shells in a bowl

The magic of this diner staple is the simplicity of the ingredients and how they come together to create something utterly crave-worthy. You won’t be running out to the store to purchase any specialty items for this dish! Made with ingredients most people keep in their fridge, this is the perfect meal to whip up on the spot. It will make all of your favorite eaters feel indulged and special.

shallots sautéing in olive oil in a cast iron pan
saute the shallots
ground beef sausage and mushrooms browning in a cast iron pan
brown the mushrooms and ground beef and sausage
raw spinach on top of a meat mixture in a cast iron pan on a white surface
add the spinach

This dish comes together in a few easy steps

You begin by browning your onions, mushrooms, and meat in the largest pan you have. Make sure the ground beef and sausage mixture is broken up well to avoid any large chunks! Next, you’ll add the spinach and will see how fast it starts to shrink down. You then add the spices and herbs before adding the eggs and finishing the dish! PRO TIP: Blend the eggs in a blender!

beaten eggs being poured over a wilted spinach mushroom and ground meat mixture in a cast iron pan

Because of the spinach and herbs, the egg mixture might feel or look a bit wet as you’re cooking but no fret! This is a moist dish! I love a moist egg but if your preference is a more well-done egg dish, I won’t stop you! Food is all about preferences, after all.

beaten eggs wilted spinach mushrooms and ground beef in a cast iron pan
mushrooms spinach ground beef and egg mixture cooking down in a cast iron pan with a blue handle over a white surface

A great Whole30 meal that everyone will enjoy

I like to serve my Joe’s Special with Marinated Red Onions on top and a few slices of avocado or cherry tomatoes — absolutely delicious! If you’re not following a Whole30 diet, feel free to serve with a little crumbled feta and side of toast if you want to be even more indulgent but you’ll find this dish does not need it. Bon appetit!

cooked egg dish with marinated onions two slices of toasted bread and a silver fork on a white plate over a green checkered napkin next to a cast iron pan with cooked egg dish

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Whole30 Joe’s Special

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  • Author: nocrumbsleft
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 15 min
  • Total Time: 25 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  •   ½ pound ground beef 
  •   ½ cup raw compliant mild Italian sausage 
  •   3 tablespoons olive oil 
  •   1 cup chopped shallots 
  •   2 cups sliced mushrooms 
  •   1 teaspoon kosher 
  •   8 ounces spinach (about 8 cups) 
  •   ½ teaspoon dry oregano 
  •   ½ teaspoon dry basil
  •   ½ teaspoon black pepper  
  •   ¼ teaspoon cayenne 
  •   12 eggs, beaten 
  •   Marinated Red Onions

Instructions

In a large bowl mix the ground beef and sausage together. Set aside. 

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high. Add the shallots and sauté for 2 ½ minutes. Add the mushrooms then stir and cover for 2 minutes. Uncover and cook for 2 more minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and stir to combine. Add the meat mixture and cook for 4 minutes while stirring, separating the chunks of meat with a wooden spoon. Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute, using 2 wooden spoons to toss while cooking.  

Add the oregano, basil and black pepper then add the eggs and lower the heat to medium low. When the eggs start to set, gently fold everything together and cook until the eggs are done about 4-5 minutes.

Top with Marinated Red Onions. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

If you would like your dish to be a little more beef and sausage forward (less eggs) follow the exact same directions above, but use only 7 eggs.