Classic Sloppy Joes (Printable Version)

Savory ground beef in tangy sweet tomato sauce on toasted buns. Ready in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80-85% lean

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce & Seasonings

05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 2 tbsp ketchup
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tsp yellow mustard
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
15 - 1/4 cup water

→ To Serve

16 - 4 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
17 - Optional: sliced pickles, shredded cheddar cheese

# Directions:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned throughout, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften and become fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and water. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients and dissolve any clumps of tomato paste.
04 - Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes until the sauce thickens nicely and coats the beef.
05 - Taste the sloppy joe mixture and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or brown sugar if desired.
06 - Spoon the hot beef mixture generously onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Add pickles and shredded cheese if using. Top with the remaining bun halves and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The perfect balance of sweet and tangy that even picky eaters cannot resist
  • Ready in under 40 minutes which means less time cooking and more time enjoying dinner together
  • Freezes beautifully so you can double the batch and save half for those nights when cooking feels impossible
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening as it cools so do not reduce it too much on the stove or you will end up with something resembling paste instead of sauce
  • Letting the mixture rest for 5 minutes off the heat before serving helps the sauce cling to the meat better instead of running all over your plate
  • Using 80-85% lean beef instead of super lean meat makes a huge difference in flavor and texture
03 -
  • Mince your vegetables smaller than you think you need to because big chunks of onion or pepper can make the messy filling fall off the bun in one giant piece
  • Lightly toasting the buns creates a protective barrier that keeps your sandwich from turning into a soggy mess within minutes
  • If your sauce tastes too acidic add the brown sugar one teaspoon at a time until it reaches that perfect sweet spot

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