Description
Classic, comforting, and incredibly easy sloppy joes made from scratch with a savory, slightly sweet, and wonderfully messy filling perfect for any weeknight dinner or fun gathering.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 green bell pepper, minced
1/2 large yellow onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup water
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp yellow mustard
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp black pepper
dash of hot sauce
Instructions
Melt butter and oil in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned and crumbled, about 5 minutes. Drain the beef.
Add onion and bell pepper to the same skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Return the beef to the skillet and add tomato paste, stirring well.
Stir in ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper until combined.
Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened to your preference. Serve hot over toasted buns.
Notes
Drain the ground beef well after browning to prevent a greasy mixture and ensure a better sauce consistency.
Cook the bell pepper and onion until they are tender-crisp or fully softened, depending on your preference, to allow their natural sweetness to meld into the sauce.
Taste the mixture before it fully thickens and adjust the brown sugar or red pepper flakes to suit your palate.
Garlic can turn bitter if cooked for too long. Add it in at the end of the vegetable sauté and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Prep Time: Approximately 15 minutes
- Cook Time: Approximately 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Protein: N/A