Homemade Sloppy Joes
Made-from-scratch sloppy joes leave the can behind. A quick sauce of tomato, a little brown sugar, and a hit of Worcestershire and mustard balances sweet, tangy, and savory around tender ground beef — ready faster than takeout.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (85/15)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 6 hamburger buns, toasted
Instructions
- 1
Brown the beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up, 6 minutes. Spoon off excess fat.
- 2
Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook until softened, 4 minutes.
- 3
Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- 4
Simmer, stirring, for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened and saucy — not soupy.
- 5
Taste and adjust; add a splash of water if it gets too thick.
- 6
Pile onto toasted buns and serve with pickles.
Chef's Tips
- Toast the buns so they hold up to the saucy filling without going soggy.
- A teaspoon of smoked paprika or a dash of hot sauce adds a grown-up edge.
- The filling freezes well — portion it for fast future dinners.
Start with better beef
Every recipe here starts with premium ground beef, shipped frozen to your door.
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