Savory Ground Beef Sloppy Joes (Printer-Friendly)
Savory ground beef in tangy tomato sauce on toasted buns
# What You'll 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
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
03 - Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, and water. Mix well to combine.
04 - Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10–12 minutes, until thickened to your liking.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
06 - Spoon the hot beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Top with pickles and cheese if desired. Close with the top buns and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything comes together in one pan and takes about 35 minutes start to finish
- The sauce balances sweet and tangy perfectly and you probably have all the ingredients already
02 -
- The sauce thickens as it cools slightly, so don't over-reduce it or you'll end up with something closer to chili
- Toasting the buns is not optional unless you enjoy eating sandwiches that fall apart completely
03 -
- Finely chopping the vegetables is the difference between chunky sauce and that perfect cafeteria-style consistency
- Let the mixture rest in the pan for 5 minutes after cooking, it helps the sauce cling to the meat better