Sloppy Joes Classic American (Printer-Friendly)

Hearty ground beef in tangy tomato sauce served on soft buns, ideal for family meals.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 fat content)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 small 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 kosher salt
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1/4 tsp chili powder (optional)

→ To Serve

15 - 4 soft hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
16 - Dill pickle slices (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring and breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and chili powder if using.
04 - Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the sauce to thicken and flavors to blend.
05 - Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning if necessary.
06 - Spoon the beef mixture generously onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Add pickle slices if desired, then cover with the top halves. Serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than takeout, and tastes infinitely better than anything from a can.
  • The sauce strikes that impossible balance between sweet and savory that makes people ask for seconds.
  • It's the kind of meal that feels special without requiring any fancy technique or ingredients.
02 -
  • Don't skip the draining step after browning the beef—extra grease will make the final dish feel heavy instead of satisfying.
  • The 10-minute simmer is crucial; rushing it means the flavors taste separate instead of woven together.
  • Lightly toasting the buns changes everything—it gives them structure so they don't fall apart under the weight of the sauce.
03 -
  • Make extra sauce and freeze it—it thaws beautifully and saves you time on nights when you need dinner fast but want it to taste like you spent hours cooking.
  • If the sauce tastes flat, add a teaspoon of tomato paste or Worcestershire, not sugar; the depth you're missing is savory, not sweet.
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