Sloppy Joes Classic American (Printable)

Savory ground beef in a rich tomato sauce stacked on soft buns for an easy, satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

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

→ 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:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes flat, so weeknight dinner stress just disappears.
  • The sauce is tangy and sweet and savory all at once, somehow hitting every flavor note you didn't know you needed.
  • Costs almost nothing to make, yet tastes like you actually tried.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the excess fat after browning the beef, or your sauce will be greasy instead of glossy and rich.
  • The 10 minute simmer is not optional, that's when the magic happens and the sauce actually thickens and tastes finished.
03 -
  • Use a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula when browning the meat, it gives you better control and lets you break up the beef into smaller, more even pieces.
  • Toast your buns lightly before serving, it prevents them from getting soggy and adds a subtle textural contrast that makes all the difference.
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