Classic Sloppy Joes Recipe
A quick and hearty Sloppy Joes recipe featuring a savory tomato-based sauce with ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and warm hamburger buns, perfect for a satisfying family meal in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Sauce
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard (or to taste)
- 2-3 tsp brown sugar (or to taste)
Main
- 1 Tbsp extra light olive oil (or any high-heat cooking oil)
- 1 lb lean ground beef (85%-90% lean)
- ½ tsp fine sea salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 1/2 small green bell pepper (seeded and finely diced, or use 1/2 cup grated carrot)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 5 hamburger buns (toasted if desired)
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and brown sugar. Stir well and set the mixture aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Cook the Beef: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and ground beef, sautéing the beef for about 5 minutes until fully cooked and no longer pink. Break the meat up with a spatula as it cooks. If excess fat accumulates, tilt the pan to spoon it out or absorb it with paper towels. Season the beef with sea salt and black pepper.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the diced green bell pepper and finely chopped onion. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and the beef browns further. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Simmer with Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the beef and vegetables. Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning or add water if you prefer a looser sauce.
- Serve: Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns. Serve immediately and enjoy a delicious, messy classic sandwich.
Notes
- Adjust the brown sugar to balance the tanginess of the tomato sauce and ketchup to suit your taste.
- Use grated carrot as a substitute for green bell pepper for a sweeter, milder flavor and added nutrition.
- To reduce fat, drain or blot excess grease from the cooked beef before adding vegetables and sauce.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a dash of smoked paprika or chili powder to the sauce.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, serve the sloppy joe mixture on gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps.
Find it online: https://cookedbygrace.com/classic-sloppy-joes-recipe/
