Go Back
Sloppy joes

Sloppy Joes

Classic sloppy joes with a thick, tangy-sweet sauce—quick, cozy, and perfect on toasted buns.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, finely diced (optional)
  • 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • 1 to 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 to 4 tbsp water or broth, as needed
  • 6 buns, toasted

Method
 

  1. Sauté veggies. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  2. Brown the meat. Add ground beef. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Cook tomato paste. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
  4. Make the sauce. Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  5. Simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy. Add a splash of water or broth if it gets too thick.
  6. Serve. Spoon onto toasted buns. Add pickles or cheese if you want, and serve immediately.

Notes

  • If you like a thicker sloppy joe, simmer a few extra minutes. For a looser sauce, add a splash of broth.
  • Ground turkey works great—use a bit of olive oil and don’t skip Worcestershire.
  • Leftovers are amazing over fries, baked potatoes, or rice.