Sloppy Joes Classic Sandwich (Print View)

Ground beef cooked in a sweet-savory tomato sauce and served on soft hamburger buns.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend

→ 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 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
11 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
13 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - ¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)

→ To Serve

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

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
02 - Add the finely chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
03 - Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, yellow 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, until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.
05 - Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed before serving.
06 - Spoon the beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Add pickle slices if desired, then cover with top halves and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's fast enough for a Tuesday night but feels special enough for a casual gathering.
  • The sauce comes together in one skillet, and you get to taste and tweak it until it's exactly what you want.
  • Something about a messy, saucy sandwich just makes people happy.
02 -
  • If you skip toasting the buns, they'll soak up sauce and fall apart—toast them just enough to firm them up but not so much that they crack.
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it sits, so if you're not serving right away, it might be thicker than you like; thin it with a splash of beef broth or water.
03 -
  • If the sauce tastes thin or underseasoned, add a splash of beef broth and let it reduce further instead of just adding more salt—this maintains balance.
  • A small pat of butter stirred in at the very end adds richness that elevates the whole thing without tasting buttery.
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