Description
This Best Sloppy Joe Recipe is a classic American comfort food featuring a savory and slightly sweet ground beef mixture simmered with tomato sauce, onions, and bell peppers. Perfectly paired with toasted hamburger buns, this quick and easy meal is ready in just 25 minutes, serving 4 people.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- ½ green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted (for serving)
Instructions
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook it while crumbling, ensuring even browning. Drain off any excess grease if necessary, especially if not using lean ground beef.
- Add Vegetables: When the beef is partially browned but not fully cooked, add the chopped onion and green bell pepper. Stir frequently and cook until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables soften.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, allowing the garlic flavor to develop without burning. Reduce heat to medium-low afterward.
- Simmer Sauce: Add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine, then let the mixture simmer gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your liking.
- Serve: Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns and serve immediately for a hearty meal.
Notes
- Using lean ground beef reduces the need to drain grease.
- You can substitute ground turkey for a lighter option.
- Adjust brown sugar and ketchup quantities to control sweetness.
- To toast buns, place them cut side down on a dry skillet or in the oven for a few minutes.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
