Ingredients
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 green bell pepper, minced
1/2 large yellow onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup water
1 Tbsp brown sugar (or less, if you prefer)
1 tsp yellow mustard
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 tsp black pepper
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef to the skillet and brown, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks (about 5 minutes). Transfer the beef to a colander to drain.
- In the same skillet, add minced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until soft.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Return the beef to the skillet, then add tomato paste and stir well.
- Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Let the mixture cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until it thickens to your liking.
- Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.
Notes
- Spicy Sloppy Joes: Add more chili powder or a few extra dashes of hot sauce to spice things up.
- Sweet Sloppy Joes: Reduce the chili powder and increase the brown sugar for a sweeter version.
- Vegetarian Sloppy Joes: Substitute ground beef with lentils or a plant-based meat alternative for a vegetarian-friendly option.
- BBQ Sloppy Joes: Mix in a bit of your favorite BBQ sauce for a smoky twist.
- Storage: Store leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat, adding a little water or broth to loosen up the sauce if necessary. Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
