Description
A classic Sloppy Joes recipe made with lean ground beef, sautéed onions and bell peppers, seasoned with chili powder, paprika, and mustard, simmered in a tangy tomato and ketchup sauce, served warm on soft hamburger buns. Perfect for a quick and delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup chopped yellow onion
- 3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (2 tsp)
- 1 tsp chili powder (regular or Ancho)
- 1 tsp paprika (sweet or smoked)
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp natural hickory smoke flavor
- Water or broth, for thinning as needed
- 4 hamburger buns, homemade or bakery fresh
Instructions
- Heat and sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped yellow onion and red bell pepper, sauté until nearly tender, about 6 minutes. Push vegetables to one side of the pan.
- Brown the beef: Crumble in the lean ground beef. Let it sear without stirring until browned on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes. Then turn the meat, break it up and toss together with the peppers and onions, cooking another 2 to 3 minutes until nearly cooked through.
- Season and cook through: Drain excess fat from the pan. Add minced garlic, chili powder, paprika, ground mustard, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Continue cooking and tossing occasionally for about 1 minute to let flavors develop.
- Simmer with sauce: Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and hickory smoke flavor. Reduce heat and simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add water, beef broth, or chicken broth as needed to thin the mixture to desired consistency.
- Serve: Spoon the warm Sloppy Joe mixture onto hamburger buns and serve immediately.
Notes
- Ground turkey can be substituted for beef, but avoid using super lean varieties for best texture and flavor.
- Use corn syrup-free ketchup such as Simply Heinz or Trader Joe’s for a healthier option.
- Pair Sloppy Joes with grilled corn, coleslaw, potato chips, pickle spears, or potato salad for a complete meal.
- Adjust thickness of the meat sauce with water or broth as needed to avoid dryness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
