Beef Sloppy Joes on Bun (Printable Version)

Savory beef in tangy tomato sauce on toasted buns

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 1/4 cup ketchup
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tsp yellow mustard
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
13 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ To Serve

15 - 4 hamburger buns, split
16 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter (optional, for toasting buns)

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Pour in the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the brown sugar, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
04 - Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow the sauce to reduce and thicken to your desired consistency.
05 - While the filling simmers, optionally butter the cut sides of the hamburger buns. Toast them in a skillet or under the broiler until golden brown and lightly crisped.
06 - Spoon generous portions of the beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Place the top halves on top and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one skillet with zero fancy techniques
  • The sweet tangy sauce pairs perfectly with buttered toasted buns
02 -
  • Draining the fat after browning keeps the sauce from becoming too greasy
  • The mixture thickens as it cools so do not overreduce or it will dry out
03 -
  • Let the meat mixture rest in the sauce off the heat for 5 minutes before serving
  • Buttering and toasting the buns is the step most people skip but makes the biggest difference

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