Best Sloppy Joe Recipe
Sloppy joes bring all the messy, saucy joy of comfort food in the best way possible. The savory ground beef mixture is simmered in a flavorful sauce and served on toasted burger buns for a meal that's quick, filling, and fun to eat. They're great for busy nights or casual dinners, especially when served with crispy oven-baked fries, a tangy pickle, or a fresh green salad on the side.
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
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns. If there’s excess grease, drain it off — though this may not be needed with lean beef.
- When the beef is partially browned, stir in the chopped onion and bell pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables have softened slightly.
- Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let the mixture simmer gently, stirring now and then, for about 10 minutes or until it thickens to your liking.
- Spoon the filling onto toasted hamburger buns and serve warm.
Notes
Add extra veggies to the sloppy joe filling for more flavor and nutrition. Finely chopped carrots, mushrooms, or zucchini blend in well and can be added along with the onion and bell pepper.
This recipe makes 4 generous servings or 6 smaller portions.
Nutrition info is for the meat mixture only, as bun nutrition varies by brand and type.
This recipe makes 4 generous servings or 6 smaller portions.
Nutrition info is for the meat mixture only, as bun nutrition varies by brand and type.