Saucy Homemade Sloppy Joes (Print version)

Classic saucy homemade Sloppy Joes with tender ground beef, peppers, onions, and a tangy tomato sauce piled onto toasted buns.

# Ingredients:

For the beef filling

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 1/2 lb (680 g) ground beef, 85 to 90 percent lean
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 1 small green bell pepper, finely diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the sauce and serving

11 - 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce
12 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) ketchup
13 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
15 - 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
17 - 6 hamburger buns, split and toasted
18 - Pickle chips, for serving

# Instructions:

01 - Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, letting it brown before breaking it into crumbles. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens slightly.
04 - Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 12-15 minutes, stirring often, until thick and glossy.
05 - Taste the filling and add more salt, pepper, vinegar, or brown sugar as needed. The sauce should taste tangy, savory, and lightly sweet.
06 - Spoon the hot filling onto toasted hamburger buns. Top with pickle chips if you like and serve immediately.

# Good to know:

01 - Toast the buns just before serving so they stay sturdy under the saucy filling.
02 - The beef filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
03 - For safe serving, cook ground beef to 160°F.

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