The Best Sloppy Joes Recipe

Level: Easy
Yield: 4 to 6 sandwiches
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving (Serving Size: 1 of 5 servings)
Calories: 511
Total Fat: 25 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Carbohydrates: 49 g
Dietary Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 20 g
Protein: 23 g
Cholesterol: 77 mg
Sodium: 1096 mg
Total: 30 min
Active: 30 min

Transform your weeknight into a cozy feast with these irresistible homemade Sloppy Joes! We've perfected a tangy, flavor-packed sauce that's a breeze to whip up. Blending ketchup and tomato sauce delivers rich, savory tomato notes, balanced with brown sugar for a whisper of caramelized sweetness. The green bell pepper is the starit elevates every bite, capturing that classic, authentic sloppy joe magic that'll have everyone racing to the table.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
12 ounces (1 1/3 cup) tomato sauce
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 hamburger buns, toasted

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) NEW: You can now switch to Cook Mode to keep your screen awake.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until they're soft and beginning to caramelize in places, about 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula, until browned and no longer pink, about 7 to 8 minutes.
Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, red wine vinegar, paprika, cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and a generous amount of black pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and is heated through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Spoon the meat mixture onto the toasted buns.