Beef Sloppy Joes Toasted Buns (Printable version)

Seasoned ground beef in tangy tomato sauce piled high on toasted buns for a hearty meal.

# What you'll need:

→ Meat & Main

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

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 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 2 tbsp ketchup
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
10 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Serving

14 - 4 hamburger buns, split
15 - 1 tbsp butter
16 - Optional: sliced pickles, shredded cheese

# Directions:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and no longer pink, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
04 - Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened to the desired consistency.
05 - While the beef simmers, melt the butter in a separate skillet or on a griddle over medium heat. Place the buns cut side down and toast until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes.
06 - Spoon the sloppy joe mixture generously onto the toasted buns. Top with optional pickles or shredded cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under 40 minutes which makes it perfect for those nights when everyone is starving and patience is running thin
  • The toasted bun game changer keeps everything from getting soggy even with the generous saucy topping
02 -
  • Draining the beef after browning is non negotiable unless you want grease running down your arms with every bite
  • The sauce needs those 8 to 10 minutes of simmering time to thicken properly so dont rush this step or youll end up with soup
  • Toasted buns are the difference between a good sloppy joe and a great one so dont skip the butter step
03 -
  • Finely chop the vegetables so they disappear into the sauce instead of creating obvious chunks that picky eaters might pick out
  • Taste the sauce before serving because depending on your ketchup brand it might need an extra pinch of brown sugar or salt

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