Beef Sloppy Joes Toasted Buns (Printable Version)

Savory ground beef in a rich tomato blend atop golden toasted buns for a hearty meal.

# What You Need:

→ Meat & Main

01 - 1 pound 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 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
10 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Serving

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables have softened and become fragrant.
03 - Pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
04 - Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The sauce should thicken noticeably as it simmers.
05 - While the beef mixture simmers, melt 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. Add sliced pickles or shredded cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The homemade sauce beats anything from a can and comes together in minutes
  • Toasting the buns in butter creates that perfect crunch that keeps the sandwich from falling apart
02 -
  • The sauce needs those few minutes of simmering to thicken properly or it will be too loose
  • Draining most of the beef fat keeps the sandwich from becoming greasy
03 -
  • Finely chop the vegetables so they incorporate seamlessly into the sauce
  • Let the meat mixture rest for a couple of minutes off the heat before serving to let flavors settle

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