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A close-up of a delicious, saucy Sloppy Joes sandwich piled high on a toasted bun.

Sloppy Joes (Fast & Saucy)

Make this quick and flavorful Sloppy Joe recipe when you need an easy weeknight dinner. The sauce is sweet and tangy, and the meat mixture thickens nicely on the stovetop.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 sandwiches
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1/3 green bell pepper, minced
  • 1/2 large yellow onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar or less, if you prefer
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 3/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • dash hot sauce optional

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium or medium-high heat. Add ground beef and brown it, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Transfer the meat to a colander to drain the fat.
  2. Add onion and bell pepper to the same skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the beef back to the skillet and add tomato paste. Stir well.
  3. Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
  4. Cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture has thickened to your preference. Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.

Notes

You can freeze the Sloppy Joe meat mixture. Cool the mixture completely, then add it to freezer containers and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.

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