Go Back
Sloppy Joe Recipe
Print Recipe

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

A Huge Favorite of Mine Growing Up
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • ½ green bell pepper diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1½ pounds ground beef
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
  • pepper flakes to taste (optional)
  • 6 hamburger buns

Instructions

  • Heat up a large fry pan over medium heat until hot. Add the oil and let it heat up.
  • Add the onion and pepper and cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
  • Remove the sauteed vegetables to a bowl and reserve.
  • Add the ground beef back to the frying pan by breaking it up to small pieces.
    You don't want to crowd the pan with meat or it will steam rather than fry. If your frying pan isn't big enough, brown the beef in two batches.
  • When the beef is all browned, add the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, salt & pepper and the dash of Worcestershire sauce. Give everything a good stir to combine the meat with the spices and sauces.
  • Add the sauteed vegetables back into the pan and again give everything a good stir to combine all the ingredients.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the beef mixture for about 15 - 20 minutes until the sauce thickens up enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, or cayenne.
  • If you are using optional pepper flakes, add them to taste now or just put the shaker on the table for your family to decide.
  • Toast the hamburger buns, spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture onto the buns and serve.