Description
This Ultimate Sloppy Joes recipe delivers a flavorful, homemade twist on the classic American sandwich, featuring a rich tomato gravy with bell peppers and a perfect balance of sweet and savory spices. Ready in just 20 minutes, this easy skillet-cooked dish has won three Sloppy Joe competitions and is served on toasted hamburger buns for the ultimate comfort meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Seasonings & Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
To Serve
- Toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Add the ground beef to a large skillet over high heat. Allow it to brown until a deep crust forms on the bottom before breaking the meat apart. Continue to stir and brown the beef until about half the surface has a deep crust and it is cooked through.
- Sauté Vegetables: Remove the browned beef from the skillet and drain excess liquid. Add the butter, chopped onions, and bell peppers to the same pan. Let them brown without stirring for 1-2 minutes, then stir and let them brown for another 1-2 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked beef to the skillet with the vegetables. Add the minced garlic, yellow mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, kosher salt, and coarse black pepper.
- Simmer the Sauce: Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and about 75% of the mixture is above liquid, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Serve: Spoon the hot sloppy Joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns and serve immediately.
Notes
- For best texture, do not stir the beef immediately when it hits the skillet; allow it to brown to develop a deep crust.
- Drain excess liquid after browning the beef to prevent sogginess in the final dish.
- Toast the hamburger buns to add a crunchy contrast to the moist filling.
- Adjust brown sugar and mustard quantities to taste for sweeter or tangier sloppy Joes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Sloppy Joes, ground beef, American sandwich, quick dinner, homemade sauce, bell pepper, comfort food
