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Close-up of homemade Sloppy Joes with melted cheese, pickles, and sesame seed buns.

Sloppy Joes

A quick and easy recipe for Classic Sloppy Joes, packed with rich flavors, perfect for a family dinner or casual meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 611 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound (500 g) ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
  • 1 small onion finely chopped (about ½ cup, 100 g)
  • 1 medium green bell pepper diced (about 1 cup, 120 g)
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup (240 g) ketchup
  • 2 tbsp (30 g) tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp (30 g) brown sugar
  • 1 tsp mustard Dijon or yellow
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water or chicken broth
  • ½ tsp Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
  • 4 sandwich buns such as brioche or hamburger buns
  • 1 ½ tbsp (20 g) butter for toasting buns
  • 4 slices of cheese (such as American or cheddar)
  • Pickle slices (as desired)

Instructions
 

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
    Ground beef browning in a skillet, releasing steam as it cooks.
  • Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables soften.
    Ground beef mixed with chopped onion, green bell pepper, and garlic in a skillet.
  • Stir in ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika (if using). Mix well.
    Sloppy Joes mixture simmering in a skillet with a rich tomato-based sauce.
  • Pour in the water or chicken broth. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens.
    Close-up of Sloppy Joes filling with ground beef, bell peppers, and onions simmering in a rich tomato sauce.
  • Split the sandwich buns and spread the cut sides with butter. Toast them in a dry skillet or on a griddle over medium heat until golden brown.
    Two golden-toasted sandwich buns in a skillet, ready for Sloppy Joes.
  • Place a slice of cheese (optional) on the bottom bun, followed by pickle slices. Spoon the hot meat mixture generously over the pickles. Top with the other half of the bun.
    An open-faced Sloppy Joe with cheese, pickles, and saucy beef on a toasted bun.

Notes

Use high-quality ketchup for the best flavor. Avoid overly sweet or artificial brands.
If using ground pork, reduce the fat content by draining excess grease after browning.
Toasting the buns is highly recommended to prevent them from becoming soggy.

Nutrition

Serving: 365gCalories: 611kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 36gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 1653mgPotassium: 821mgFiber: 3gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 915IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 322mgIron: 6mg
Keyword Classic Sloppy Joes, Easy dinner, Ground Beef Recipe, Sloppy Joes
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