Sloppy Joes
These Sloppy Joes are delicious enough for adults and kids alike! Made from scratch, with a rich, smokey flavor and the addition of healthy vegetables, these truly are finger-licking-good!
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced, about 1½ cups
- 1 large green pepper, diced, about 1 cup
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
- 1 8-ounces can tomato sauce
- ½ cup barbeque sauce, any brand
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1½ tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 8 hamburger buns, toasted
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until it is browned and cooked through. Remove the ground beef from the heat and drain off the fat (retaining about a tablespoon to fry the vegetables). Set the ground beef aside.
- Add the diced onions and green peppers to the same skillet and saute until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
- While the vegetables are cooking, whisk together the tomato paste, tomato sauce, barbeque sauce, brown sugar, ground mustard, vinegar, and salt, in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and saute with the vegetables for an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet and stir together with the vegetables. Turn the heat down to medium and add the sauce ingredients. Stir until completely mixed in. Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Continue cooking until everything is heated through and steaming, about 10 minutes.
- Serve on toasted buns (see notes).
Notes
Toasting the Buns:
- Use a toaster, or
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Toast your bread on the middle rack of the oven on a sheet pan for about 10 minutes, flipping it halfway through. The lower heat will give you a bit more control — cut down the cooking time for golden brown toast, and leave it in a bit longer if you like it darker and crisper.