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A delicious and freshly prepared Sloppy Joe Recipe sandwich made with a savory filling of seasoned ground beef in a soft sesame seed bun.

Sloppy Joe Recipe

This easy homemade Sloppy Joe recipe takes 20 minutes, uses pantry staples, and delivers way more flavor than the canned version. Sweet, tangy, savory, and family-approved.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Make-Ahead Option 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

🔸 Meat Base
  • 1 lb Ground beef - Lean 85/15 works well
  • ½ cup Onion - Diced yellow or white
  • ½ cup Green bell pepper - Diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic - Minced
🔸 Sauce
  • 1 cup Tomato sauce - Plain not pasta sauce
  • ¼ cup Ketchup - Adds sweetness
  • 1 tablespoon Brown sugar - Light or dark
  • 1 tablespoon Yellow mustard - Classic tang
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce - Adds depth
  • 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar - Or white vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon Chili powder - Optional for mild spice
  • to taste Salt and pepper - Adjust to your preference
🔸 For Serving
  • 4–6 Hamburger buns - Brioche or classic
  • 2 tablespoon Butter - For toasting buns
  • Optional Cheese slices - Cheddar or American
  • Optional Pickles - Sliced for topping

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet (Nonstick or cast iron preferred)
  • 1 Wooden spoon (For breaking and stirring meat)
  • 1 Measuring spoons (For precise sauce ingredients)
  • 1 Sharp knife (To chop onions and peppers)
  • 1 Cutting board (For prepping veggies)
  • 1 Can opener (If using canned tomato sauce)

Method
 

  1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet, breaking it into small pieces.
    A detailed step-by-step preparation for Sloppy Joe, including cooked beef and seasonings in a frying pan, ready to be added to buns for the final sandwich.
  2. Add onion and bell pepper, cook until soft, stir in garlic briefly.
    A close-up of ground beef being sautéed in a pan, showing the texture and seasonings being added for the Sloppy Joe mix.
  3. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and seasonings.
    A close-up of a rich tomato-based sauce with fresh herbs, adding a final touch of flavor to a Sloppy Joe preparation.
  4. Bring to simmer, reduce heat, and let it bubble for 10 minutes until thickened.
    A rich, red tomato sauce simmering in a pot, garnished with freshly chopped cilantro.
  5. Butter and toast buns in pan or under broiler until golden.
    Soft, golden-brown rolls in a cast iron skillet, each topped with a pat of butter melting on top.
  6. Spoon sloppy joe mixture onto buns, add cheese or pickles if using.
    A delicious and freshly prepared Sloppy Joe Recipe sandwich made with a savory filling of seasoned ground beef in a soft sesame seed bun.

Nutrition

Serving: 250gCalories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 22gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 720mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 90mgIron: 3.1mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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