Savory Sloppy Joes Sandwich (Printable)

Savory ground beef in tangy tomato sauce on toasted buns, ready in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80–85% lean)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce & Seasonings

05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 2 tbsp ketchup
08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
10 - 1 tsp yellow mustard
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
15 - 1/4 cup water

→ To Serve

16 - 4 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
17 - Optional: sliced pickles, shredded cheddar cheese

# Directions:

01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
03 - Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, and water. Mix well to combine.
04 - Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10–12 minutes, until thickened to your liking.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Spoon the hot beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Top with pickles and cheese if desired. Close with the top buns and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Comes together in 35 minutes flat, perfect for those weeknights when takeout starts calling your name
  • The sweet and tangy sauce strikes that perfect balance that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
02 -
  • Drain excess fat after browning the beef, otherwise your finished sloppy joes will be greasy and the sauce will not cling properly
  • Let the sauce simmer uncovered so it can thicken up, otherwise you will end up with soup instead of sloppy joes
03 -
  • Use a potato masher to break up the ground beef into extra small pieces for that perfect texture
  • Let the assembled sandwiches sit for about 30 seconds before eating so the bun can absorb some sauce

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