30 Minute Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

• For the sauce:

  • 15 oz tomato sauce

  • 1/3 cup ketchup (I like Heinz for this recipe)

  • 1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 tsp mustard

  • 4 tsp brown sugar

  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

  For the meat mixture:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

  • 1 small onion (finely diced)

  • 1/2 green bell pepper (finely diced)

  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)

Instructions

1. Finely dice the onion and green bell pepper, mince the garlic cloves, and set them aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and smoked paprika until well combined. This sauce base can be made while you're prepping the vegetables, saving time later.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, until it's browned throughout. Drain any excess fat from the pan using a slotted spoon, then season the beef with salt and black pepper. I prefer to drain the fat immediately rather than later—it helps the final dish feel lighter and less greasy.

3. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the browned beef and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the onion becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds to release its aroma—this quick cooking keeps the garlic flavorful without burning it.

4. Pour the sauce mixture from Step 1 into the skillet with the beef and vegetables, stirring to combine everything evenly. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and reduces slightly. You'll know it's done when the sauce coats the back of a spoon and the flavors have melded together—this is when I taste it and adjust the seasoning if needed.

5. Lightly toast the hamburger buns if desired for extra texture and to prevent them from getting soggy. Spoon the sloppy joe filling generously onto each bun and serve immediately while the mixture is warm and the buns are still soft.

   Original Recipe from Loudasrecipes