Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 cups ketchup
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cups onion – finely chopped (~1 medium onion)
- 3/4 cups green bell pepper – finely chopped (~1 medium green bell pepper)
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (85% lean)
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 buns hamburger buns
- pickle chips – for serving
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, chili powder, kosher salt, and black pepper until smooth, 30 seconds.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the onion and green bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly golden, 5–7 minutes.
3. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned with no pink remaining and most moisture has evaporated, 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30–45 seconds.
4. Pour in the sauce mixture, bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy and a spoon dragged through the pan leaves a brief trail, 10–15 minutes.
5. While the meat simmers, melt the unsalted butter in a separate skillet or on a griddle over medium heat, 1 minute. Split the hamburger buns and toast cut sides until golden at the edges, 1–2 minutes.
6. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the toasted buns and serve hot with pickle chips.
Sloppy joes are a saucy, sweet-tangy beef sandwich piled onto soft hamburger buns. The filling balances tomato richness with a hint of brown sugar, sharp mustard, and the savory depth of Worcestershire. The texture should be spoonable but thick enough to mound, delivering a hearty, comforting bite that’s messy in the best way.
Often associated with family dinners and casual gatherings, sloppy joes embody classic American comfort food. The sandwich rose to prominence in the mid-20th century, with roots commonly traced to Midwestern lunch counters and school cafeterias. Over time, it became a staple of home cooking, with countless regional tweaks that still preserve its core saucy identity.