Beef Sloppy Joes Bun (Printable View)

Tender ground beef cooked in tangy tomato sauce, served on soft hamburger buns for a hearty meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)

→ Vegetables

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

→ Sauce

05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 1/4 cup ketchup
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
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, or to taste
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ To Serve

15 - 4 hamburger buns, split
16 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter (optional, for toasting buns)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Pour in the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients and create a uniform sauce.
04 - Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
05 - While the filling simmers, butter the cut sides of the hamburger buns if desired. Toast them in a separate skillet or under the broiler until golden brown and lightly crisp.
06 - Spoon generous portions of the beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Place the top halves on top and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce strikes that perfect balance between sweet and tangy that makes everyone reach for seconds
  • Everything cooks in one skillet which means less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner
02 -
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it cools slightly, so do not overcook or it will become too thick
  • Toasting the buns is not optional if you want to avoid a soggy bottom situation
03 -
  • Chop the vegetables extra fine so they disappear into the sauce for picky eaters
  • Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes off the heat before serving to let everything settle

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