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Sloppy Joe sandwich held in hands.
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4.91 from 22 votes

Easy Homemade Sloppy Joe

These are not your lunch lady's Sloppy Joe! Loaded with delicious and tangy flavor these are as much fun to make as they are to eat!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 large green bell pepper diced
  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef 85 or 90% works well
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water plus more if needed
  • 4 hamburger buns

Instructions

  • Heat a large pan to medium heat with the olive oil and add the onion and bell pepper. Saute until soft (about 5 minutes).
  • Add the ground beef to the pan and turn the heat up to medium-high. Saute the beef until cooked through (about 5-7 minutes) then mix in the salt, chili powder, and hot red pepper flakes.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and add the garlic. Cook for another 2 minutes or until very fragrant.
  • Add the ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Mix well and keep at a low simmer.
  • Taste test the sloppy Joes and adjust salt and pepper if required. Once satisfied, turn the heat to low and move on to browning the buns
  • Heat a pan or griddle top to medium heat and add a touch of olive oil. Place the buns, cut side down, in the pan and cook until browned (about 1-2 minutes). Divide the beef on to the 4 buns and serve. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Makes 4 large or 6 moderate-sized sandwiches.
  • If the sauce is too dry, simply add 1-2 ounces of water and mix again to loosen it up.
  • Leftovers can be saved in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 47.2g | Protein: 40.7g | Fat: 16.3g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1241mg | Potassium: 706mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19.3g | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 24mg

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