Sloppy Joes

Woman putting sliced onions onto a Sloppy Joe.

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5 from 4 votes

The slightly sweet and tangy sauce, the soft buns, the glorious messiness of it—what’s not to love?

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: People

Author: Katie Workman

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 ½ cups ketchup
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or mustard powder
1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
1 cup water
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (see Note)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
8 hamburger buns (white or whole wheat; toasted, if desired)

For the Toppings (Optional):

Pickles
Onions (raw, sautéed, pickled, or fried)
Sliced or grated cheese (such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Cheddar)
Coleslaw (such as Spicy Cole Slaw)
Potato chips
Fried egg

Instructions

Spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the beef, and cook, using a spoon to stir and break up the meat into crumbles, until it is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the beef in a colander.
Wipe out the skillet and return it to the burner. Add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are tender, 4 minutes. Add the ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper and stir until well combined. Add the water, Worcestershire sauce, and cider vinegar, then return the beef to the pan. Bring to a simmer, adjust the heat if necessary, and simmer uncovered until the liquid has reduced and thickened into a sauce, about 5 minutes.
Place an open bun on each plate, and using a large spoon, scoop some of the beef filling onto the bottom half of each bun. Add toppings, if desired, top with the other half of the bun, and dig in.

Notes

Most Worcestershire sauces contain anchovies and are therefore not vegetarian, but you can find anchovy-free versions. Annie’s and The Wizard’s are two brands, and any Worcestershire labeled kosher will also be vegetarian. You could also substitute 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon soy sauce for the 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire.

Nutrition