Beef Sloppy Joes on Buns (Printable Version)
Savory beef mixture in tangy sauce on buttery toasted buns.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Mixture
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 2 tbsp ketchup
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 kosher salt
13 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1/4 cup water
→ To Serve
15 - 4 brioche or classic burger buns, split
16 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
17 - Optional: sliced pickles
18 - Optional: shredded cheddar cheese
# How-To:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add onion, green bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and water. Mix well to combine.
04 - Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Heat a separate skillet or griddle over medium heat. Spread butter on the cut sides of the buns and toast until golden brown.
06 - Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture over the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Top with pickles and cheese if desired, cover with tops, and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They're ready in 40 minutes flat, which means dinner can happen even on nights when you're too tired to think.
- One skillet, minimal cleanup, and somehow everyone still feels like they got a real meal.
- The balance of tangy, sweet, and savory keeps you reaching for another bite without guilt.
02 -
- Don't skip draining excess fat from the browned beef—too much grease will make your sauce slide off the bun instead of clinging to it.
- Taste your sauce before serving and adjust the seasoning; some tomato sauces are more acidic than others, so you might need a pinch more salt or a touch of brown sugar to bring it into balance.
03 -
- Brown your beef in a skillet that's actually hot—if you're not hearing an immediate sizzle, your pan isn't ready yet, and you'll end up with steamed meat instead of browned meat.
- Don't skip the toasting step on the buns; butter-toasted bread is what transforms this from forgettable to memorable, and it takes maybe three minutes.