Homemade Sloppy Joes
User Reviews
4.5
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
6
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Course
Main Course
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Description
This recipe starts by treating ground beef with a baking soda slurry and seasoning to enhance tenderness. Vegetables including diced onions and bell peppers are sautéed until soft, then combined with minced garlic. The beef is browned and cooked through, then simmered with a sauce combining ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard, providing a balance of sweetness, tang, and savory flavor. Water is added during simmering to adjust consistency and allow flavors to meld.
The simmering over low heat thickens the sauce and infuses the mixture with depth, while the combination of vegetables maintains some texture contrast. The Sloppy Joe mixture is suitable for sandwich filling, delivering a hearty and comforting meal.
This recipe can be doubled to serve larger groups and freezes well in containers for later use, supporting meal prep and convenience.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ cup water divided use, plus 1 tablespoon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced, small
- 1 bell pepper any color, diced, small
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Place the raw ground beef in a bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water. Pour this mixture over the ground beef along with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Massage everything into the meat with your hands or work it in with a spoon. Set aside to rest while you brown the vegetables.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and add the onion and peppers. Saute until soft and the onion is translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the ground beef to the pan and cook, breaking up the ground beef as needed, until browned.
- Add the remaining ¼ cup water, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.
- Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if desired.
Notes
- This recipe doubles well to feed a crowd.
- Homemade Sloppy Joes freeze well in freezer-safe containers for convenient storage.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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