The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe
User Reviews
5
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe
Description
This recipe starts by cooking chopped yellow onion and red bell pepper in olive oil until soft. Lean ground beef is added and browned, then seasoned with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground or prepared mustard, salt, and black pepper. Tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce are stirred in, followed by chicken broth, which helps achieve the desired thickness and flavor.
The mixture simmers for 10-15 minutes, thickening into a rich, hearty sauce that clings well to sandwich buns. The flavor profile is balanced between savory, smoky, slightly sweet, and tangy notes.
Serving the sloppy joe warm on burger buns creates a classic handheld meal. The recipe notes flexibility in proteins, allowing ground chicken or turkey to substitute beef, and suggests adjusting sugar amount to taste. Using beef broth enhances richness, though chicken broth or water can be used if needed.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup yellow onion about ½ a medium onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 lb ground beef I like to use 90%
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard or 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ½ cup tomato paste 4 oz
- 3-4 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (may substitute coconut aminos)
- ½ cup chicken broth beef broth, or water
- burger buns for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add onion and pepper and cook until softened.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned, crumbling as you cook. Drain off excess grease if needed.
- Add spices (smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder (or mustard), salt and pepper) and stir into the beef.
- Add tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and worcestershire and stir until well-combined.
- Drizzle in broth or water.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
- Serve warm on buns.
Notes
- You can substitute ground chicken or turkey for the ground beef if preferred.
- Adjust the brown sugar from 3 to 4 tablespoons based on your preferred sweetness after tasting the sauce.
- Beef broth yields the richest flavor; chicken broth or water are acceptable alternatives but yield less depth.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 271 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 271kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 54mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 724mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 530mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 890IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 22mg | 24% |
| Calcium | 38mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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