Description
Bring the comforting flavors of your childhood back to life with this Best Ever Sloppy Joes recipe! Packed with tender ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and a rich, tangy sauce, this dish is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It’s quick to prepare, perfect for weeknight dinners, and guaranteed to leave everyone asking for seconds. Pair it with toasted buns, a crisp salad, or classic fries for a meal that’s as satisfying as it is simple.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup minced carrots (or substitute with chopped bell pepper)
- 1 cup finely chopped onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 cups tomato sauce (or 1 15-ounce can whole tomatoes, puréed)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Pinch ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 turns freshly ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables:
Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add minced carrots (or bell peppers) and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped onion and celery, cooking until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside. - Brown the ground beef:
In the same pan, crumble the ground beef and sprinkle with salt. Let it cook undisturbed until browned on one side, then flip and brown the other side. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. - Make the sauce:
Return the cooked vegetables to the pan with the ground beef. Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, and brown sugar. Add ground cloves, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. - Simmer:
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens slightly. - Assemble and serve:
Toast the hamburger buns and spoon the sloppy Joe mixture generously onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with the other half of the bun and serve immediately.
Notes
-
- Customizations: Add a pinch of smoked paprika for extra depth or a splash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Storage: Store leftover Sloppy Joe mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a splash of water or tomato sauce if needed.
- Freezing: The Sloppy Joe mixture can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat before serving.
- Vegetarian Option: Swap the ground beef for plant-based meat or cooked lentils for a veggie-friendly twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American