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How to Make Sloppy Joes from Scratch

Name: How to Make Sloppy Joes from Scratch
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 medium onion; 2 garlic cloves; 1 cup tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon yellow mustard; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon fat

Sloppy joes start with browning ground beef, then building a tangy-sweet sauce with onions, tomato sauce, and a few pantry staples. The whole thing comes together in one pan in about 20 minutes. You want the mixture thick enough to stay put on the bun but saucy enough to live up to its name.

Total time: 25 min
Hands-on: 25 min
Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon fat

Step by step

Brown the beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
Cook the aromatics. Add 1 diced medium onion to the beef. Cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Build the sauce. Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper.
Simmer until thick. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture should coat the back of a spoon and hold together when scooped. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve hot. Spoon the mixture onto toasted hamburger buns. Serve immediately while the filling is hot and the buns are still crisp.

Tips & troubleshooting

Drain the beef but leave some fat for flavor. Too lean and the mixture tastes dry.
Toast the buns lightly to prevent them from getting soggy under the filling.
Make the mixture a day ahead. The flavors improve overnight and it reheats beautifully.
Freeze portions in zip-top bags. Thaw and reheat in a skillet with a splash of water.
Taste before serving. The sweetness and tang should be balanced. Add more brown sugar or vinegar as needed.

Variations

Turkey Sloppy Joes. Replace ground beef with ground turkey. Cook the same way but add an extra tablespoon of tomato paste for deeper flavor since turkey is milder.
Smoky Sloppy Joes. Add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce to the mixture. Use chipotle peppers in adobo instead of chili powder for heat.
Vegetarian Sloppy Janes. Use lentils or crumbled firm tofu instead of meat. Sauté mushrooms with the onions for extra umami. Add soy sauce to taste.

Questions

How thick should the mixture be?: Think thick chili consistency. It should hold together on a spoon but still be saucy. If too thin, simmer uncovered a few more minutes. If too thick, add tomato sauce by the tablespoon.
Can I make this ahead of time?: Yes. The mixture keeps in the refrigerator for 3 days and actually tastes better the next day. Reheat gently in a skillet, adding a splash of water if needed.
What's the best ground beef to use?: 80/20 ground chuck works perfectly. The fat content keeps the mixture moist. 90/10 works too but watch that it doesn't dry out during cooking.
Why is my mixture too sweet or too tangy?: Balance is key. Too sweet means add a splash of vinegar or more Worcestershire. Too tangy means add more brown sugar, a pinch at a time. Taste as you go.