Description
Sizzling Sloppy Joes elevate weeknight dinner with bold Midwestern comfort. Hearty ground beef, tangy sauce, and toasted buns create a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef (90/10)
- 1.5 cups beef stock
- 1 cup ketchup
Vegetables:
- 1 small sweet onion (diced)
- 1 small green bell pepper (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Sear the ground beef in a hot skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly browned and crumbly, approximately 4-5 minutes. Carefully drain any accumulated fat.
- Incorporate diced onions and bell peppers into the skillet, sautéing until vegetables soften and become translucent, roughly 3-4 minutes.
- Introduce aromatic spices including tomato paste, minced garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir continuously to prevent burning and maximize flavor development, about 1 minute.
- Deglaze the skillet by pouring beef stock, scraping up caramelized bits from the bottom. Blend in ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar, creating a rich, complex sauce.
- Reduce heat to low, allowing the mixture to gently simmer. Stir periodically to prevent scorching and enable flavors to meld together, approximately 15-18 minutes. The sauce should thicken and become glossy.
- Toast hamburger buns until golden and crisp. Generously spoon the savory beef mixture onto each bun, ensuring an even distribution of sauce and meat.
- Serve immediately while hot, offering additional napkins for the inevitable deliciously messy meal.
Notes
- Customize Heat levels by adjusting cayenne pepper for spice-loving or mild-preferring family members.
- Swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for healthier protein alternatives that maintain delicious flavor profile.
- Use gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising taste experience.
- Enhance meal prep by making larger batches and freezing portions for quick weeknight dinners that stay fresh up to three months when stored properly in airtight containers.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg