Beef Sloppy Joes Toasted Buns (Printable)
Ground beef simmered in tangy sauce, served hot on butter-toasted buns for a classic meal.
# What You Need:
→ Meat & Main
01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 1/3 cup ketchup
07 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
08 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
09 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Serving
13 - 4 hamburger buns
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
# How To Make:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking it apart until fully cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the beef. Cook until softened, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and bring to a simmer.
04 - Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
05 - Preheat a small skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Spread softened butter on the cut sides of the hamburger buns. Toast buttered sides down until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
06 - Spoon the beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Cover with the top halves and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Ready in 40 minutes flat, with most of that time being hands-off simmering while you do other things.
- The sauce has this perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory that makes people ask for seconds without knowing exactly what they're tasting.
- It's impossible to mess up, which means even on tired weeknights it comes out comforting and delicious.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the fat after browning the beef—too much grease makes the sauce slide off the bun and the whole thing becomes messy instead of satisfying.
- The sauce needs those 10 to 12 minutes of simmering to thicken properly; rushing it means you end up with something closer to a soup, which is delicious but not what you're after.
- Toast your buns every single time—it's the difference between a good sloppy joe and one that falls apart two bites in.
03 -
- Make a double batch and freeze the sauce in portions—it reheats beautifully and gives you an easy dinner waiting in the freezer.
- Toast your buns in a skillet instead of under the broiler for more control and a better golden-brown finish every time.