Description
Alton Brown’s Sloppy Joes deliver a classic American comfort dish with a gourmet twist. Robust ground beef mingles with tangy tomato sauce and unexpected spices, creating a messy, delicious sandwich you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) (1 ⅓ cup) tomato sauce
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Serving:
- 6 hamburger buns, toasted
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature, melting butter until it begins to shimmer and coat the pan evenly.
- Gently sauté chopped onions and green bell peppers, stirring occasionally until vegetables become translucent and develop soft golden edges, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and quickly stir to prevent burning, releasing its aromatic essence into the skillet.
- Add ground beef, breaking it into uniform small crumbles using a wooden spatula or spoon, ensuring even browning and cooking for 7-8 minutes until no pink remains.
- Pour tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and red wine vinegar into the meat mixture, creating a rich and tangy base.
- Sprinkle paprika and cayenne pepper to infuse depth and subtle heat into the sauce, balancing the sweet and savory elements.
- Season with 1 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Reduce heat and allow the mixture to simmer, stirring intermittently until the sauce thickens and develops a glossy, concentrated consistency, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Serve the sloppy joe mixture generously over toasted hamburger buns, ensuring each sandwich is abundantly filled with the flavorful meat sauce.
Notes
- A nostalgic comfort dish that transforms ordinary ground beef into an extraordinary family-favorite meal.
- Prep work streamlines the cooking process, making this recipe quick and stress-free for busy home cooks.
- Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar create a complex flavor profile that elevates the traditional sloppy joe.
- Customize the heat level by adjusting hot sauce or adding diced jalapeños for extra kick.
- Freezer-friendly option allows for make-ahead meals and convenient weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 563 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg