Description
Ina Garten’s Sloppy Joes bring classic comfort to dinner tables with rich, hearty flavors that dance between tangy and sweet. Meaty goodness nestled in warm, pillowy buns creates a homestyle meal perfect for family gatherings where memories simmer alongside savory bites.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) of ground beef
Vegetables:
- ⅓ green bell pepper, minced
- ½ large yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of brown sugar
- ⅔ cup (158 milliliters) of ketchup
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) of water
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon (3.75 milliliters) of chili powder
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) of red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) of black pepper
- 1 dash of hot sauce
Cooking Fats:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of olive oil
Instructions
- Warm a generous skillet with a blend of butter and oil over medium-high temperature until the surface shimmers with heat.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, methodically breaking the meat into delicate crumbles while thoroughly cooking until a rich, caramelized brown develops.
- Transfer the browned beef into a colander, allowing excess fat to drain completely.
- Within the same skillet, sauté diced onions and bell peppers until they become translucent and tender, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Incorporate minced garlic and cook for an additional 30-45 seconds, allowing the aromatic oils to bloom and intensify the flavor profile.
- Reintroduce the drained beef back into the skillet and fold in tomato paste, ensuring a uniform coating across the meat mixture.
- Pour in a harmonious blend of ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, optional red pepper flakes, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Gently simmer the mixture for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and develops a rich, glossy consistency.
- Serve the savory mixture generously atop toasted, soft hamburger buns, creating a classic comfort food experience.
Notes
- Unleash gourmet flavor potential with this elevated sloppy joe technique that transforms humble ground beef into a restaurant-worthy dish.
- Careful vegetable caramelization builds complex flavor foundations before introducing meat, ensuring maximum taste depth.
- Balancing sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy seasonings creates a sauce that’ll make taste buds dance with excitement.
- Professional browning methods guarantee deeply developed flavor profiles that separate this recipe from ordinary weeknight meals.
- Customizable heat levels through red pepper flake adjustments mean everyone from mild lovers to spice enthusiasts can enjoy this crowd-pleasing dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg