Homemade Sloppy Joe’s
Homemade Sloppy Joe’s are one of those nostalgic meals that no one likes to admit they love! I like to think I have a fairly sophisticated palate but give me a heaping dish of Kraft mac & cheese or messy Sloppy Joe’s and I’m all in. There’s just something about those old recipes that make me very happy.
Sloppy Joe’s were one of the first recipes I learned to make as a kid. I figured out how to brown the ground beef, add a bunch of packaged spices (who knew what was in that little packet?), ketchup and water to make this iconic recipe.
Well, now you know what’s in the little packet! This recipe produces an identical taste to the packaged mix but everything is definable and approachable. Serve it over toasted Brioche Buns or plain hamburger buns and you will be reminded of those yummy meals back in the day!
This recipe begins by combining the ground beef with baking soda. Use your hand to mash them together. The baking soda tenderizes the beef by raising the pH level of the meat’s surface, making it more alkaline. This disrupts the protein structure in the meat, making it more tender. Baking soda also accelerates browning, which boosts the flavor of the dish.
Let it sit about 20 minutes to tenderize.
Meanwhile, add butter to a skillet and add the onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook until softened.
Add the ground beef along with the spices and cook until the beef is browned, about 5 minutes. Then, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire and hot sauce and reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 10 minutes.
Butter the inside of the buns and toast in a preheated oven until a little bit browned and lightly crispy.
Adjust the seasonings of the Sloppy Joe’s if you like and spoon the mixture over the toasted hamburger buns. I love to serve it with the very delicious Sweet & Tangy Citrus Slaw!
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Homemade Sloppy Joe’s
Makes: 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1& 1/4 pounds 90% lean ground beef
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, plus more for buns
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 & 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp dry mustard
- 1 (14-oz) can tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco or Frank’s, or to taste
- Hamburger buns
Instructions
In a medium bowl, using your hands, mash the beef with the baking soda. Let it sit on the counter for 20 to 25 minutes to tenderize.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and set a rack in the middle position.
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until bubbling. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes.
Add the beef, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, and dry mustard and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until mostly brown, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, butter the inside of the buns and place on a baking sheet, butter side up. Toast in the oven until warmed through and lightly crispy, about 5 minutes.
Taste the sloppy Joe mixture and adjust seasonings. (If you like your Sloppy Joes sweet, feel free to add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar.) Spoon the mixture onto the toasted hamburger buns and serve.
Freezer-Friendly Instructions:
The meat mixture can be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop until hot.
Recipe by Once Upon a Chef
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