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A serving of a sloppy joe sandwich.
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5 from 1 vote

Sloppy Joe Recipe (with Ketchup)

This homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe (with Ketchup) is so much better than the canned version! It’s made with a rich, tangy ketchup base and a few smoky spices that are bold, messy, and totally delicious! Pile it onto toasted buns for that perfect texture and delicious weeknight dinner!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 sandwiches
Calories: 253kcal
Author: Danielle

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lb ground beef 90% lean
  • 1 onion finely diced (1-1.5- cup)
  • 1 red bell pepper finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1-2 teaspoon brown sugar optional if you like it a little sweeter
  • For serving: Buns toasted for extra delicious results

Instructions

  • Heat a medium pan or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until mostly cooked through, 4-5 minutes. Break it up into very small pieces as it cooks so that it is evenly ground.
    1 ½ lb ground beef 90% lean
  • Add onions and bell pepper. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, until the beef is fully cooked. Use paper towels to soak up extra grease before proceeding to the next step.
    1 onion, 1 red bell pepper
  • Add the garlic and seasonings and cook for 1 minute.
    1 tablespoon garlic, 1 ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Add the tomato sauce, Worcestershire, dijon, and brown sugar (if using). Combine well, then reduce to med-low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
    1 15 oz can tomato sauce, ¾ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon worcestershire, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1-2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • Serve over toasted buns.
    For serving: Buns

Notes

Tips & Tricks
  • Really break up the meat a lot for a good texture.  
  • It’s a bit spicy. You can decrease the spice if you use less chili powder. 
  • Add or leave out the brown sugar depending on how sweet you like you’re filling.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 615mg | Potassium: 568mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1109IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg
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