Homemade Sloppy Joes don’t have to be difficult to eat. Despite the name of this iconic retro dish, the secret to a great Sloppy Joe is a thick, rich, almost dry consistency, which allows the sandwich to be eaten with your hands. Serve on hamburger buns.
Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe
Homemade Sloppy Joes don't have to be difficult to eat. Despite the name of this iconic retro dish, the secret to a great Sloppy Joe is a thick, rich, almost dry consistency, which allows the sandwich to be eaten with your hands. Serve on hamburger buns.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds extra-lean ground beef
- ½ onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups water divided
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Place ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbled, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in green pepper and garlic; cook and stir until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup water and stir, scraping the pan to dissolve any brown flavor bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Add remaining 1 cup water and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and mixture is thick, about 40 minutes.
- Season with salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper.
