Homemade Sloppy Joes

• Ground beef – I prefer using lean ground beef to make cooking easier. Drain all fat from the pan if using beef with higher fat content, so the sauce isn’t diluted. I like using a meat masher to break up the clumps for a smoother meat sauce.
• Onions and garlic – I used fresh onions and garlic in the recipe but you can substitute it with onion or garlic powder in a pinch. Onions, garlic and bell peppers add a chunky texture and pad the sauce so there’s more of it to go around.
• Tomato paste – This enhances the taste of ground beef. A little goes a long way and it works much better than tomato sauce. I like using the Cento brand of tomato paste in a tube for recipes calling for tomato paste. It keeps well in the fridge and is less wasteful since tomato paste is often used sparingly in recipes.

• Ketchup – Ketchup is the base of the signature Sloppy Joe taste of sweet, savory and tart flavors. I didn’t want ketchup to be overpowering in the sauce so I only used 1/2 cup in this recipe.
• Bell pepper – I used green bell peppers but any color of bell pepper will work. Green bell peppers taste bitter and grassy while yellow, orange and red bell peppers are sweeter in flavor.
• Buns – Sloppy Joes are usually served on hamburger buns but you can also try them on hotdogs, brioche buns, pretzel buns, Hawaiian rolls, hoagie rolls, or Texas toast.

• Mustard – I used Dijon mustard in the recipe but yellow mustard will also work. The tiny amount of mustard adds some depth of flavor but does not dominate the sauce with a mustardy taste.
• Brown sugar – Brown sugar adds a tiny bit of sweetness to the sauce but is entirely optional if you prefer a sauce that is more savory.
• Chili powder – Chili powder adds a ton of flavor to the sauce but isn’t spicy. It’s usually made from a blend of savory spices such as cayenne, cumin, oregano, onions and garlic.

• Worcestershire – This adds some savoriness to the sauce for more flavor. I love adding it to all my meat and pasta sauces.
• Sauciness – Add 3/4 cup of water to the recipe and simmer it down to your desired level of sauciness. Some like their Sloppy Joe sauce extremely messy and some prefer a firmer, thicker sauce.
• Leftovers and reheating – Sloppy Joes will keep up to 3-4 days in the fridge. To reheat, simmer over the stovetop until warm or microwave in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Freezing – Freeze for up to 3-4 months.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the sauce beyond slapping it on a hamburger bun and digging in. Some ideas on other ways to enjoy this hearty meaty sauce are:

• Hotdogs
• Loaded fries or tater tots
• Texas toast
• Hawaiian rolls
• Grilled cheese
• Baked Potatoes