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Sloppy Joes

This is a solid weeknight dinner that's ready in ~25 minutes and costs way less than takeout. I grew up on this meal - it's cheap, flavorful and filling.
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By Charlotte Everly-James

Ingredients (~8 servings)

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped (~1 cup)
  • 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp prepared mustard
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste

 

Brown the Ground Beef

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

Cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.

You’re looking for the meat to be completely browned with no pink remaining – this usually takes ~8-10 minutes.

Drain any excess grease if needed; with lean ground beef there shouldn’t be much.

Add the Vegetables and Cook Until Soft

Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the browned meat.

Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the bell pepper softens – about ~5-6 minutes.

The vegetables should be tender but not mushy.

Mix in the Sauce Ingredients and Simmer

Add the tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder to the meat mixture.

Stir everything together until well combined.

Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for ~15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The sauce will thicken as it cooks and the flavors will meld together.

Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

The mixture should be saucy but not watery – if it seems too thin, simmer a few more minutes uncovered.

Sloppy Joes

This is a solid weeknight dinner that’s ready in ~25 minutes and costs way less than takeout. I grew up on this meal – it’s cheap, flavorful and filling.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients (~8 servings)

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 large yellow onion ~1 cup, chopped
  • 1 large green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 can tomato sauce 8 oz
  • 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp prepared mustard
  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cooling/Resting Time: 0 minutes
  • Heat large skillet over medium heat and brown ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, until no pink remains, 8-10 minutes.
  • Drain excess grease if needed.
  • Add chopped onion and bell pepper to meat and sauté until onion is translucent and pepper softens, 5-6 minutes.
  • Add tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
  • Stir until well combined.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

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