A perfect “Sloppy Joe” has a thick, rich, almost dry consistency that makes it easy to consume with just two hands and no fork.
| Prep Time: | 15 mins |
| Cook Time: | 40 mins |
| Total Time: | 55 mins |
| Servings: | 6 |
| Yield: | 6 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds extra lean ground beef
- ½ onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup water
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Combine the ground beef and onion in a cold skillet, place the skillet onto a stove burner, and turn the heat to medium; cook and stir until the beef is crumbly and browned. Stir the garlic and bell pepper into the beef mixture; continue cooking and stirring until the vegetables are tender, 2 to 3 more minutes. Add 1 cup of water. Mix in ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Pour in 1 more cup of water. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook until the mixture becomes very thick, 30 to 45 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Season with cayenne.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 271 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 14 g |
| Cholesterol | 84 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Protein | 25 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g |
| Sodium | 992 mg |
| Sugars | 12 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
No additions or deletions needed…wife is very picky…..this is a requested meal at least once a by our family…did I mention that my wife is very picky but mostly requested by her!! Excellent recipe, thank Chef John
I have made this several times and it is very good. Has anyone tried making it in a slow cooker and if so how long should it cook on high or low? Thanks!
Everyone’s favorite. I only put in 1 cup of water. 2 made it to wet.
Made exactly as directed several times. Excellent
My husband loved, loved loved this! Easy, great spices and so yummy. You can’t go wrong with Chef John.
This is my go-to sloppy Joe recipe. Perfect every time. Thank you Chef John!
Delicious and easy to prepare.
Cooked it exactly like the recipe for a family gathering and it turned out great! Will definitely be making it again.
Very good just the way it is.
My family loves this recipe!!!
Very tasty
I love this recipe just as it is. It also freezes well for when you need a quick meal. Goes great with sweet potato tater tots.
I add about 1/2 cup less water cuz I can never get it to thicken up as much even if I wait the time suggested but definitely our entire families favorite recipe hands down
Perfect just the way it is!
I’ve been using this wonderful recipe for years. At some point I remembered that my mom used pickling spices to make the ones I grew up with. Please try it. Add a tablespoon or so to a cup of boiling water and let it sit to room temp while you’re doing other first steps. Then strain spices and add this flavored water as your first cup. It adds a certain spice that enhances everything else. The second cup of water stays plain. Try it. So good. Don’t change anything ease. It’s a great recipe even wo my addition.
This is the best Sloppy Joe recipe ever. You do need to take your time and allow that final cup of water to work it’s magic. That I think is the perfect part of this recipe. I make it all the time and we have these a few times a month for a quick and delicious meal. I also use it on good hot dogs for a chili sauce.
Best sloppy joe recipe! Make sure to let it simmer for the entire time. Love Chef John
Hands down the best Soppy Joe recipe! The flavor is so so good, I credit that to the long simmer. For anyone that says it’s watery, be patient and make sure to simmer for the entire 30-45 minutes. Thank you Chef John!
This is the only Sloppy Joe recipe I have used for several years now. We love it . Thanks
Used Beyond Burger and only one cup of water. Consistant winner! Thank you Chef John!
I stuck as close to the written recipe as I could.. (I prefer red pepper and half the brown sugar) and I highly recommend this. I love that it takes longer to cook as I think it helps with the tender beef and happy hour. Thanks.