Forget the tinned sauce. These classic sloppy joes use everyday store-cupboard ingredients and are ready in about 35 minutes. Lean beef, onion and green pepper simmer in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce, then get piled high into soft buns. It’s a nostalgic, family-friendly supper that everyone loves.
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Serves 6
Ingredients
- 1lb (about 450g) lean minced beef
- ¼ cup (about 40g) onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup (about 40g) green pepper, finely chopped
- ¾ cup (about 180ml) ketchup, plus extra to taste
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 6 burger buns, split
Method
- Brown the beef. Set a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the beef and cook for 3–4 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until some of the fat starts to come out.
- Add the veg. Stir in the onion and green pepper. Cook for another 3–5 minutes, until the veg is soft and the beef is browned all over.
- Make the sauce. Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and garlic powder, then season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer. Turn the heat down to low and let it bubble gently for 20–30 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick and glossy.
- Serve. Spoon the mixture generously into the buns and serve straight away.
Tips
- Using fattier beef? Drain off the excess fat after browning, before you add the sauce ingredients.
- Go cheap on the buns. Soft, basic buns soak up the sauce best for that classic messy sandwich.
- Make ahead: cool the mixture and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, then reheat until piping hot.
- Slow cooker option: brown and drain the beef first, then cook everything on low for a few hours.
- Serve with sweet potato fries, coleslaw, pickles or baked beans.
Nutrition (approx. per serving): 243 kcal, 16g fat, 11g carbs, 14g protein.