Sloppy Joe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb ground beef, 85/15
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 6 soft hamburger buns
• 2 tbsp salted butter

Before you cook

• Dice the onion and bell pepper into small even pieces and mince the garlic.
• Whisk the ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire, brown sugar, vinegar, and water together in a bowl.
• Split and butter the buns.

Steps

1. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef.
2. Break the beef apart with a wooden spoon and cook for 6 minutes, until browned and no pink remains.
3. Spoon off all but about a tablespoon of the fat.
4. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes, until softened and just starting to color.
5. Stir in the garlic, salt, pepper, and chili powder and cook for 1 minute.
6. Pour in the ketchup mixture and stir to coat the meat.
7. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the sauce is thick and glossy and no longer pools when you drag the spoon across the pan.
8. Toast the buttered buns cut side down in a separate dry skillet for 1 minute until golden.
9. Spoon the hot meat generously onto the bun bottoms, mounding it above the rim.
10. Set the tops on and serve with a fork nearby, since the last third of the sandwich always needs one.