Homemade Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 6 hamburger buns, toasted
• coleslaw or pickles, to serve (optional)

Steps

1. Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up, about 6 minutes. Spoon off most of the fat.
2. Add the onion and pepper and cook until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
3. Add the ketchup, water, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, chili powder, salt and pepper.
4. Simmer, stirring now and then, until thick enough to mound on a spoon, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Spoon onto the toasted buns and serve with coleslaw or pickles.

TipThe filling freezes well. Cool it, freeze flat in a bag, and reheat in a skillet with a splash of water.