Homemade Sloppy Joe Sandwiches | An old school classic sandwich

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: American cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories, while American cheese is often cheaper.

Chop half of a yellow onion.

Rinse one green bell pepper with cold water, remove the core, and chop half of it.

Cut two cloves of garlic in half and press them using a garlic press.

In a medium-sized glass bowl, add the entire 6 oz can of tomato paste and 2/3 cup of water. Stir with a whisk until combined.

Preheat a large saucepan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes.

Add 1.5 lbs of ground beef chuck to the hot saucepan and season with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking down larger pieces of beef as it cooks.

After 6 to 8 minutes, turn off the heat and pour the cooked ground beef into a mesh strainer over a shallow pan to drain excess fat, saving a little bit of fat for later.

In the same large saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of the saved ground beef drippings and 1 tablespoon of cubed salted butter. Let the butter melt.

Add 1.25 cups of chopped yellow onion and 2/3 cup of chopped green bell pepper to the saucepan. Stir and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the pressed garlic to the saucepan and then add the cooked ground beef back in.

Season the mixture with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of Tony Chachere's seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of Chef Paul Prudhomme's seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of dried basil, 1/4 teaspoon of dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon of chili powder. Stir to combine.

Add the prepared tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon of sugar to the mixture. Stir well and add 2 additional teaspoons of the saved ground beef fat for flavor.

Let the mixture simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

After 3 to 4 minutes, let the sloppy joe filling cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Toast the whole wheat hamburger buns and spread a little butter on them.

Assemble the sandwiches by adding the sloppy joe filling to the bottom portion of the hamburger bun and placing the top portion on.

Press down to complete the sandwich.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens