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Per serving
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- 1
Prep the vegetables
Dice the yellow onion and green bell pepper. Mince the garlic and set it aside on its own — garlic burns fast, so it goes in last.
- 2
Soften the onion and pepper
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened and just starting to take on color.
- 3
Brown the beef
Add the ground beef to the pan and turn the heat up to medium-high. Break it apart with a wooden spoon and cook 5–7 minutes, until no pink remains. There shouldn't be much grease with lean beef — if there is, spoon it off.
- 4
Season
Stir in the salt, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Let it cook for about a minute so the spices bloom in the fat.
- 5
Add the garlic
Turn the heat back down to medium and stir in the minced garlic. Cook another 2 minutes, just until fragrant — don't let it brown.
- 6
Build the sauce
Pour in the ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Stir everything together and bring to a low simmer. Let it cook 3–5 minutes to thicken and let the flavors blend. Taste and adjust salt if needed. If the mix gets too dry, splash in another ounce or two of water.
- 7
Toast the buns
While the beef simmers, heat a second pan or griddle over medium with a touch of oil. Place the buns cut-side down and toast for 1–2 minutes, until golden. This is the difference between a great sandwich and a soggy one — don't skip it.
- 8
Serve
Pile the beef mixture onto the bottom bun, cap it, and serve right away with whatever cheap side you have on hand — chips, pickles, or a quick slaw.
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Stovetop Sloppy Joes
Created by: BudgetBites
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Prep the vegetablesDice the yellow onion and green bell pepper. Mince the garlic and set it aside on its own — garlic burns fast, so it goes in last.
- Soften the onion and pepperHeat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened and just starting to take on color.
- Brown the beefAdd the ground beef to the pan and turn the heat up to medium-high. Break it apart with a wooden spoon and cook 5–7 minutes, until no pink remains. There shouldn't be much grease with lean beef — if there is, spoon it off.
- SeasonStir in the salt, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Let it cook for about a minute so the spices bloom in the fat.
- Add the garlicTurn the heat back down to medium and stir in the minced garlic. Cook another 2 minutes, just until fragrant — don't let it brown.
- Build the saucePour in the ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and water. Stir everything together and bring to a low simmer. Let it cook 3–5 minutes to thicken and let the flavors blend. Taste and adjust salt if needed. If the mix gets too dry, splash in another ounce or two of water.
- Toast the bunsWhile the beef simmers, heat a second pan or griddle over medium with a touch of oil. Place the buns cut-side down and toast for 1–2 minutes, until golden. This is the difference between a great sandwich and a soggy one — don't skip it.
- ServePile the beef mixture onto the bottom bun, cap it, and serve right away with whatever cheap side you have on hand — chips, pickles, or a quick slaw.