Chef John's Sloppy Joes

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576 Reviews
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The secret to a great 'Sloppy Joe' is a thick, rich, almost dry consistency, which allows it to be eaten two-fisted, sans fork.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on August 18, 2022
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
55 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 ½ pounds extra lean ground beef

  • ½ onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 green bell pepper, diced

  • 1 cup water

  • ¾ cup ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 cup water

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Directions

  1. Combine the ground beef and onion in a cold skillet, place the skillet onto a stove burner, and turn the heat to medium; cook and stir until the beef is crumbly and browned. Stir the garlic and bell pepper into the beef mixture; continue cooking and stirring until the vegetables are tender, 2 to 3 more minutes. Add 1 cup of water. Mix in ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Pour in 1 more cup of water. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook until the mixture becomes very thick, 30 to 45 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Season with cayenne.

    close up view of a Sloppy Joe on a white plate
    Cynthia LaFourcade
1,743 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

271 Calories
13g Fat
14g Carbs
25g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 271
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g 16%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 84mg 28%
Sodium 992mg 43%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 25g 49%
Vitamin C 22mg 24%
Calcium 26mg 2%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 404mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.