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Sloppy Joe Sauce Recipe

Sloppy Joe Sauce Recipe: Sweet, Tangy, and Perfectly Messy

Sweet-tangy, deeply flavorful homemade Sloppy Joe sauce
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs ground beef 80/20
  • 1 large onion finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1½ cups ketchup
  • ½ cup water or beef broth
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp kosher salt & black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Brown beef hard; drain excess fat if desired.
  • Sauté onion + pepper until soft.
  • Add garlic + all sauce ingredients.
  • Simmer low 15–20 min until thick.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning.
  • Rest 5 min; pile onto toasted buns.

Notes

• Freezes perfectly
• Better next day
• Try Chipotle or BBQ variation
• Napkins required