Martha Stewart Sloppy Joes

Martha Stewart sloppy joes are easy, from-scratch comfort food that skips the spice packet. Ground beef, sauteed bell pepper, onion, and garlic simmer in tomato sauce and Worcestershire until thick. Scoop them on toasted buns for a quick weeknight family dinner.

Serve these with oven fries or coleslaw for a nostalgic, kid-friendly supper. Use ground chuck with 20 percent fat for the best flavor, since leaner beef dries out and loses that saucy texture.

Martha Stewart Sloppy Joes

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

505

kcal

Thick, tangy, and loaded with sauteed vegetables, this sloppy joe meat piles high on a toasted bun with just enough drip to need a napkin.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
  

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  

• 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
  

• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
  

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
  

• 1 pound ground beef
  

• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  

• 1/4 cup ketchup
  

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  

• 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
  

Directions

• Cook the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Brown the beef: Add ground beef to skillet. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the sauces: Stir tomato sauce, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce into beef mixture in skillet. Simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Serve on buns: Season the mixture with more salt and pepper, as desired. Spoon onto buns, and serve immediately.

Tools for this recipe

• Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet, OXO wooden spoon set. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

What cut of beef is best for sloppy joes?

Ground chuck works best because it has about 20 percent fat, which keeps the meat juicy and flavorful. 80 percent lean ground beef from the store is the same thing labeled differently. Going leaner than 85 percent makes the mixture dry and crumbly instead of saucy.

Can you make sloppy joes ahead of time?

The meat mixture keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days in a sealed container. It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Reheat it in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash of water if it thickens too much, and toast the buns fresh right before serving.

What can I use instead of Worcestershire sauce in sloppy joes?

Mix 2 teaspoons of soy sauce with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. It covers the salty, sweet, and tangy notes Worcestershire brings, though the flavor is not identical. Do not skip it entirely, since the sauce balances the sweetness of the ketchup and the acidity of the tomato sauce.

What size skillet do you need for sloppy joes?

A 12-inch skillet gives the vegetables and beef enough room to brown instead of steam. Cast iron, nonstick, or stainless steel all work fine here. If you only have a 10-inch skillet, cook the vegetables first and remove them before browning the beef, then combine.

What sides go well with sloppy joes?

Oven fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots are the classic pairing because something crispy balances the saucy meat. For a lighter option, coleslaw or a side salad with vinaigrette adds crunch without more heaviness. Braised green beans or sauteed broccoli round out the plate with a vegetable.