Easy Sloppy Joes: The Coziest 20-Minute Dinner
Saucy, sweet-savory, and just the right amount of messy, these Sloppy Joes are the ultimate nostalgic dinner. Made with pantry staples like ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, they're ready in just 20 minutes and totally kid-approved.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board
- Knife
- spoon or ladle for serving
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 4–6 hamburger buns
- optional pickle chips, sliced cheese, coleslaw, or jalapeños
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and chopped onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and crumble the meat with a spoon until the beef browns and the onion softens.
- Tilt the skillet slightly and spoon off any excess grease, or carefully drain it into a heat-safe bowl.
- Add the ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper directly to the pan. Stir until the beef is evenly coated and everything looks glossy and thick.
- Turn the heat down to low and let the mixture simmer for 10–15 minutes. Stir occasionally, and let it bubble gently until the sauce thickens and clings to the beef.
- While the filling simmers, lightly toast your hamburger buns in a dry skillet, under the broiler, or in a toaster oven.
- Spoon a generous amount of the meat mixture onto each bun. Add pickles, cheese, or other desired toppings.
- Serve hot with napkins nearby — they're meant to be messy!
Notes
Customize with ground turkey for a lighter version, or add jalapeños for heat. Toasting the buns makes all the difference. Refrigerate the meat mixture separately and reheat as needed for easy leftovers.