American · Lunch & handhelds

Sloppy Joe

Name: Sloppy Joe
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 42 min
Yield: 6 sandwiches
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds 90%-lean ground beef; 1 tablespoon neutral oil; 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced; 1 small green bell pepper, finely diced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 3/4 cup ketchup; 1/2 cup plain tomato sauce; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons yellow mustard; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 6 soft hamburger buns; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Deeply browned ground beef in a balanced sweet-tangy tomato sauce, piled onto soft griddled hamburger buns.

About 45 minTotal

About 45 minActive

$$Cost

EasyDifficulty

Makes 6 sandwiches

Equipment

Use another covered 12-inch oven-safe skillet or transfer before the oven finish.
Best large covered skillet
All-Clad D3 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid · 41126
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use another covered 12-inch oven-safe skillet or transfer before the oven finish.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched the twelve-inch footprint, fitted lid, tri-ply heat distribution, 600°F oven and broiler rating, current model 41126 and UPC, ownership burden, and exact Amazon identity. Kwilt has not cooked with this pan.
All-Clad D3 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid · 41126: Its twelve-inch cooking surface gives rice, shrimp, meat, and vegetables room to cook evenly, while the fitted lid and 600°F oven rating cover both the lidded stovetop method and the shepherd's-pie oven finish. Trade-off: It is a premium-priced pan, food can stick without sound preheating and fat control, and the long handle plus lid need more storage room than a basic skillet.
Another workable path: Use another oven-safe 12-inch skillet with a well-fitting lid; if the handle has a lower heat limit, transfer oven-finished food to a suitable baking dish.
Sources
All-Clad model 41126 specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 6 sandwiches

1 1/2 pounds 90%-lean ground beef
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
1 small green bell pepper, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup plain tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
6 soft hamburger buns
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Instructions

Heat a over medium-high. Add oil and beef, press into one layer, and leave undisturbed 3 minutes. Turn in large pieces and brown well before breaking into small crumbles; cook to 160°F.
Push beef aside, add onion and bell pepper, and cook until softened, 5 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste and cook until the paste darkens, 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered over medium-low for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until glossy and thick enough that a spoon drawn through the pan leaves a trail for 2 seconds.
Butter the cut faces of the buns and griddle until golden at the surface but still soft inside.
Spoon the hot beef mixture generously onto bun bottoms, close, and serve immediately with napkins.