Claire's Not So Sloppy Joe's

Say goodbye to messy dinners with "Claire's Not So Sloppy Joe's," a refined take on the classic comfort food. This recipe transforms the traditional sloppy joe into a flavor-packed masterpiece with lean ground beef, sautéed bell peppers, and onions simmered in a rich, tangy sauce made with ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and a touch of smoked paprika for depth. The sauce thickens beautifully, creating a hearty filling that stays perfectly in place on butter-toasted burger buns. Ready in just 40 minutes and perfect for feeding a family of four, these elevated sloppy joes are a quick, satisfying go-to for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. Serve with a side of crispy fries or a fresh salad for a crowd-pleasing meal that’s as tidy as it is delicious!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (lean, 85% lean preferred)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 cup beef broth
• 4 pieces burger buns, toasted
• 2 tablespoons butter (optional, for toasting buns)

Directions

Step 1

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and let it warm up for 30 seconds.

Step 2

Add the diced onions and bell peppers to the skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes or until softened and fragrant.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.

Step 4

Push the vegetables to the edges of the skillet and add the ground beef to the center. Cook, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until browned and fully cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain any excess grease, if necessary.

Step 5

Stir in the tomato paste, allowing it to coat the beef and vegetables for about 1 minute to enhance its flavor.

Step 6

Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.

Step 7

Pour in the beef broth and reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef. Adjust seasoning to taste if needed.

Step 8

While the beef mixture simmers, toast the buns. Spread the cut sides of the buns with butter (if using) and toast them in a skillet or under a broiler until golden brown.

Step 9

Spoon the beef mixture evenly onto the bottom halves of the toasted buns. Place the top halves of the buns on and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1544.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2520.4

Total Fat 110.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 42.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 425.8mg	0%
Sodium 6102.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 251.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.8g	0%
Total Sugars 80.2g
Protein 148.9g	0%

Vitamin D 50.0IU	0%
Calcium 400.4mg	0%
Iron 24.1mg	0%
Potassium 2893.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 38.3%

Protein: 23.0%

Carbs: 38.7%