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BBQ Sloppy Joes

two bbq sloppy joes on board with bbq sauce on the side.
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Store-bought (or homemade) barbecue sauce makes a deliciously savory and sweet base for sloppy Joes. You only need a handful of basic ingredients and 20 minutes to make this satisfying comfort meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 ounces (454 g) lean ground beef (note 1)
  • 1 medium sweet (or yellow) onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup (237 ml) barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup (59 ml) water
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 - 6 hamburger buns (note 2)

Instructions

  1. Add the ground beef to a medium skillet (11 - 12 inches in diameter). Cook the ground beef over medium-high heat for 3 - 4 minutes, or until mostly browned. While cooking, break the meat up into very small chunks with a wooden spoon. If needed, drain away any excess grease.
  2. Add the finely diced onion. Stir and continue to cook for an additional 4 - 5 minutes, or until the beef is fully browned (no longer pink) and the onion is translucent. While cooking, season the beef and onion with salt and pepper to taste (use salt sparingly since the barbecue sauce is already salty).
  3. Add the 1 cup barbecue sauce, 1/4 cup water, 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and 1 tablespoon yellow mustard to the pan. Stir and bring to a simmer. When simmering, turn the heat down to medium-low, or low, to maintain the simmer. Stir occasionally and cook for 4 - 5 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened to your liking. Taste the mixture and season with more salt and/or pepper if needed.
  4. Optional: while the sloppy Joe mixture is simmering, toast the buns in a toaster oven or dry skillet.
  5. Divide the sloppy Joe mixture between the buns and serve immediately.

Notes

  1. I prefer using 93% lean ground beef for sloppy Joes, it's lean enough that there usually isn't too much grease that needs to be drained, therefore saving a step. But feel free to use any type of ground beef you want. If there is excess grease in the pan after browning, drain it off before adding the onion.
  2. This recipe will make between 4 - 6 sandwiches, depending on how much filling you want to add to each. 

Storage and reheating:

  • After allowing the sloppy Joe mixture to cool, store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge. It will keep for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat the mixture by simmering it in a small saucepan until hot. Add a splash of water if needed to thin out the sauce. You can also microwave the mixture in a microwave-safe container, covered with a paper towel to catch any spatter.
  • To freeze, transfer the cooled sloppy Joe mixture to an airtight freezer bag or food storage container, and freeze for up to 3 months.

The nutrition information below is an estimate only. The nutrition counts of your dish will vary based on the brands and exact amounts of ingredients used. This information was provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full nutrition disclosure policy.

Nutrition

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