Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe without Ketchup

What You Need

Here are the basics. Full ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card below.

• Lean ground beef — Using lean meat means you won’t have to drain the grease. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken or pork.
• Onion — for flavor. Sub onion powder or dried minced onions if needed.
• Bell pepper — Green bell pepper is more common, but I like the pop of color from using a yellow or orange pepper instead of a green pepper.
• Tomato sauce — the base of the sauce. You can definitely sub ketchup or tomato paste. I do this when I’m out of sauce.
• Mustard — for added tang. Use yellow mustard, Dijon mustard or deli mustard.
• Brown sugar — to add sweetness
• Seasonings — sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika
• Hamburger buns — for the sandwiches. True old fashioned sloppy joes are made with white bread!

How to Make Sloppy Joes

First, cook the onion and bell pepper in a large skillet until slightly soft. Then, add the hamburger meat, and cook until no longer pink.

Next, add the remaining ingredients, and stir until well blended. Let the meat mixture simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid will reduce, and the sauce will become nice and thick. The meat mixture should be thick enough to spoon onto the sandwich buns.