Marry Thompson These sloppy joes combine 2 1/2 pounds of ground beef with ketchup, brown sugar, and chili powder in one skillet. The whole thing takes 30 minutes from start to finish and serves eight. It works just as well for a Tuesday dinner as it does for feeding a weekend crowd.
Ree Drummond shares this recipe on The Pioneer Woman. Her key choice is adding the onion and bell pepper after the beef browns, not before. That keeps the vegetables from going soft, so every bite has some crunch against the sauce.
Draining most of the rendered fat before building the sauce is the step that matters most. Skip it, and the ketchup and brown sugar mixture slides right off the meat instead of coating it. That quick drain lets the sauce reduce, thicken, and cling the way it should.
Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joes Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings10
20
minutes480
kcalSloppy Joes with a tangy-sweet sauce spooned over buttered, toasted Kaiser rolls for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family loves.
Ingredients
- Meat filling
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2 Tbsp. butter, plus more for buttering rolls
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2 1/2 lb. ground beef
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1/2 large onion, diced
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1 large green bell pepper, diced
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5 garlic cloves, minced
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1 1/2 cups ketchup
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2 Tbsp. brown sugar
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2 tsp. chili powder, plus more to taste
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1 tsp. dry mustard
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1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
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1 cup water
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Kosher salt, to taste
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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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2 Tbsp. tomato paste (optional)
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Worcestershire sauce, to taste
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Tabasco sauce, to taste (optional)
- For serving
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8 Kaiser rolls
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Kettle cooked potato chips
Directions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, then drain most of the fat and discard.
- Add the onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, dry mustard, red pepper flakes, and water. Simmer for 15 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire, and Tabasco if desired.
- Spread the rolls with butter and brown them on a griddle or skillet. Spoon the meat mixture over the rolls and serve hot with kettle cooked chips.
FAQs
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef for this recipe?
Ground turkey works and cuts some of the saturated fat, but it releases less flavor on its own. Brown it with the full 2 tablespoons of butter to compensate for the leaner drippings. Season the sauce more aggressively with chili powder, since turkey absorbs spice without giving much back.
How do I keep the Kaiser rolls from getting soggy?
Toasting the rolls with butter in a skillet creates a thin barrier between the bread and the sauce. That crust holds up for about 10 to 15 minutes before the moisture breaks through. Spoon the filling on right before serving instead of letting assembled sandwiches sit.
What does the dry mustard actually do in the sauce?
Less than a teaspoon adds a sharp, warm undertone that balances the sweetness of the ketchup and brown sugar. Without it, the sauce leans too sweet and one-dimensional. Substitute yellow mustard in a pinch, using about 1 1/2 teaspoons for roughly the same effect.
Can I make this in a slow cooker instead of a skillet?
Ree Drummond has a dedicated slow cooker version with the same base ingredients, set on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Brown and drain the beef on the stovetop first, then transfer it to the slow cooker with the sauce ingredients. That long simmer lets the flavors meld while you walk away from the kitchen.
What’s a good way to stretch this recipe for a bigger crowd?
Adding a can of drained pinto or black beans gives you two to three extra servings without diluting the flavor. Stir them in during the last five minutes of simmering so they warm through. You could also serve the filling over a cheesy Frito pie base for a different take.
How should I store and reheat leftover sloppy joe filling?
The filling holds well in the fridge for up to three days in a sealed container. Reheat it in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce. Pair the leftovers with beef tips over steamed rice for a quick second meal that uses the same flavor profile.