Original Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

🍔✨ Original Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe — hearty, saucy, and full of nostalgic flavor!

This is the classic version your grandma probably made — sweet, tangy, and perfectly messy. A true American comfort food staple that’s ready in under 30 minutes.

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🍴 Ingredients

For the Meat Mixture:

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend for the best flavor)
• ½ medium onion, finely chopped
• ½ green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

For the Sauce:

• ¾ cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional for extra richness)
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional, but adds depth)
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

For Serving:

• Hamburger buns, lightly toasted
• Pickles, coleslaw, or cheese slices (optional toppings)

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