My mother’s favorite solution for making quick weeknight dinners was some hamburger and a can of Manwich sauce. This is my kicked-up and a little spicy version of her sloppy joe’s.
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef (we use deer meat)
- 1½ tsp. sea salt, divided, plus more
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
- 3 Tbsp. gochujang or a little red pepper seasoning
- 2 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 4 potato rolls or other gourmet buns
- Kosher dill spears and potato chips (for serving, optional)
Preparation
Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add 1 lb. ground beef (ideally 20% fat), spreading out in a single layer; sprinkle with 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt and season with freshly ground pepper. Cook, undisturbed, until a light brown crust forms underneath, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until almost completely brown all the way through, about 3 minutes more.
Push meat to one side of pan. Reduce heat to medium and 1 medium onion, chopped, 2 garlic cloves, finely grated, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt; season with pepper. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3 Tbsp. gochujang, 2 Tbsp. ketchup, 1 Tbsp. soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar, and 1 tsp. yellow mustard, then add one 15-oz. can tomato sauce and ¼ cup water and stir again to combine. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until thick and saucy, 10–12 minutes (if you don’t cook down the tomato sauce, it won’t taste good). Remove entire mixture from heat and stir in 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
Spoon beef mixture onto 4 potato rolls. Serve with kosher dill spears and potato chips if desired.
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ALTERNATE VERSION-FRENCH ONION BEEF SLOPPY JOES
Irresistible French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes from kitchenmomy.com
Discover my Irresistible French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes, where caramelized onions and savory beef combine with melty Swiss cheese for a gourmet twist on a classic comfort food ready in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 hamburger buns (preferably brioche)
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Caramelize onions in olive oil over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes until golden.
- Add ground beef, cook until browned.
- Stir in garlic, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 5-7 minutes until flavors meld.
- Toast hamburger buns until golden.
- Spoon beef mixture onto buns, top with Swiss cheese.
- Optional: broil for 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.