Not So Sloppy Joes
(41 votes, average: 3.49 out of 5)
Loading...An updated classic, this recipe is super easy with a trick to keep the ground beef super moist. Rich and deeply flavored, it's the Sloppy Joes of your memories, only better, and from scratch!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. Water, divided
- 1/2 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. Baking Soda, divided
- 1 lb. 85 or 90 percent Lean Ground Beef
- 1/2 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. Kosher Salt, divided
- 2 tsp. Vegetable Oil
- 1/2 Onion, chopped fine
- 2 Garlic Coves, minced
- 2 tsp. Packed Brown Sugar, plus extra for seasoning
- 2 tsp. Paprika
- 1/4 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
- 1/3 cup Ketchup
- 1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar, plus extra for seasoning
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp. Cornstarch
- 4 Hamburger Buns
Instructions
Combine 1 tablespoon water and ½ teaspoon baking soda in small bowl.
In large bowl, lightly mix beef with baking soda mixture and ½ teaspoon salt until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and remaining ⅛ teaspoon baking soda and stir to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Stir in sugar, paprika, pepper flakes, and remaining ⅛ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring constantly, until paprika is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until paste is rust-colored, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add beef and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Mash beef with potato masher until fine-textured, about 1 minute.
Add ketchup, vinegar, and Worcestershire and stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits.
Combine cornstarch and remaining 1 tablespoon water in small bowl, then pour cornstarch mixture over beef and stir to incorporate.
Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and coats beef, about 1 minute.
Season with salt, extra sugar, and extra vinegar to taste.
Spoon beef mixture onto buns and serve.