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Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar are super easy to prepare, inexpensive, and quick, ready in just 25 minutes and 6 steps. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness to these loose meat sandwiches.

Why I love this recipe

The ground meat mixture is also delicious over rice, pasta, and baked potatoes. The sweet tomato-based sauce has great flavor. We like to serve our sloppy Joe sandwich with a side of potato chips, tater tots, onion rings, or French fries.

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar on a plate.
Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar

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Basic Ingredients

(amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post)

lean ground beef

onion

jarred minced garlic

tomato paste

water

Worcestershire sauce

brown sugar

salt

hamburger buns

Substitutions and Additions

You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef.

Try adding diced green bell pepper, or red bell pepper during step 3.

If you want spicy sloppy Joes, try adding some chili powder or red pepper flakes.

Equipment needed for this recipe:

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How to make Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar

Step 1 – On a cutting board, dice the onion.

Step 2 – In a high-sided skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain the excess grease using a colander and return the beef to the pan.

Step 3 – Add the diced onions until they start to soften.

ground beef and onion cooking in a skillet.

Step 4 – Then add the minced garlic, tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and salt. Mix until combined well.

ground beef, onion, minced garlic, tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and salt cooking in a skillet.

Step 5 – Allow to simmer on low for 20 – 30 minutes.

Step 6 – Serve the ground beef mixture on soft sandwich buns.

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar on a plate.
Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar

Pro Tips

Store leftover sloppy joe meat in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

​Recipe FAQs

How do you make sloppy joes thicker?

They are meant to be very sloppy and loose but if you really want to thicken them up a little you can. For each cup of liquid, you want to thicken, use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water and combine it in a separate bowl with a spoon or whisk until it creates a smooth paste slurry. Whisk the slurry into the simmering liquid to thicken until it reaches your desired consistency.

You may also enjoy

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar on a plate.

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar are super easy to prepare, inexpensive, and quick, ready in just 25 minutes and 6 steps. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness to these loose meat sandwiches.
4.67 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 460 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • ½ of a medium onion
  • 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • cup brown sugar ((light or dark brown sugar))
  • ½ teaspoon table salt
  • 4 hamburger buns ((or brioche bun))

Instructions
 

  • On a small cutting board, dice the onion.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Using a colander, drain the grease and return the beef to the pan.
  • Add the diced onions until they start to soften.
  • Then add the minced garlic, tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and salt. Mix until combined well.
  • Allow to simmer on low for 20 – 30 minutes.
  • Serve the sloppy Joe mixture on soft sandwich buns.

Notes

  • The beef mixture is also delicious over rice, pasta, and baked potatoes.
  • You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef.
  • Try adding diced green bell pepper, or red bell pepper during step 3.
  • If you want spicy sloppy Joes, try adding some chili powder or red pepper flakes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 460kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 25gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 792mgPotassium: 607mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 255IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 108mgIron: 5mg
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Hi and welcome. I’m Zona and I love creating recipes for easy dinners or desserts.

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This recipe is also on my other site Zona Cooks and serves just 2.

4.67 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating