My relationship with Sloppy Joes had its ups and downs. I enjoyed them as a kid, then promptly forgot about them for twenty years. Then my kids requested them. And I approached the meal with a bit of skepticism. Since the sloppy sandwiches met with unanimous approval, I put them into the rotation. But then the kids flew the coop and my attention waned.

I decided to revisit Sloppy Joes sometime during the 2020 lockdown for a little retro fun. I kept my base of onions cooked in bacon grease for sweet smoky flavor. But I added bell peppers and a trio of tomatoes for layers of flavor and texture.

I use inexpensive ground beef (more fat, less lean) which releases quite a bit of fat. Therefore I take the browned beef out of the pan with a slotted spoon to drain some of the grease before cooking the remaining ingredients. Without this extra step, the Sloppy Joes would be too greasy.

Still, there’s still plenty of fat (and therefore beef flavor) that remains on the browned beef. That plus the addition of bacon grease makes for a rich savory sandwich.

I’ve been testing this recipe using grease from Nueske’s bacon because the smoke flavor is extra! (It’s somewhat of a family maxim that Nueske’s bacon makes your house smell like a campfire for days… in a good way!) If that’s not your thing, the recipe works just as well with olive oil in place of the bacon grease. If you prefer, you can build in some smoky flavor by using smoked paprika.

Sloppy Joes are a meal that I consider a dinner-double, big batch recipes that make enough for dinner now and freeze well for a hassle-free meal later in the month. Back in the day, I doubled the recipe. But nowadays, a single batch makes plenty for now and later.

This recipe was originally inspired by the Sloppy Joes in Cook’s Country magazine October/November 2005.

More Please…

Some advice on storing and cooking with bacon grease from the Spruce Eats.
Midwesterners have embraced Sloppy Joes as our own, but is that the whole story? Read about the origin of the sandwich at Tasting Table.

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are homestyle sandwiches, ground beef in a tangy, sweet sauce. Onions and green peppers add flavor and texture. I like to sauté the vegetables in bacon grease for some smoky flavor. Layers of tomato — paste, sauce, diced, plus ketchup — make up the sauce. Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and red wine vinegar amp up the savory and sweet-tart flavors. Piled onto hamburger buns, it's a hearty meal that feeds a crowd. Potato chips are the traditional pairing, because crunch!

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Author Margie

Prep Time 15

Total Time 1

Servings 8 sandwiches

EQUIPMENT

1 large saute pan or dutch oven

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef 15% fat
1.5 Tablespoons bacon grease
1 large onion diced, about 2 cups
1 green bell pepper diced, about 1.5 cups
4 garlic cloves finely minced
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1.5 teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 14.5-oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
¼ cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
hamburger buns for serving

Instructions

Brown the ground beef in a large saute pan or dutch-oven over medium heat until cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked ground beef to a clean plate, draining off some of the grease. Discard the grease (from ground beef) that remains in the pan.
Add bacon grease to the pan along with onion and bell pepper and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat until vegetables are soft, stirring frequently. Stir in the garlic and cook for about a minute. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute, stirring well. Transfer the cooked ground beef back into the pan with the vegetables. Add the brown sugar, salt, chili powder, paprika, oregano, and black pepper to the pan, stir well.
Add the diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine vinegar. Stir well and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until sauce is reduced to a thick consistency. Taste and add more salt and brown sugar if desired. Serve on hamburger buns.

Notes

I use inexpensive ground beef (more fat, less lean) and therefore take the browned beef out of the pan to drain some of the grease. Without this extra step, the Sloppy Joes would be too greasy. Still, there’s still plenty of fat (and therefore beef flavor) that remains on the browned beef which along with the addition of bacon grease makes for a rich sandwich.
Bacon grease adds smoky flavor. But if you prefer, you can skip it. One alternative is to leave about 1.5 Tbsp beef fat in the pan after removing the cooked ground beef. Another option would be to use olive oil in place of bacon grease to sauté the vegetables. With either option, you could use smoked paprika for a hint of smoky flavor.