Ever wanted a sloppy Joe, but you just didn’t have the mix to make it? Well, that was me, and I’m going to tell you EXACTLY how to make it with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!

Pantry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of ketchup
1/4 cup of beef broth (or water. Just loosens the ketchup. Beef broth does give it a richer flavor)
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of lemon juice (to tone the sweetness of the ketchup)
1 small yellow onion
1 pound of ground beef
Seasonings of your choice. I use paprika, salt, and pepper. (Personally, I think the paprika adds the perfect smoky flavor that is just right for a sloppy Joe.)

Cooking Directions

In a medium saucepan, begin to cook your hamburger meat. Drain the meat, then dice your onion and cook with the beef.

Note: you don’t want to have your meat completely done during this step. You want to cook the onions with the meat. Really gets the onion flavor in there.

Add your seasonings, and cook until your meat is completely done. Once it is done, add in your wet ingredients. Begin to simmer, and then taste your mix.

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Yes. I said that correctly. Taste the mix. So yes, you have full permission to sneak a bite or two.

Taste and Adjust

With this recipe, you really are going to use your taste buds. Taste and adjust as needed. If you feel like the recipe needs more ketchup, add it. Or if you think it needs less Worcestershire, put less! It’s all about your preference!

Once completed, set to the side and allow to cool. Toast your burger buns, and put any condiments you like on the bun. Top with your sloppy Joe mix and enjoy some potato wedges, crinkle-cut fries, or whatever you choose as your side!

Enjoy!!

Tori Hammontree

Homemade Sloppy Joes With Smoky Paprika

A simple, pantry-friendly homemade sloppy Joe mix featuring ground beef, ketchup, and smoky paprika.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup beef broth or water
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small yellow onion
1 pound ground beef
to taste seasonings paprika, salt, and pepper recommended
burger buns
to taste condiments optional

Method

Partially cook ground beef in a medium saucepan, then drain. Dice and add onion before the beef finishes cooking.
Add seasonings; cook until beef is completely done.
Add wet ingredients; bring to a simmer and taste.
Adjust to taste, adding more ketchup or using less Worcestershire as preferred.
Set aside to cool. Toast buns, add preferred condiments, and fill with the sloppy Joe mixture.

Notes

The wet ingredients consist of the ketchup, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.