In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the meat is no longer pink. Drain.
Whisk together the remaining ingredients to make the sauce. Add to the skillet with the beef, onion, and garlic.
Simmer uncovered over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the mixture reaches desired consistency. You can keep the skillet covered if you like the sauce “sloppier.” If the sauce is too thick, gradually stir in a small amount of warm water or beef broth. If the sauce is too thin, gradually sift in a small amount of flour while stirring vigorously to thicken.
Spoon beef mixture onto buns and serve!
Recipe Variations
Use both Ketchup and BBQ Sauce: for a zesty spin, swap out half of the ketchup and replace it with barbecue sauce instead.
Sloppy Joe Recipe with Tomato Sauce: For a slightly less sweet Sloppy Joe sauce, replace half of the ketchup with tomato sauce. You can even omit the ketchup entirely and use tomato sauce instead. Just sweeten with brown sugar to taste.
Homemade Sloppy Joes with BBQ Sauce: If you love the zippy flavor of barbecue sauce, swap out the ketchup and replace it with your favorite brand of store-bought (or homemade) bbq sauce.
Add Seasoning: Use your favorite seasonings like chili powder or cumin, or herbs such as oregano, thyme, basil, or parsley.
Include Vegetables: Make healthy Sloppy Joes by sneaking in extra veggies. Try diced bell pepper, shredded zucchini or squash, or grated carrots.
Try Different Meat: Instead of ground beef, use ground pork or ground turkey, or a blend of meats.
Make Them Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne to your sauce.
No Sugar Sloppy Joe Recipe: omit the brown sugar and use no-sugar-added ketchup.
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