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Close-up side view of a sloppy joe.
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The Best Sloppy Joes Recipe without Ketchup

Sloppy Joes recipe without ketchup is an easy, homemade version without using Manwich or packets of spices. And no ketchup is used.
Course Beef main dish
Cuisine American
Keyword sloppy joes recipe, sloppy joes recipe without ketchup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 5
Calories 463kcal
Author Joe Boyle

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 lbs. ground beef
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. steak seasoning, like McCormick's Montreal
  • 1 med. onion, coarse chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar substitute Dijon mustard
  • sandwich buns
  • salt and black pepper as desired

Instructions

  • Use a 12-inch skillet on medium-low heat and add the olive oil and onion and pepper. Sweat the vegetables 3 or 4 minutes to soften, stirring to keep from browning.
  • Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it up into small pieces. Cook until all the beef has browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Tilt the skillet slightly and use a spoon to remove any residual liquid from the beef.
  • Stir in the brown sugar and steak seasoning and mix until well combined. Then, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine vinegar and mix well. Turn down the heat to a simmer and let the sauce thicken for 4 or 5 minutes. Taste and add more brown sugar, salt, or pepper if desired.
  • While the sauce simmers, lightly butter the buns and toast them on the stovetop in a hot griddle or skillet.
  • Serve the sloppy joes hot with your choice of topping.

Notes

  1. You can modify the cooking steps by adding the chopped vegetables after the meat has browned. this will result in a bit of a crunch from the onions and pepper.
  2. Substitute Dilon mustard for red wine vinegar for a slightly less tangy sauce.
  3. The steak seasoning could be your favorite or combinations of garlic salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, cumin, or chili powder.
  4. Taste your sloppy joe mixture and add more salt, pepper, or brown sugar if desired.
  5. Nutrition information based on 5 servings using white hamburger buns.

Nutrition

Calories: 463kcal