Halloween hamburger
Don’t let the name fool you—Sloppy Joes don’t have to be a mess. The key is a thick, rich filling that holds together, making this retro comfort food easy to eat by hand and even easier to love. Perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
1½ pounds extra-lean ground beef
½ onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water, divided
¾ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1½ teaspoons salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional, to taste)
Instructions
Brown the Meat:
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until beef is fully browned and crumbled, about 10 minutes.Add Vegetables & Garlic:
Stir in the diced green pepper and minced garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened.Deglaze the Pan:
Pour in 1 cup of water and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to enhance the flavor.Season the Mix:
Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of cayenne if using.Simmer to Perfection:
Add the remaining 1 cup of water. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 40 minutes—until the mixture thickens and most of the liquid has evaporated.Taste & Adjust:
Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, or cayenne if desired.Serve:
Spoon onto hamburger buns and serve warm.
- Pro Tip
Let it simmer uncovered. This allows the excess moisture to cook off naturally, resulting in a thick, rich filling that stays put in the bun. For even better flavor, make the filling a few hours ahead—Sloppy Joes taste even better after the flavors have had time to meld.
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