Sloppy Joes

This recipe is better than my mother's.  Sorry Mom.  Sloppy Joes are a personal preference.  I don't like them too sweet and I don't like them tasting like barbecue sauce.  It's the most tweakable recipe ever!  

2 tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 pounds ground chuck

2/3 cup green bell pepper, finely-chopped

2/3 cup yellow bell pepper, finely-chopped

1 large onion, finely-chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 1/3 cups ketchup

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoon brown sugar (or less or none)

2 teaspoons yellow mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Heat butter and oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add beef and break apart.  Cook until beef is browned.  Drain off fat and set beef aside onto a plate.

Add onion and bell pepper to the Dutch oven and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.  Add garlic and cook 30 seconds or so until fragrant.  Add beef back into the Dutch oven.  Add tomato paste and stir well.  

Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper.  Stir well to combine.

Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until mixture has thickened.  Remove from heat and serve on toasted buns.

Makes 12 servings.

Notes:

After this mixture is cooled, it can be frozen for up to four months.  Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.  

I like making Sloppy Joes and serving it the next day so all those flavors can meld.