Ultimate Hearty Sloppy Joes Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of butter
• Minced garlic, about 6 cloves
• One large sweet onion, like Vidalia®, finely chopped
• Chopped fresh cilantro, around ¼ cup
• Ground beef, approximately 2 pounds
• Brown sugar, 1/4 cup
• Yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons (like Colman's®)
• Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon
• Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon
• Onion powder, 1 teaspoon
• Greek seasoning, to taste (like Cavender's®)
• Hamburger seasoning, to taste (like McCormick® Grill Mates®)
• Garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon
• Ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon
• Smokehouse maple seasoning, to taste (like McCormick® Grill Mates®)
• Hickory smoked salt, to taste (like McCormick®)
• Ground nutmeg, to taste
• Barbeque sauce, 2 cups (like Sweet Baby Ray's®)
• Ketchup, 1 cup
• Apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons
• Hamburger buns, 12 pieces

Step 1

In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat until it sizzles and smells nutty. Add garlic and stir until it becomes aromatic, enhancing the butter with its pungent flavor, for about 1 to 2 minutes. Introduce a colorful medley of onion, green pepper, and fresh cilantro to the garlicky butter, cooking and stirring until the onion turns tender and translucent, a process that may take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in another large skillet, sauté ground beef over medium heat until it browns beautifully, taking care to remove any excess fat. Crank up the heat to medium-high and dive into a whirlwind of flavors by incorporating brown sugar, zesty mustard, Worcestershire sauce, a blend of Italian herbs, aromatic onion powder, a hint of Greek seasoning, a sprinkle of hamburger seasoning, piquant garlic powder, earthy black pepper, a touch of smoky maple seasoning, a pinch of smoked salt, and a whisper of nutmeg into the sizzling beef. Let the mixture bubble and meld together for about 4 to 6 minutes until it reaches a hearty boil.

Step 3

Merge the sautéed onion mixture with the seasoned beef, reducing the heat to a gentle simmer. Pour in a luscious combination of barbecue sauce, tangy ketchup, and a splash of apple cider vinegar into the beefy concoction, stirring well to marry the flavors. Cover the skillet and let the mixture simmer and thicken into a rich, tantalizing sauce for around 30 minutes.

Step 4

Finally, scoop generous portions of the savory beef onto soft hamburger buns, creating a mouthwatering sandwich that is sure to delight your taste buds. Serve and enjoy this delectable creation bursting with layers of flavors and textures.