1-First, start by heating 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of ground beef and brown it, breaking it into crumbles for about 5 minutes, then drain the fat. This step builds that rich base flavor you’ll love in your sloppy joes.

2-Next, in the same skillet, cook the 1/2 large yellow onion (minced) and 1/3 green bell pepper (minced) for 2-3 minutes until they soften. Add the 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Return the beef to the skillet and stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste to blend everything nicely.

3-Then, add the remaining ingredients: 2/3 cup ketchup, 1/3 cup water, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 3/4 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if you want some heat), and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir it all together to combine.

4-Finally, cook the mixture over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until it thickens to your liking. Serve it hot over toasted buns for that classic comfort meal experience. Remember, you can always adjust seasonings to make it your own best sloppy joes recipe.