Description
A sweet and savory twist on classic sloppy joes made with ground beef, Dr Pepper, ketchup, tomato paste, and warm seasonings, served on soft hamburger buns.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup Dr Pepper soda
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until it begins to brown.
- Add the chopped onion and continue cooking until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Pour in the Dr Pepper and simmer for a few minutes to slightly reduce the liquid.
- Add the ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir well to combine.
- Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the meat.
- Lightly toast the hamburger buns if desired.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the buns and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Add chili flakes or hot sauce for extra heat.
- Any cola-style soda can be used instead of Dr Pepper.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze the meat mixture for up to 2 months and thaw overnight before reheating.
- Add a splash of water or soda when reheating if the mixture becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
