Sloppy Joes in the Pressure Cooker

Serves 5 in about 43 minutes. Ground beef ground goes in first, and hamburger buns finishes the pot.

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs ground beef or ground turkey (lean)
• 1 small onion, diced
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
• ½ cup beef broth* (or water)
• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 (6 oz can) tomato paste
• 5 hamburger buns

Method

1. Turn on the pot's Sauté setting. Stir in the ground beef (if using ground turkey, add some oil to the pot first). Cook, while stirring now and then, until the meat is mostly done. Use a spoon or turkey baster to remove the extra fat.
2. Stir in the onion, salt, and pepper, and cook for a couple of minutes to soften. Scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir.
3. Stir in the garlic, bell pepper, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire, soy sauce, Dijon, brown sugar, and beef broth, Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pot to get up any brown bits.
4. Stir in the tomato paste and ketchup, but do not stir it in. Just leave it sitting on top of the meat mixture.
5. Put the lid on and lock into place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
6. Cancel the Sauté setting and press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial). Then press the +/- button (or dial) to select 4 minutes. High Pressure. The pot will take a few minutes to come to pressure.
7. After the cooking cycle is finished, let the pot sit undisturbed for 5 minutes (5 instant Natural Release). Then turn the knob to the Venting position (or push button) and manually release the remaining steam.
8. When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and stir the Sloppy Joe mixture to incorporate the tomato paste and ketchup. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
9. Plate on soft hamburger buns.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.