Sloppy Joes with Provolone Cheese

Serves 6 in about 30 minutes. A stove recipe built around ground beef and hamburger buns.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion chopped
• 1 small green bell pepper chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• ¾ cup ketchup (or 1 cup if you do not use barbecue sauce)
• ¼ cup barbecue sauce
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
• ¼ to ½ cup water
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar (only if you don't use bbq sauce)
• 6 hamburger buns
• 6 slices provolone cheese optional

Method

1. Warm a large skillet over a medium flame. Brown the ground beef and onion until the beef is cooked all the way. Drain most of the fat, keeping about 2 teaspoons.
2. Tip in the green bell pepper and cook until it has softened, about 5 more minutes, while stirring now and then (you can place a lid on the skillet to speed this up).
3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, while stirring often.
4. Mix in the ketchup, barbecue sauce, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and 1/4 cup of water. Lower heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, while stirring now and then.
5. Taste the mixture before you add any brown sugar. If you want your Sloppy Joes sweeter, add the brown sugar. Also, adjust salt, if needed.
6. Divide the Sloppy Joe mixture evenly between the 6 hamburger buns (toast them, if you want it) and top with a slice of Provolone, if you want it.

More beef ideas are in the beef collection.