The BEST SLOPPY JOES
3 TB butter........................................................1/2 cup white or yellow onion, diced fine
1/2 cup diced bell pepper (red or green) ~ or about 4-5 mini sweet peppers, seeded & diced
2 tsp. Garlic, minced or crushed........................1 lb. extra-lean ground beef (I use 96/4)
2 TB brown sugar..............................................2 TB Dijon or Spicy Brown or Creole mustard
1 TB Worcestershire sauce.................................1 tsp. liquid smoke
1 TB Chili Powder..............................................2 tsp. Smoked Paprika
1/2 Cup Ketchup...............................................1/2 cup BBQ Sauce (I like Stubb's hickory or mesquite)
1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar.............................Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste
1-2 Roma tomatoes, diced (optional)
4-6 Hamburger Buns
***
Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, quickly add the onion and stir occasionally until translucent. Add the peppers and garlic; stir occasionally for 1 minute then add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon, stirring it all together. Allow to cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, tomatoes, chili powder, and paprika. Stir for 30 seconds ~ then add the ketchup, BBQ sauce and vinegar. Allow to cook for 5 minutes, season to taste and serve immediately (or simmer up to 1 hour on low and then serve. The longer it cooks the better the flavor.) **
Serve on hamburger buns that have been brushed with butter.
(NOTE: If you have some tangy coleslaw on hand, that's good on top of the meat inside the buns too. My recipe ~ click button link below)