Homemade Sloppy Joes with Carrot and Cucumber Sticks

Ingredients

Quantities are for 4 servings.

• 1 1/4 lb Ground beef (85% lean)
• 1 each Yellow onion
• 1 each Red bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves Garlic
• 1 can (15 oz) Tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup Ketchup
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Brown sugar
• 4 each Hamburger buns
• 4 each Carrots
• 1 each Cucumber
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Chili powder
• 1 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned with no pink left, about 6-7 minutes. Spoon off most of the extra fat.
2. Add the diced onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper and cook 1 minute.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered, stirring now and then, 10-12 minutes, until thick enough to pile on a bun without running off. The beef should be at least 160°F throughout.
4. While the sauce simmers, peel the carrots and cut them, along with the cucumber, into sticks. Split and lightly toast the buns.
5. Spoon the sloppy joe filling onto the buns and serve with the carrot and cucumber sticks on the side.