Campfire Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb Ground beef
• 1 small Yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/2 Green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 cup Tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup Ketchup
• 1 tbsp Tomato paste
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
• 1/2 tsp Smoked paprika
• 3/4 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 6 Hamburger buns
• 2 tbsp Butter, for toasting buns

Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium campfire or camp stove heat. Add ground beef. Cook while breaking it into small pieces.
2. Add onion and bell pepper. Continue cooking until beef is browned and vegetables are softened, approximately 7–9 minutes. Ground beef must reach 160°F.
3. Drain excessive grease if necessary. Add garlic and cook approximately 30 seconds.
4. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
5. Reduce heat to low. Simmer approximately 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture should become thick enough to mound on a bun rather than run off immediately.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer filling to a bowl temporarily if necessary.
7. Butter the cut sides of the buns. Toast buns in the skillet for approximately 30–60 seconds.
8. Spoon hot Sloppy Joe filling onto buns. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Chef's Notes

DON'T MAKE IT TOO SWEET: The brown sugar is there only to balance the tomatoes. MAKE AHEAD: The cooked filling can be prepared at home, chilled, transported below 40°F, and reheated thoroughly at camp.

Browse all recipes →

Browse recipe collections →