Classic Sloppy Joes for Two

Name: Classic Sloppy Joes for Two
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon, water, divided; 1/4 teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon, baking soda, divided; 8 ounces, 85 percent lean ground beef; 1/4 teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon, table salt, divided; 1 teaspoon, vegetable oil; 1/4 cup, finely chopped onion; 1 , garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon, packed brown sugar, plus extra for seasoning; 1 teaspoon, paprika; 1/8 teaspoon, red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons, tomato paste; 3 tablespoons, ketchup; 1 1/2 teaspoons, red wine vinegar, plus extra for seasoning; 1 1/2 teaspoons, Worcestershire sauce; 1/4 teaspoon, cornstarch; 2 , hamburger buns

25 comments

Appears in Cook's Illustrated May/June 2019

Main Courses

American

Sandwiches

We examined every aspect of this family favorite to produce sandwiches with tender, moist meat in a tangy, not-too-sweet sauce. (We even made them a little less sloppy.)

SERVES2

TIME45 minutes

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

We found that treating the ground beef with baking soda (so that it retained more moisture when cooked) and then breaking it down to a fine, uniform texture in the skillet delivered a tender, flavorful, and cohesive mixture that stayed put ...

This is a members' feature.