Cafeteria Spoon Burgers
A nostalgic, sloppy-joe-style sandwich packed with beef, peppers, and a rich, tangy tomato-based sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or retro-themed lunches, these spoon burgers are best served over toasted buns or thick slices of Texas toast.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 medium bell pepper minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar optional
- 6 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup water
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 4-5 toasted hamburger buns or slices of Texas toast for serving
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat up olive oil and sauté onion and bell pepper, cooking until the onions are slightly translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add garlic, cooking for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add in ground beef, using a spatula to break it up.
- Once the ground beef is broken up, add in ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, mustard, water, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until the water has evaporated, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Serve spoon burgers over toasted buns or slices of Texas toast and enjoy!
Notes
For added flavor, you can sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on the hot filling before serving or add pickle chips for crunch. This makes a fantastic freezer meal too—just cool, portion, and store!
Nutrition
Calories: 410kcal
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