# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 medium green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
10 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
12 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - ½ teaspoon salt
14 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ To Serve
15 - 4 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
16 - Butter for toasting buns (optional)
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until no longer pink and browned, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
03 - Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until thoroughly combined.
04 - Lower heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes.
05 - While the mixture simmers, toast the split hamburger buns in a skillet or oven, optionally spreading butter before toasting.
06 - Ladle generous portions of the beef mixture onto the bottom halves of the buns. Cover each with the top halves and serve immediately.
