Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 6 hamburger buns, toasted

Instructions:

  1. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed sauté pan. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it reaches a mahogany-colored sear and no pink remains. Drain about 70% of the excess fat.
  2. Lower the heat to medium. Stir in the diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for 4–6 minutes until the onions are translucent and the peppers have softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to caramelize the sugars.
  4. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick, glossy, and clings tightly to the beef.
  5. Spoon the beef mixture onto toasted hamburger buns and serve immediately.