Chef John's Sloppy Joes

Ingredients (12)

• + 1 ½ pounds extra lean ground beef add to pantry
• ✓ ½ onion, diced
• ✓ 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ✓ 1 green bell pepper, diced
• + 1 cup water add to pantry
• + ¾ cup ketchup add to pantry
• + 2 tablespoons brown sugar add to pantry
• + 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard add to pantry
• + 1 dash Worcestershire sauce add to pantry
• + 1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste add to pantry
• + ½ teaspoon ground black pepper add to pantry
• + 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste add to pantry