# Components:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 fat ratio preferred)
→ 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)
# Directions:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until no longer pink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if present.
02 - Add finely chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Continue cooking, stirring, until vegetables are softened, about 4 minutes.
03 - Incorporate tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine.
04 - Lower heat to simmer uncovered. Stir occasionally and cook until sauce thickens, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
05 - While sauce simmers, toast split hamburger buns in a skillet or oven, optionally spreading with butter for added flavor.
06 - Ladle the beef mixture onto the bottom halves of toasted buns. Cover with top halves and serve immediately.
