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Sloppy Joe on white plate.

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil I used canola oil
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks finely diced
  • 1 small green bell pepper diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced or put through a garlic press
  • 1 ½ pounds lean (93%) ground beef
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, optional for thickening
  • 2 tablespoons warm water, optional for thickening
  • 6 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted

Instructions

  1. Select the sauté setting and adjust it to high (more). Add the oil to the pot. When it shimmers, add the onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

  2. Lock the lid into place and turn the valve to “sealing.” Select pressure cook (manual) and program for 10 minutes at high pressure. When the cook cycle completes, allow the pressure cooker to cool without venting steam for 5 minutes. It's fine if the keep warm setting turns on. After 5 minutes, turn the pressure release valve to “venting” to manually release the steam. When the pressure valve drops, carefully remove the lid. (Always remove the lid away from your face.)

  3. Stir the Sloppy Joe mixture. You can serve as is or you can thicken the sauce. To thicken, stir together the cornstarch and warm water in a small bowl until smooth. Add the cornstarch mixture to the beef mixture. Set the pot to “sauté” (You might have to turn off your pressure cooker and turn it back on to do this.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture bubbles and thickens, about 2 minutes. Taste. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

  4. Spoon Sloppy Joe mixture on the bottom halves of the buns. Cover with the bun tops and serve immediately.