Sloppy Joe-style pizza

Ingredients

• As neededOil, for frying
• 1Green pepper
• 1 largeOnion
• 4 clovesGarlic
• A couple, optionalMushrooms, sliced
• 400–500 gMinced beef
• 1 tbspPaprika
• To tasteChilli powder
• 1 tbspTomato purée
• 300 mlBeef stock
• To tasteSalt and pepper
• 1 tspWorcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook the beef

   Cut the pepper into small strips and chop the garlic and onion. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and cook the onion over a medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add the garlic, pepper and, if using, mushrooms; fry for a couple more minutes. Add the minced beef and cook until thoroughly cooked. Stir in the paprika, chilli, tomato purée and beef stock, then simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated. Season with salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce, adding more chilli if you like.

2. 2

   Top the pizza

   Spoon the beef mixture over a pizza base spread with tomato sauce and topped with grated cheese.

What is Sloppy Joe-style pizza?

A Sloppy Joe is an American-style sandwich filled with seasoned minced beef in a loose, saucy mixture. This pizza borrows those flavours and uses the beef as a topping instead.

Here, paprika, chilli and Worcestershire sauce season the mince, while reducing the stock helps it sit more neatly on the pizza. The recipe gives the beef topping method; the pizza base, tomato sauce and cheese are mentioned as serving components.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 650 calories, 32g protein, 65g carbs, 28g fat.

The pizza base supplies most of the carbohydrates, while the beef provides much of the protein and the cheese and frying oil contribute fat. Add a green salad or vegetables alongside to bring freshness and balance to the plate.

Build flavour in the pan

Onion first: give it a couple of minutes over a medium heat so it begins to soften before adding the other vegetables.

Garlic and pepper: add these with the optional sliced mushrooms and fry briefly. The method keeps the vegetables in the pan while the beef cooks, so they become part of the topping.

Keep the topping savoury

Paprika and chilli: stir them in with the tomato purée and stock to season the mince throughout. Since the chilli amount is flexible, start modestly and adjust at the end.

Worcestershire sauce: add it when seasoning the finished mixture. Its savoury tang complements the beef, so taste before adding extra salt.

Reduce the stock

Simmer the beef mixture until most of the stock has evaporated. This is the key texture cue in the method: the topping should be moist but not swimming in liquid.

The recipe does not give a fixed simmering time, so judge it by the amount of liquid left in the pan. Stir occasionally to help the mixture cook evenly.

Use a pizza base

Spread tomato sauce over the pizza base and add grated cheese, as specified in the serving instruction. Then spoon the beef mixture over the top.

No quantities are given for the base, sauce or cheese, and the supplied method does not include baking instructions. Follow the directions for your chosen pizza base to finish the assembled pizza.

Serve it with

A crisp green salad or a portion of cooked vegetables makes a fresh contrast to the rich beef, cheese and pizza base.

For a simpler meal, serve the pizza on its own and let everyone add extra chilli at the table if they want more heat.

Recipe notes & tips

• Cut the pepper into small strips so it mixes easily through the mince.
• Use the lower end of the beef quantity for a less meat-heavy topping.
• Add chilli gradually and taste the mixture before serving.
• Simmer until most of the stock has evaporated so the topping is not too wet.
• Add the optional mushrooms with the pepper and garlic, as directed.
• Check the pizza base instructions separately, as the supplied method does not state a baking time or temperature.

Variations

• Extra heat: increase the chilli powder a little at a time.
• Mushroom topping: include the optional sliced mushrooms with the vegetables.
• More pepper: add another green pepper for extra vegetable texture.
• Milder seasoning: leave out the chilli powder and season with paprika alone.
• Cheese choice: use your preferred grated cheese on the tomato-sauced base.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Wet topping: simmer the mixture until most of the stock has evaporated before adding it to the pizza.
• Burnt garlic: add it after the onion and cook only for the brief time stated.
• Overcooked vegetables: fry them for just a couple of minutes before adding the beef.
• Too much chilli: start with a small amount, then taste and add more if needed.
• Over-seasoning: taste the mixture before adding extra salt, as Worcestershire sauce also brings savoury flavour.

How to store

Refrigerate leftover cooked beef mixture in a covered container and use within 3 days. Reheat it thoroughly in a pan or microwave; store and reheat assembled pizza according to the guidance for its base and toppings.

Frequently asked questions