# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 ratio preferred)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce & Seasonings
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
10 - 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
→ To Serve
15 - 4 soft hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
16 - Dill pickle slices
# Steps:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté until vegetables are softened and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes.
03 - Pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Add the mustard, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and chili powder. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
04 - Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook until the sauce thickens nicely and flavors meld together.
05 - Sample the mixture and adjust salt, pepper, or sweetener as needed to achieve the perfect balance of tangy and savory flavors.
06 - Spoon the beef mixture generously onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add pickle slices if desired, then cover with the bun tops. Serve immediately while hot.
