Start by chopping the onion and bell pepper into small pieces. Mince the garlic cloves finely. Keeping the pieces small helps them blend well into the sauce. This step takes only a few minutes but builds great flavor.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook them slowly for about five minutes. Stir often until the vegetables become soft and fragrant. Then add the minced garlic.

Add the ground beef to the skillet with the cooked vegetables. Use a wooden spoon to break the meat into small pieces. Cook for about seven minutes until the beef turns brown and fully cooked.

If the beef releases too much fat, carefully drain some of it from the pan. Leaving a little fat helps flavor the sauce. Too much fat, however, can make the Sloppy Joes greasy.

Now add ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and mustard. Sprinkle in smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the water and stir everything together well.

Lower the heat to medium-low. Let the mixture simmer gently for about ten minutes. Stir occasionally so nothing sticks. This step thickens the sauce and blends all the flavors perfectly.

While the meat mixture simmers, lightly toast the hamburger buns. You can do this in a skillet or toaster oven. Toasted buns add a slight crunch and help prevent the sandwich from getting soggy.

Spoon a generous amount of the beef mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Add optional toppings like pickles or cheese if you like. Place the top bun over the filling.

Serve your Sloppy Joes while they are hot and saucy. This Pioneer Woman Sloppy Joes Recipe tastes best right after cooking. Pair with fries, chips, or a fresh salad.