# Components:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean to fat ratio)
→ 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, and cook while breaking up with a spoon until browned and no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet, cooking until softened, approximately 4 minutes.
03 - Incorporate tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper into the skillet; stir thoroughly to combine.
04 - Lower heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, around 8 to 10 minutes.
05 - While simmering, toast hamburger buns in a skillet or oven, optionally with butter to enhance flavor.
06 - Ladle the beef mixture generously onto the bottom half of each toasted bun, cover with the top half, and serve immediately.
