Cast-Iron Camp Sloppy Joe Sandwiches with Butter-Toasted Buns and Dill Pickles
Brown ground beef with onion and bell pepper in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium coals or a medium camp-stove flame. Stir in a ketchup-mustard-brown sugar sauce and simmer 15 minutes until thick and the beef reads 160°F. Pile it on butter-toasted buns with pickles. Total time is about 45 minutes.
Sloppy joes are a good camp sandwich because one skillet makes the whole filling. The sauce is a quick mix of pantry staples. It's a little sweet, a little tangy and a little smoky, and it holds in a bun better than you'd expect.
The small things make it better than the canned stuff. Brown the beef hard first. Cook the vegetables in the beef fat. Toast the buns in butter so they don't go soggy. Dill pickles on top cut the sweetness. Expect messy hands and plenty of napkins.
Cast-Iron Camp Sloppy Joe Sandwiches with Butter-Toasted Buns and Dill Pickles
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Serves
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium coals or medium flame
- Pack weight
- 4 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- One burner
- Low water
- A few dishes
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- 12-inch cast-iron skillet
- Long-handled spoon
- Camp stove or fire grate
- Heat-proof gloves
- Bowl or large measuring cup
- Cutting board and knife
- Empty can for fat
Steps
-
Keep it cold
Keep the beef in the cooler until the skillet is hot. Wash your hands and any tools after touching raw beef, and don't set cooked food on the same plate.
-
Mix the sauce
In a bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, vinegar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and water. Set it next to the fire.
-
Brown the beef
Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium coals or a medium flame. Add the beef and break it up. Cook 8 to 10 minutes until well browned with no pink left.
-
Cook the vegetables
Spoon off all but about 2 tablespoons of fat into an empty can and pack it out. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until soft. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
-
Simmer until thick
Pour in the sauce and scrape up the browned bits. Move the skillet to lower heat and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until thick enough to mound on a spoon. Check that the beef reads 160°F, then season with pepper.
-
Toast the buns
Spread butter on the cut sides of the buns. Toast them cut side down on a hot grate or the edge of the skillet for 1 to 2 minutes until golden. Watch closely, because they scorch fast.
-
Build and serve
Lay cheese on the bottom buns if using it, then spoon on the hot filling. Top with pickles and add the bun tops. Serve right away with plenty of napkins.
Trail Notes
Cook the filling at home through step 5, then cool it fast and freeze it flat in a zip bag. It works as an ice pack, and it must stay at 40°F or below in the cooler. At camp, thaw it in the cooler and reheat to a steaming 165°F.
Use ground turkey in place of beef and cook it to 165°F. For a meatless version, use 2 cans (15 oz) of drained lentils, skip the browning step and simmer them in the sauce for 10 minutes.
Raw ground beef needs a cooler with plenty of ice, so don't carry it without one. Without a cooler, use shelf-stable canned lentils or a pouch of cooked beef crumbles instead.
Pour cooled fat into a can or bag and pack it out. Don't dump it on the ground. Strain dishwater with a mesh screen and scatter it broadly, well away from water sources and campsites.
Round out your camp day
Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.
BreakfastCast-Iron Sausage and Cheddar Biscuit Bombs
LunchCast-Iron Italian Sausage and Pepper Melts
Snack or treatCampfire Foil Packet Baked Brie with Honey and Grilled BaguetteMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
How do you keep sloppy joes from soaking through the bun?
Toast the buns in butter first and let the filling simmer until thick. A thick filling with a toasted bun holds up for a few minutes.
What temperature should sloppy joe meat reach?
Ground beef must reach 160°F, and ground turkey or chicken must reach 165°F. Check with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the filling.
Can you make sloppy joes over a campfire?
Yes. Cook over medium coals instead of open flames so the sauce doesn't scorch, and move the skillet to the cooler edge to simmer.
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