Ground Beef BBQ Sandwiches (20-minute meal)
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Ground Beef BBQ Sandwiches are such a great weeknight meal. From start to finish, you can make this in less than 20 minutes. That’s about as fast as making a box of mac & cheese!
Why you’ll love these barbecue sandwiches
These look a bit like Sloppy Joes but taste more like a fancy BBQ sandwich. They are also so easy to make, and it’s one of those meals everyone enjoys. You can make as much as you want, but this recipe makes a lot, so you can enjoy it for days. If you’re not convinced, here are more reasons to make it:
- Kid Approved Comfort food – It’s one of those meals where you get all the feels, and I am yet to find a kid who disapproves of this dinner.
- Easy meal – Most meals can take anything from 30 minutes to an hour. This easy sandwich recipe is when you really are short on time and everyone is getting hungry.
- Scale it up – If you’re hosting a game day or a party, you can double the recipe. I have even halved the recipe, but prefer to make the recipe as is and then freeze the leftovers for another easier meal in the future!
I like to make a meal of it and add in this caprese pasta salad or these parmesan, garlic, and rosemary potato wedges or some plain potato chips. If you’re looking for another delicious BBQ sandwich, you should make this BBQ shredded chicken sandwich!
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this sandwich. The complete ingredient list is in the recipe card below.
- Ground beef – I’ve used lean ground beef, so it is not greasy. Aim for 90% lean.
- Sauces – Use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup.
- Soy sauce – Use a low-sodium soy sauce as the sauces already have added salt.
How to make ground beef BBQ sandwiches. STEP BY STEP
Follow along for visuals on the 4 easy steps.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and ground beef.
- Stir, breaking up the meat as you cook. Once the meat is cooked through, drain the fat.
- Return to the skillet, and add in the tomato paste, BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper.
- Heat for 3-4 more minutes until heated through. Serve on hamburger buns.
Brianna’s Recipe Tips
Sharing is caring so hear as some tips to help you along the way:
- Drain the beef before adding the sauce to remove the grease.
- Use lean ground beef if possible, I find fattier beef makes the sandwich soggy.
- Toast or grill the buns so it creates a barrier, this helps to not make the buns mushy and elevates the sandwich greatly.
- If you have kids that don’t like onion, dice it into even smaller pieces.
Make ahead instructions
You can make the beef mixture in advance and reheat it when needed so when we are ready to eat, all I need to do is toast the buns.
Storage & Reheating
- Store – You can store the beef mixture in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze – You can portion out the mixture into serving sizes for your family. Add the cooled beef to freezer-safe containers, and it can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheat – Thaw it overnight in the fridge if frozen. Then heat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals with a splash of water or place it in a saucepan for 3-5 minutes.
Additions & Substitutions
You can use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or sausage filling. I like to change up the sauces, opting for a bit of hot sauce when I know it is only adults eating it.
If you are worried about your children’s veggie intake, feel free to add corn, bell pepper, or beans. This also helps to bulk it up if you have a lot of guests.
Items needed to make this recipe
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Large skillet or frying pan
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Colander or slotted spoon
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Did you love this ground beef BBQ sandwich? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so rate it and give it a quick review below, or share on social media.
Originally posted on 1/18/21. Updated on 6/5/25.
PrintGround Beef BBQ Sandwiches
These super-easy ground beef BBQ sandwiches are made with beef and a delicious BBQ sauce, all done in 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves about 10 1x
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, diced small (roughly 1/2 – 2/3 cup)
- 2 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and ground beef. Stir, breaking up the meat as you cook.
- Once the meat is cooked through, drain the fat, return to the skillet, and add in the tomato paste, BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper. Heat for 3-4 more minutes till heated through.
- Serve on hamburger buns.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef if possible, I find fattier beef makes the sandwich soggy.
- Drain the beef before adding the sauce to remove the grease.
- Toast or grill the buns so it creates a barrier, this helps to not make the buns mushy.
