Homemade Sloppy Joes

Homemade Sloppy Joes come together in less than 30 minutes for a quick and easy dinner — even on your busiest nights. A handful of simple pantry staples like ketchup, mustard, and cider vinegar create a made-from-scratch sweet and tangy Sloppy Joe sauce that’s so much better than the canned stuff! Serve the sandwiches with potato chips and Caesar salad for a quick meal that the whole family will love.

How to Make Sloppy Joes | 1-Minute Video

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

I’ve got nothing against store-bought Manwich Sloppy Joe sauce, but these homemade Sloppy Joes are so much tastier — and almost as easy as popping open a can! The old-fashioned recipe is a classic American comfort food that dates back to the early 20th century, and it’s no surprise that the sweet-and-savory sandwiches have been loved for generations.

In fact, Marilyn Brown, the Director of the Consumer Test Kitchen at H.J. Heinz, suggests that Sloppy Joes originated with the “loose meat sandwiches” sold in Sioux City, Iowa in the 1930s. Those sandwiches were created by a cook named Joe, which might explain today’s term for the simple recipe, Sloppy Joes. These sandwiches consist of a combination of ground beef (or other ground meat) in a tomato-based sauce, piled high on hamburger buns. What’s not to love?!

How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes

Not only is this super easy Sloppy Joe recipe quick to prepare, but you probably already have all of the ingredients that you need. Skip a trip to the grocery store and get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients for Super Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

• Ground Beef
• Onion
• Garlic
• Worcestershire sauce
• Brown sugar
• Cider vinegar
• Yellow mustard
• Ketchup
• Salt and pepper
• Sandwich buns

Step 1: Brown Meat

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, onion and garlic over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain.

Step 2: Whisk Together Sauce

Whisk together the remaining ingredients to make the sauce.

Step 3: Add Sauce to Skillet

Add the sauce to the ground beef mixture in the skillet and stir to combine.

Step 4: Simmer

Simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes, or until it reaches the desired consistency.

Step 5: Serve on Buns

Spoon the mixture onto hamburger buns and serve warm.

How do you thicken Sloppy Joes?

This recipe is very flexible, so you can make your homemade Sloppy Joes as thick or as “sloppy” as you like. For a thinner sauce, keep the skillet covered while you simmer the meat in the sauce. If the sauce is still too thick, gradually stir in a small amount of warm water or beef broth until it reaches your desired consistency.

To thicken the Sloppy Joes, simmer the sauce a little bit longer uncovered, or gradually sift in a small amount of flour while stirring vigorously.

What can be used instead of ketchup?

Substitute with barbecue sauce or tomato sauce in lieu of the ketchup. The tomato sauce is not sweet like ketchup, so you will need to add some extra brown sugar to taste. You can also use a can of condensed tomato soup if that’s what’s in your pantry. Stir in a dollop of tomato paste for a richer tomato flavor.

Variations

• Homemade Sloppy Joes with Ketchup and BBQ Sauce: for a zesty spin, swap out half of the ketchup with barbecue sauce instead.
• Sloppy Joe Recipe with Tomato Sauce: For a slightly less sweet Sloppy Joe sauce, replace half of the ketchup with tomato sauce. You can even omit the ketchup entirely and use tomato sauce instead. Just sweeten with brown sugar to taste.
• Homemade Sloppy Joes with BBQ Sauce: If you love the zippy flavor of barbecue sauce, swap out the ketchup and replace it with your favorite brand of store-bought (or homemade) bbq sauce.
• Add Seasoning: Use your favorite seasonings like chili powder or cumin, or herbs such as oregano, thyme, basil or parsley.
• Include Vegetables: Make healthy Sloppy Joes by sneaking in extra veggies. Try diced bell pepper, shredded zucchini or squash, or grated carrots.
• Try Different Meat: Instead of ground beef, use ground pork or ground turkey, or a blend of meats.
• Make Them Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne to your sauce.
• No Sugar Sloppy Joe Recipe: omit the brown sugar and use no-sugar-added ketchup.

Best Bread for Sloppy Joes

We serve our Sloppy Joes on classic hamburger buns. Sesame seeds or not, you choose! You can butter the buns and toast them on a griddle for a fancier restaurant-quality touch. You might also like brioche buns, pretzel rolls or even kaiser sandwich rolls for a tasty twist!

Sloppy Joe Toppings

We keep them simple with just the meat inside a bun; however, you can feel free to pile on any of your favorite sandwich toppings. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Cheese: place a slice of American cheese on top of the warm meat — it will melt almost instantly
• Pickles: dill slices or bread and butter pickles are both delicious
• Coleslaw: a cool and crunchy contrast to the warm meat
• Lettuce, Tomato and Red Onion: just like a hamburger!

What to serve with Homemade Sloppy Joes

Need some easy sides to pair with your sandwiches? Here are some good options that go well with Sloppy Joes:

• Baked Beans
• Potato Chips
• Coleslaw
• Pickles
• Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing or Caesar Salad
• Baked Potato Wedges
• Tater Tots or French Fries
• Potato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• Baked Mac and Cheese or Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Skin-On Mashed Red Potatoes
• Corn on the Cob

Unique Ways to Use Leftover Sloppy Joe Meat

Instead of the traditional Sloppy Joe sandwich, try using the leftover meat in these other ways:

• Serve the meat on top of rice, noodles or mashed potatoes
• Use the Sloppy Joes as a topping for baked potatoes with sour cream and cheddar cheese
• Combine with macaroni and cheese for a Sloppy Joe Pasta
• Stuff the meat inside quesadillas or tacos
• Pile it high on top of cornbread
• Spread it on flatbread and top with grated cheese, then bake for a Sloppy Joe pizza.
• Wrap in crescent roll dough and bake in the oven

How to store Homemade Sloppy Joes

This is a great make ahead meal for busy nights! You can prepare the Sloppy Joe meat in advance, let it cool to room temperature, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Can I freeze Sloppy Joes?

Yes! The prepared Sloppy Joe meat will keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

How to Reheat Sloppy Joes

Place the meat in a saucepan, cover, and warm over a low flame, stirring regularly just until heated through. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of warm water, beef broth or additional ketchup to thin. Spoon onto buns and enjoy!

More Sloppy Joe recipes that you might enjoy:

• Sloppy Joe Casserole {Just 5 Ingredients!}
• Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
• Crock Pot Italian Sloppy Joes
• Sloppy Joe Stuffed Shells

Homemade Sloppy Joes

5 from 13 votes

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

0 minutes

Total: 25 minutes

Servings 4 – 6 people

Calories 226 kcal

Homemade Sloppy Joes come together in less than 30 minutes for a quick and easy dinner — even on your busiest nights!

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 lb. ground beef
• ¼ cup finely diced onion (frozen is fine)
• 1 clove garlic, minced (or ⅛ teaspoon dried garlic powder)
• ¾ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Dash of black pepper
• For serving: sandwich buns

Instructions

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, onion and garlic until the meat is no longer pink. Drain.
• Whisk together the remaining ingredients to make the sauce. Add to the skillet with the beef, onion and garlic.
• Simmer uncovered over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the mixture reaches desired consistency. You can keep the skillet covered if you like the sauce “sloppier.” If the sauce is too thick, gradually stir in a small amount of warm water or beef broth. If the sauce is too thin, gradually sift in a small amount of flour while stirring vigorously to thicken.

Video

Notes

Make Ahead: Prepare the meat mixture in advance, cool to room temperature, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Serving a Larger Family? Double all of the ingredients.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of the meat mixtureCalories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 25gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 1122mgPotassium: 583mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 231IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 3mg

Keyword: homemade sloppy joes, Italian Sloppy Joes

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Author: Blair Lonergan

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