The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

Saucy, beefy and so satisfying. We’re convinced this is the BEST recipe for a homemade Sloppy Joe. Ground beef in a hearty tomato sauce served on toasted hamburger buns is a great idea for lunch or dinner.

There’s no match for a warm homemade sandwich, from Grilled Cheese to our famous Philly Cheesesteak. This Sloppy Joe Recipe is definitely at the top of our list.

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (1)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

This delicious sloppy joe recipe is such a simple recipe and so inexpensive to make, a budget-friendly family dinner. The tender and juicy ground beef are sauteed with green peppers and onion then cooked in a hearty tomato sauce.

Having some go-to ground beef recipes like Cheeseburger Sliders, Taco Salad, or Sloppy Joes will make dinner time a breeze. If you have some ground beef in the freezer and need an easy meal idea, this is a must-try.

Sloppy Joe Ingredients

  • Ground Beef – use lean ground beef (85-90% lean). If using a higher fat content, you will need to skim off the extra fat once the beef is cooked.
  • Bell pepper – we used green, but you can substitute a different color in a pinch.
  • Onion & Garlic – these aromatics add great flavor and disappear into the sauce so picky eaters won’t complain.
  • Homemade Sauce – just a few simple pantry ingredients will make a sauce that’s better than any store-bought sauce. The combination of tomato sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire hits all the right flavor notes; sweet, savory, and tangy.
The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (2)

How to Make Sloppy Joes

  1. Chop veggies – Finely chop the onion and green bell pepper.
  2. Make sauce – In a bowl, combine worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, water, brown sugar, and tomato sauce.
  3. Saute beef – In a deep skillet, heat oil over med/high heat. Add the ground beef and break up as it is being cooked. Season with salt and pepper and add in the finely chopped onion and green pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender.
  4. Add sauce – Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant. Pour in the sauce and cook over medium high heat until the sauce comes to a soft boil.
  5. Simmer – Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, add more salt and pepper if needed.
  6. Serve – spoon the saucy beef mixture on toasted buns and serve as sandwiches.

Pro Tip: If you prefer a spicy Sloppy Joes, add some hot sauce or sriracha to the sauce.

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (3)

To Serve

There are so many different ways to enjoy a sloppy joe. You’ll make to try them all:

  • Classic – Serve this with toasted hamburger buns for the classic sloppy joe recipe.
  • Grilled Cheese – Add the meat mixture when making a Grilled Cheese for a hearty sandwich.
  • Pizza – Add on homemade pizza dough and top with cheese for a delicious sloppy joe pizza recipe.
  • Loaded fries– There is nothing better than loaded fries, top your fries with some cheese and sloppy joe filling.
  • Chili dogs – Add the meat sauce to your hot dogs.
  • Baked potato – Take loaded baked potato to the next level by topping with this meat sauce.
The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (4)

Common Questions

What type of ground beef do I use?

For this recipe, you want to use 85% or 90% lean ground beef.

Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker?

These EASY sloppy joes are GREAT to make in the crockpot. Once the meat is browned on a skillet, just add it along with all the other ingredients into the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.

What is the difference between a sloppy joe and Manwich?

This sloppy joe recipe is homemade and made from scratch. Manwich is a pre-made store-bought sauce used to make sloppy joes.

How can I spice up my sloppy joe?

If you like spicy foods, add some jalapenos along with the green peppers.

Make-Ahead

  • Refrigerating – Let the meat sauce cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
  • Freezing – Once the mixture is cooled, add to freeze-friendly containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2-3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Reheating – A general rule of thumb is that it’s best to reheat a recipe the same way it was cooked. Warm the meat sauce on the stovetop in a skillet or saucepan until hot. You can microwave, but use a microwave shield to catch messy splatter.
The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (5)

Love Ground Beef Recipes? Try these:

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe

4.96 from 1751 votes

Author: Valentina Ablaev

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (7)

The BEST recipe for a homemade Sloppy Joe! Ground beef in a hearty tomato sauce on toasted hamburger buns. The perfect recipe for lunch or dinner.

SavePinReviewPrint

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 4 servings

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 small green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 lb lean ground beef, 85%-90% lean
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup water, optional, or added to desired consistency
  • 4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Instructions

  • Finely chop the onion. Seed and finely dice the green pepper.

  • In a bowl, combine the Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and tomato sauce.

  • Place a large skillet or dutch oven over medium/high heat. Add olive oil and ground beef. Saute the beef for about 5 minutes until cooked through and no longer pink, breaking it up with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper and add in the diced peppers and onion. Cook another 5 minutes until the veggies are tender and beef is browned.

  • Add the minced garlic and saute 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add in the sauce and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 10-15 minutes or until thickened to your liking. Season to taste with salt and pepper and add water if you prefer a looser consistency. Serve on toasted buns for Sloppy Joe Sandwiches.

Nutrition Per Serving

365kcal Calories35g Carbs31g Protein11g Fat3g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat5g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat70mg Cholesterol1197mg Sodium916mg Potassium3g Fiber12g Sugar521IU Vitamin A23mg Vitamin C119mg Calcium6mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

365

% Daily Value*

Fat

11

g

17

%

Saturated Fat

3

g

19

%

Trans Fat

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

5

g

Sodium

1197

mg

52

%

Potassium

916

mg

26

%

Carbohydrates

35

g

12

%

Fiber

3

g

13

%

Sugar

12

g

13

%

Protein

31

g

62

%

Vitamin A

521

IU

10

%

Vitamin C

23

mg

28

%

Calcium

119

mg

12

%

Iron

6

mg

33

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sloppy joe recipe, sloppy joes

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $$

Calories: 365

Valentina Ablaev

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (8)

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make sloppy joes better? ›

I love to have sloppy Joe on a toasted bun or onion roll with melted cheese. If I'm feeling fancified, I sometimes sauté some onion and bell pepper to toss in the mix. You could add a little more vegetable if you wanted with finely diced carrot for sweetness, mushrooms if you like them, and black beans.

What are the ingredients in sloppy joe? ›

It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling. How long are sloppy joe leftovers good for?

What's the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's.

What's the difference between Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

Unlike traditional can Sloppy Joes, which are often loaded with unhealthy additives and preservatives, Sloppy Janes are made with lean meat, low-fat ingredients, and a variety of fresh vegetables. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

What is the New Jersey version of sloppy joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

What is the best bun for sloppy joes? ›

To serve, I suggest toasting buttery brioche buns and pairing the sandwiches with either my sweet and tangy citrus slaw or classic coleslaw, crispy potato chips, and some refrigerator pickles on the side.

Why are sloppy joes so sweet? ›

It's no wonder that the sauce for Sloppy Joe filling is often candy‑sweet, since it contains anywhere from 1/2 cup to 1 cup of ketchup (and sometimes brown sugar, too).

What is the fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy otto sandwich? ›

Instead of ground beef, the sloppy otto calls for minced spicy sausage as its meat. The pork sausage is mixed with onion, green and yellow sweet peppers, and topped off with cheese. This gives the sandwich a cheesy tang and a vastly different mouthfeel compared to the saucy sweetness of the tomato-based sloppy joe.

Why do they ring the bell at Sloppy Joe's? ›

At Sloppy Joe's, tipping is a tradition. A good tip gets a ring of the bell dangling on a long rope above the bar. It's worth a nice tip to watch bartenders like Edy Ducruet ring the bell.

Is mayo good on a sloppy joe? ›

Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, dry mustard Worcestershire, tomato paste, salt and pepper Stir to combine. If mixture is too thick, add some water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Spread Mayo or Miracle Whip over toasted hamburger buns top with sloppy joe mix, sliced pickles and sliced cheese.

How do I make my sloppy joes less sweet? ›

If you like Sloppy Joes a little less sweet, you can reduce the brown sugar to 1 teaspoon. If you keep the mustard at 2 teaspoons, the result will be a tangier Sloppy Joe.

How do you make sloppy joes less runny? ›

If you don't have cornstarch, then make a roux with flour by cooking it in a little oil to make a paste, then incorporating it into the sloppy joe sauce. You might also add peanut butter to the filling to thicken it up and enhance the taste, too.

What is a sloppy joe supposed to taste like? ›

A Sloppy Joe is a beloved American sandwich made from ground beef cooked in a tangy and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce and served on a hamburger bun. The name “sloppy” aptly describes the sandwich's messy nature, as the filling tends to spill out of the bun.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Annamae Dooley

Last Updated:

Views: 6391

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Annamae Dooley

Birthday: 2001-07-26

Address: 9687 Tambra Meadow, Bradleyhaven, TN 53219

Phone: +9316045904039

Job: Future Coordinator

Hobby: Archery, Couponing, Poi, Kite flying, Knitting, Rappelling, Baseball

Introduction: My name is Annamae Dooley, I am a witty, quaint, lovely, clever, rich, sparkling, powerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.