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)

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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 1748 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.

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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 taste better? ›

Try serving your sloppy joes with their own toppings such as slaw, melty cheese, grilled pineapple, or Hatch green chile. Even just adding a pickle gives extra flavor and crunch, transforming it from a bland sandwich into something great, like the recipe below!

Is there a difference between Sloppy Joes and Manwich? ›

Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. What is this? While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

What is the Sloppy Joe sauce made of? ›

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? 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.

What is a New Jersey style 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.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Sloppy Joe Tips

We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings.

What's the difference between a Sloppy Joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

The stuffed pepper sloppy joe is another combo that mixes the sandwich with another popular dish, swapping buns for bell peppers. If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef.

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 if I forgot the tomato paste in the sloppy joes? ›

You can use canned tomatoes, tomato sauce or even ketchup when you don't have tomato paste.

How to make canned Sloppy Joe good? ›

15 Ways To Upgrade Canned Sloppy Joe Sauce
  1. Salsa brings a spicy twist. ...
  2. Try gochujang for Korean-inspired Sloppy Joes. ...
  3. Experiment with Worcestershire sauce. ...
  4. Red pepper flakes bring the heat. ...
  5. Miso provides the umami your Sloppy Joe sauce is missing. ...
  6. Liquid smoke enhances the meat's flavor.
Feb 19, 2024

What is Sloppy Joe meat called? ›

Sloppy joe meat being prepared with Manwich sauce. Early and mid-20th century American cookbooks offer plenty of sloppy joe-type recipes, though they go by different names: Toasted Deviled Hamburgers, Chopped Meat Sandwiches, Spanish Hamburgers, Hamburg a la Creole, Beef Mironton, and Minced Beef Spanish Style.

What is Sloppy Joe's famous for? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.

What's the difference between a maid-rite and a sloppy joe? ›

Though they are sometimes confused, they are not the same thing. Sloppy joes typically have a seasoned tomato sauce whereas a maid-rite is seasoned, but doesn't have a sauce. Depending on where they're from, people also refer to these as tavern sandwiches, Big T sandwiches or simply a ground beef sandwich.

What is a sloppy joe in England? ›

The sloppy Joe really lives up to its name: rich, tomato-sauced minced beef is piled messily and generously into a burger bun so that it spills out over the sides. These are great served with fries or even crisps, but whatever you do, don't forget the napkins. First published in 2022. discover more: Minced beef Recipes.

What are sloppy joes called in iowa? ›

The Wichita, Kansas-based chain Nu Way Cafe serves a version of the tavern/loose meat sandwich called a "Nu Way". In Illinois, the sandwich is also known as a "loose hamburger sandwich". In Iowa, it is sometimes referred to as a Maid-Rite.

What goes well on sloppy joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

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 bland sauce taste better? ›

To make spaghetti sauce taste better:
  1. Sauté onions and garlic for flavor.
  2. Use quality tomatoes (canned or fresh).
  3. Simmer the sauce for an extended period.
  4. Add herbs and spices like basil and oregano.
  5. Enhance with a splash of red wine (optional).
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nov 19, 2023

How do you make sloppy joes less soupy? ›

How to Thicken Sloppy Joes. If you follow this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, you should have the perfect consistency, but if it comes out too watery, try adding a small slurry of cornstarch with water. That should thicken it right up!

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