Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

Home Beef Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

By Natasha

Jul 06, 2021, Updated Aug 31, 2022

4.84

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This is truly the best Sloppy Joe recipe! It’s quick and easy comfort food that makes extremely tasty sandwiches that are perfect for busy weeknights.Our version has a special ingredient to take it over the top.

I think your family will also enjoy this Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe or Easy Beef and Noodles.

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2)

Why you’ll love it

It’s really easy to make Sloppy Joes from scratch! You might be tempted to buy canned sauce, but making it in your own kitchen tastes so much better, and you know exactly what’s going in it: simple, wholesome ingredients that you probably have on hand already. Just picture that first bite of the soft bun and tender ground beef smothered in a rich sauce. It’s a whole lot of messy, and we’re here for it.

Let’s talk about the flavor of these Sloppy Joes. It’s savory, tangy, a little sweet, and downright delicious. We’re using smoked paprika as our not-so-ingredient to take it over the top. These homemade Sloppy Joes are super saucy, and your family will enjoy these for an inexpensive and filling meal. They’ll give you all that childhood nostalgia of eating them around the campfire!

I think you’ll also like my Sloppy Joe Casserole for a fun twist.

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (3)

Ingredients you will need

  • Ground beef – I like at least 90% lean so you don’t need to drain a lot of excess fat, and it’s a nice balance between leanness and taste
  • Onion – any variety is fine, but sweet (Vidalia) is our go-to
  • Bell pepper – usually green is used, but whatever color is great
  • Ketchup – for a bit of sweetness, but not too sweet.
  • Mustard – yellow mustard amps up the flavor even more. Don’t leave it out!
  • Garlic powder – I love infusing it with garlicky goodness for depth of flavor
  • Smoked paprika – my special twist
  • Red pepper flakes – to give it a gentle warmth without making it spicy
  • Worcestershire sauce – this is a staple in my pantry to add another savory layer to all kinds of sauces
  • Vinegar – either white or apple cider works. It adds a touch of tang
  • Beef broth – to make it that much richer and add moisture

How to make Sloppy Joes

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (4)

Brown the beef and get a nice crust on it, then add in the onions and green bell pepper and continue cooking until they’ve softened.

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (5)

Add in the sauce ingredients, and simmer for 5 minutes or so until the sauce has reduced to your liking. Season with salt & pepper, and serve in toasted buns. That’s it!

Substitutions and variations

  • This recipe is kid-friendly as written, but if you’re concerned about the crushed red pepper flakes, simply omit them. They don’t make the dish spicy, but they do add a little bit of kick.
  • If you do like spice, double them for more heat, or even add a couple dashes of hot sauce or some cayenne pepper!
  • You can sub ground turkey if you prefer. It’ll be a bit more dry and less flavorful than beef, so be sure to add a tablespoon or so of olive oil when you’re cooking the meat in the first step.

What to serve with Sloppy Joes

  • I love using brioche buns or hamburger buns. Be sure to toast the bun on the inside to make it a little crispy (just toss it in the skillet). Serve it with pickles and potato chips on the side! You can also try a side salad with my Homemade Olive Garden Salad Dressing.
  • You could even serve the meat mixture over top of spaghetti or baked potatoes for another quick meal option.
  • Sloppy Joes can be topped with some grated cheddar or other melty cheese if that’s your thing.

Leftovers and storage

  • Sloppy Joe leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
  • To reheat, cover in a saucepan over low heat until it’s warmed through, or microwave in intervals. You may need to add a splash of water when reheating.
  • You can freeze the Sloppy Joe mixture for up to 2-3 months no problem. I’d thaw it first in the fridge overnight.

More tasty ground beef recipes

  • Creamy Ground Beef Pasta
  • Shepherd’s Pie
  • Super Easy Ground Beef Tacos
  • Simple Ground Beef Casserole
  • Easy Tater Tot Casserole
Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (6)

Did you make this Sloppy Joe recipe? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!You can also find me on Instagram to show me your creations.

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (7)

4.84 from 24 votes

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

By Natasha Bull

This is truly the best Sloppy Joe recipe! It's quick and easy comfort food that makes extremely tasty sandwiches that are perfect for busy weeknights.Our version has a special ingredient to take it over the top.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Save RecipePin RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper chopped
  • 3/4 cup tomato ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika see note
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon white or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup beef broth or water
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add the ground beef to a skillet over medium-high heat and break it up a little bit with your spoon, leaving large chunks. Let it cook, undisturbed, for about 8 minutes, or until it forms a nice browned crust. Give it a stir/flip it and cook for another 5 minutes or so. If there's a lot of excess fat in the skillet, spoon it out (leave about a tablespoon or so in there).

  • Stir in the onions and green bell pepper and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for another 5 minutes. As it cooks, break the beef up into smaller pieces with your spoon.

  • Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and beef broth. Let it cook for another 5 minutes or so, stirring often, until the sauce thickens up to your liking (don't let it get too dry).

  • Give it a taste and season with salt & pepper as needed. If you want really sweet Sloppy Joes, add in some brown sugar (I don't add any since I think the ketchup is sweet enough).

  • Serve in toasted buns. To toast the insides of the buns, heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add the buns and watch them closely until the insides have browned nicely (you'll need to do this in batches).

Notes

  • I add smoked paprika to these Sloppy Joes to give them a nice smoky flavor. You can leave it out if you prefer.
  • If you want a shortcut or prefer not to add the onion and green bell pepper, you can leave them out.
  • Recipe serves 4-6 depending on how much you stuff the sandwiches.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. Buns are not included (calories vary a lot depending what you buy).

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 629mg, Potassium: 635mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 609IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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54 Comments

  1. Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (9)
    I cannot say enough good things about this recipe. I want to make it weekly. WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this.

    Reply

    1. That makes me so happy, Kelly!! 😀 Appreciate your review!

      Reply

  2. Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (10)
    This has quickly become a weekly staple in our family! We can’t get enough of it.

    Reply

    1. Fantastic! Thank you!

      Reply

  3. Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (11)
    I have prepared this 3 or 4 times and my family loves the taste. It’s sooooo easy.

    Reply

    1. I’m thrilled to hear that!! Thank you!

      Reply

  4. Going to try this tonight

    Reply

    1. Let me know how it goes, Barbara! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (12)
    I was looking for a better alternative to the sloppy Joe packaged seasoning as it gave my husband heartburn. Your recipe popped up on one of your weekly blogs and I new I had to try it! Easy ingredients, easy to make.
    It was a HIT! And no stomach issues! They wanted me to make it again when the leftovers were gone!
    The sauce came out a little watery so next time I’ll cut down on the broth. I admit, I was curious on the taste using the bell pepper but it was perfect! Fantastic!
    Printed it and added it to my cookbook!

    Reply

    1. That’s great – I am so happy his tummy was ok with it! Yup, you could either cut down on the broth or let it simmer a bit longer next time.

      Reply

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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 can I add to sloppy joes to make them 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!

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

Enter Sloppy Janes. To make this recipe leaner, healthier, and sassier than the original I substituted ground turkey for ground beef and added sliced mushrooms to “beef up” the volume of the dish without adding excess calories.

Is a manwich the same as a sloppy joe? ›

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. 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 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.

Can I use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

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.

How do you thicken up sloppy joe sauce? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

Do you drain Sloppy Joe meat? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce; heat through.

What do Canadians call Sloppy Joes? ›

Several variations of the sloppy joe exist in North America. In Quebec, Canada, sandwiches of stewed ground beef such as pain à la viande and pain fourré gumbo are usually served on hot dog buns.

What is a cold Sloppy Joe? ›

In this part of the country, where I grew up, a sloppy joe is something else entirely. It's a triple decker sandwich—cold deli meat and cheese on dense rye bread—glued together with coleslaw and Russian dressing.

What do Americans call Sloppy Joes? ›

Sloppy joe's are often referred to by various names depending on what region of the U.S. you're in. Some of those names include: barbecues, dynamites, slushburgers, steamers, and yum-yums. And while usually made with ground beef, some variations include ground chicken, turkey, pork, and even a combination of meats.

What is a substitute for tomato paste in sloppy joes? ›

Tomato purée (boiled and strained tomatoes) works well as a tomato paste alternative. Since purée is much thinner than paste, you'll get the best results if you cook it over medium heat for about 10 minutes before adding it to your recipe — this will give you a slightly thicker consistency and more intense flavor.

What is bold Sloppy Joe? ›

Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe Sauce kicks up the tangy taste of everyone's deliciously messy favorite. Made with a tomato base and bold seasonings, not only is Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe Sauce perfect for your next sloppy joe sandwich, but it's also great with tacos, meatloaf and party dips.

What are the ingredients in Del Monte Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Green and Red Bell Peppers, Salt, Modified Food Starch (Corn), Worcestershire Sauce Concentrate (Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor), Spices, Dehydrated Onions, Garlic Powder, ...

What does sloppy joe sauce taste like? ›

Once you've gathered the ingredients, it's basically like making Bolognese. And the flavour is somewhat reminiscent of it too, except Sloppy Joes taste a bit more like BBQ Sauce. The one big difference is that the sauce is cooked right down so it's really thick and not saucy at all.

What are the ingredients in Hunt's Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Ingredients. Tomato Puree (Water,Tomato Paste), Water, Sugar/Glucose-Fructose, Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spices, Dehydrated Green Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Tomato Fibre, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Dehydrated Garlic, Citric Acid, Flavour, Spice Extracts.

How to make Manwich taste homemade? ›

Tweaks
  1. I used red pepper instead of green. ...
  2. More garlic is better! ...
  3. I really wanted something for my slow cooker but couldn't find a manwich copycat specific to slow cooker recipes. ...
  4. Add chopped green, red bell pepper, hot sauce or cayenne and some white vinegar along with 1 tsp of msg....

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