The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

Leave a ReviewJump to Recipe

When it comes to easy homemade dinners, it doesn’t get any better than this easy Sloppy Joe Recipe, a longtime family favorite. This 30-minute meal is perfect for busy weeknights, backyard barbecues, and birthday parties. Of all the sloppy joes I’ve had, this one is the best.

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (1)

Homemade Sloppy Joes take me back to the good old days of summer vacations. Every year my mom would make a giant batch of this recipe, freeze it, and stow it in the car during our annual trip to northern Wisconsin. When we got to the cabin, dinner was already made and it was totally kid-friendly. All we had to do was toast up some buns and set the table. Summer meant lots of Sloppy Joe sandwiches, and maybe a little mess, and that was fine by me.

Of course, you can fiddle with the recipe. Make it spicy with some green chilies. Keep out the sugar if you prefer things less sweet, or add some smokiness with a little Barbecue Sauce. Fill it full of hidden veggies, or leave it as-is. Throw in some ground turkey, lamb, or venison. There’s simply no wrong way to make a Sloppy Joe.

Table of Contents

  1. Recipe ingredients
  2. Ingredient notes
  3. Step-by-step instructions
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Sloppy Joe Recipe Recipe

Recipe ingredients

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (2)

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Ground beef: Or substitute ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground venison.
  • Onion: Finely chopped celery and a green bell pepper are great too!
  • Brown sugar: Even a tablespoon is too much for some people. If you don’t like the sound of brown sugar in your Sloppy Joe, please leave it out!

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine beef and chopped onion. Cook until the meat is mostly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain well.
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (3)
  1. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper).
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (4)
  1. Pour sauce ingredients over drained beef and stir until evenly coated.
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (5)
  1. Simmer the sloppy joe sauce uncovered 20 minutes, stirring occasionally (cover if you prefer a sloppier Sloppy Joe).
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (6)
  1. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture into a hamburger bun and devour. For extra flavor, brush the crown of your bun with butter and toast on a griddle. YUM!
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (7)

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes 4 to 6 cups of Sloppy Joe meat mixture, enough for 8 heaping sandwiches.
  • Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freezer: Cool completely, then add to freezer containers (one big batch or individual portions), label and date, and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
  • No Worcestershire sauce: In a pinch, substitute soy sauce.
  • Barbecue sauce. Your favorite barbecue sauce (or my favorite barbecue sauce, based on Sweet Baby Ray’s) can be added instead of ketchup for a smoky version of a classic Joe.
  • Spices: Dress up your sloppy joes with garlic powder, onion powder, or any other flavors you love. If you want heat, throw in a tbsp of ancho chili powder, a tsp of ground cumin, or a half teaspoon of chipotle powder. Or, splash on your favorite hot sauce. Season with kosher salt to taste.
  • Slow cooker: In a skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain well and add the bottom of a crock pot. Add all the other ingredients (except the buns), cover, and cook onLOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  • Casserole: For a fork-friendly version, try my Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe.
  • Favorite sides for sloppy joes: Try crispy French fries, crunchy potato chips, coleslaw, baked beans, and pickles.
The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (8)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sloppy joe and Manwich the same thing?

Manwich is a specific food product that is marked as Sloppy Joe filling sold at the grocery store. However, as many commenters will attest, you needn’t open that can of Manwich ever again. This recipe is easy and delicious and miles ahead of Manwich!

How do you dress up sloppy joes?

Add a slice of cheese! The cheese melts over the hot meat and helps it all adhere better to the bun, but that’s just a bonus.

Where were sloppy joes created?

Legend has it that Sloppy Joes were invented in Sioux City, Iowa. In the 1920s, a cook named Joe was working at the Ye Old Tavern Inn. He created his sloppy sandwich filling and named it a “Sloppy Joe.”

More quick dinner ideas

Beef Recipes

Cincinnati Chili

30 Minute Meals

Easy Goulash

30 Minute Meals

Cheeseburger Quesadillas

30 Minute Meals

Rigatoni with Sausage

Join Us

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Sign up for our weeklynewsletterand follow along onFacebook,Pinterest, andInstagram for our latest recipes! Tag all your glorious creations #culinaryhill so we can eat vicariously through you.

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (13)

Sloppy Joe Recipe

By Meggan Hill

When it comes to easy homemade dinners, it doesn’t get any better than this easy Sloppy Joe Recipe, a longtime family favorite.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 8 servings

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Calories 294

5 from 341 votes

ReviewPrint

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine beef and onion. Cook until the meat is mostly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain well.

  • Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper).

  • Pour sauce ingredients over drained beef and stir until evenly coated. Simmer uncovered 20 minutes, stirring occasionally (cover if you prefer a sloppier Sloppy Joe). Serve in buns.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Ground beef: Or substitute ground turkey or venison.
  2. Onion: Finely chopped celery and green peppers are great too!
  3. Brown sugar: Even a tablespoon is too much for some people. If you don’t like the sound of brown sugar in your Sloppy Joe, please leave it out!
  4. Yield: This recipe makes 4 to 6 cups of Sloppy Joe meat mixture, enough for 8 heaping sandwiches.
  5. Storage: Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 sandwichCalories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 14gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 412mgPotassium: 292mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 77IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill

Meggan Hill

Website | + posts

Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe I've Ever Found (2024)

FAQs

How do I upgrade my sloppy Joe? ›

In addition to sweetness, the diced Gala apple also contributes some textural variety to the recipe.
  1. Spice Your Sloppy Joe Up With Chile Flakes Or Canned Chiles. ...
  2. Sneak Extra Veggies Into Your Sloppy Joes. ...
  3. Throw In Some Liquid Smoke. ...
  4. Deglaze Your Sloppy Joes With Beer. ...
  5. Add Salsa To The Mix.
Feb 28, 2024

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

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. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.

What is the original Sloppy Joe sandwich? ›

The Sloppy Joe's history, however, is a bit more complex. Some attribute the original Sloppy Joe to a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, where, many years ago, in 1930 a cook named Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. Voila: a new between-the-bread offering, and the sandwich's official name.

How do you thicken up sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Cornstarch thickens the sauce and binds up any fat, creating a silky-smooth, cohesive texture. A potato masher breaks the ground beef into fine, uniform pieces that will (mostly) stay put on the bun instead of tumbling out.

What makes sloppy joe 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 can I add to canned sloppy joe mix to make it taste better? ›

Enhancing canned Sloppy Joe sauce is as simple as stirring in a couple of tablespoons of your favorite salsa. Salsa seamlessly complements Sloppy Joe sauce for a couple of reasons. First, both are tomato-based sauces, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors.

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 a fancy name for a sloppy joe? ›

Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.

What is the difference between a sloppy joe and Manwich? ›

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 sloppy joe in slang? ›

a man or youth whose appearance is habitually slovenly.

What nationality are sloppy joes? ›

Sloppy joe
A homemade sloppy joe with coleslaw
TypeSandwich
Place of originUnited States or Cuba
Created byPossibly José "Sloppy Joe" Abeal y Otero
Serving temperatureHot
6 more rows

What mistakes everyone makes when cooking sloppy joes? ›

Not adding baking soda to the meat

But have you ever used it to make a sloppy joe? If not, then you're missing out on a delicious and tender texture. This process is often known as velveting. Simply mix baking soda with your raw meat and leave for 20-25 minutes so that it can work its magic and tenderize the beef.

Should you drain meat before adding Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Brown hamburger meat and then drain grease from meat. Start to preheat oven to what ever the biscuit instructions say. Add the can of Manwich to the drained beef in pan and mix.

What can I use instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

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 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

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 difference between Sloppy Joe 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.

How can I upgrade my sandwich? ›

Add lots of veggies. Think outside the box. All sorts of veggies taste good and add more flavor and crunch to sandwiches. Consider adding cucumbers, bell peppers, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, jicama, avocado, onions, and anything else that tickles your taste buds.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5339

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.