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Home » Dinners & Main Course » Sloppy Joe Recipe

Sloppy Joe Recipe

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
June 27, 2022
4.82 from 49 votes


Last Updated June 27, 2022 | 9 Comments

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2.9K shares
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Quick and Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe is made with delicious, budget-friendly ingredients like ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, ketchup, and tomato paste. A family favorite and easy weeknight dinner, these homemade sloppy joes are ready in less than 30 minutes, freeze well, and taste amazing over toasted buns.

Sloppy joe sandwiched between a brioche bun with crispy potato chips.

Kids love ’em. Grown-ups love ’em. And dogs love licking up the leftovers that fall on the floor thanks to said kiddos (and sometimes adults). Yes, I’m talking about the beloved childhood favorite, the sloppy joe.

Filled with ground beef and hidden veggies in a flavorful tomato sauce, sloppy joes are one of the most delicious and classic comfort foods loved by the whole family. Today I’m sharing how to make my favorite homemade classic sloppy joe recipe. It’s quick, easy, and so delicious served on warm toasted buttery buns.

  • Trying to eat less meat? Try these Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes

What is a Sloppy Joe?

A sloppy joe is a popular American sandwich made by combining ground beef, onions, tomato sauce (or ketchup), and seasonings on a hamburger bun.

The sloppy joe originated sometime in the 1930s when “loose meat” sandwiches were popular. At this time, “loose meat” sandwiches (also known as tavern sandwiches) were made with ground beef on a bun, sometimes mixed with onions and topped with cheese.

The sloppy joe found its place when a cook named Joe, working at a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. References to the sloppy joe sandwich start appearing by the 1940s.

Sloppy joe sandwiched between a brioche bun with crispy potato chips.

Ingredients

  • Olive oil and butter
  • Ground beef
  • Onion
  • Green bell pepper
  • Garlic
  • Tomato paste
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Brown sugar
  • Chili powder (non-spicy), red chili flakes (optional), salt and pepper
  • Hamburger buns

Easy Modifications

Feel free to modify the recipe to suit your own personal tastes and preferences.

For example, omit the onion or green bell pepper if you prefer a meatier sloppy joe. Skip the sugar if you prefer a less sweet sauce. And finally, ditch the red chili flakes if you’re sensitive to spicy food.

On the other hand, if you like a tangier tomato sauce, add a tablespoon (or two) of apple cider vinegar.

Ground beef, onion, and green bell pepper cooking in a large skillet.

How to Make Sloppy Joes

1. Brown the ground beef – Grab a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Add some olive oil, approximately 1 tablespoon. Once hot, brown the ground beef, breaking it apart into smaller pieces as it cooks. Once cooked transfer the meat to a fine-mesh strainer to drain.

2. Cook the veggies – Wipe any stuck-on bits from your skillet and return the skillet to medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook until soft – approximately 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for an additional 30 seconds.

3. Return the meat – Return the cooked beef back to the skillet and stir in the tomato paste. Mix well to combine.

4. Prepare the sauce – Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and water.

5. Add the sauce and season – Add the ketchup mixture to the meat mixture, thoroughly mixing to combine. Season with chili powder, red chili flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper.

6. Cover and cook – Reduce heat to medium-low. If your mixture appears dry, add a bit more water. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

7. Serve – Remove from heat and serve sandwiched between your favorite toasted bun.

Homemade sloppy joe filling in a large skillet.

What is the Difference Between Manwich and Sloppy Joes?

Manwich is a premade, shelf-stable, store-bought can of tomato-based sloppy joe sauce that is meant to be added to ground beef and onions that have already been cooked in a skillet. This combination of Manwich with ground beef on a bun makes a sloppy joe.

The original Manwich was invented in 1969 by ConAgra Foods and Hunt’s. 

Leftovers and Freezing

Store leftover sloppy joes in a sealed air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To freeze leftover sloppy joes, allow the mixture to cool completely before transferring it to freezer-friendly bags or containers. Freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.

Sloppy joe sandwiched between a brioche bun with crispy potato chips.

What Goes with Sloppy Joes?

My grandmother often served her sloppy joe recipe with corn on the cob, potato chips, pickles, and coleslaw (for the adults). If you want to be extra fancy, consider serving yours with a simple green salad or a fresh fruit salad.

More Yummy Ground Beef Recipes,

  • Best Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
  • The Best Meatloaf Recipe
  • Skillet Salisbury Steak Recipe
  • Ground Beef Taco Meat
  • American Goulash Recipe (One-Pot)
  • Homemade Hamburger Helper
Overhead image of homemade sloppy joes on a brioche bun served with crispy potato chips.

Have you tried making this Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.

Sloppy joe sandwiched between a brioche bun with crispy potato chips.

Sloppy Joe Recipe

4.82 from 49 votes
Chef: Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa
Quick and Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe is made with delicious, budget-friendly ingredients like ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, ketchup, and tomato paste. A family favorite and easy weeknight dinner, these homemade sloppy joes are ready in less than 30 minutes, freeze well, and taste amazing over toasted buns.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Beef, Dinner, Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Sloppy Joe
Calories 413 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1½ pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 large yellow onion - minced
  • 1 large green bell pepper - seeded and minced
  • 4 cloves garlic - minced
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1¼ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon mustard - (yellow mustard or brown mustard)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes - (optional)
  • salt and black pepper - to season
  • 6 hamburger buns
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Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart into small crumbles with a wooden spatula as it cooks, approximately 5-7 minutes. Transfer the cooked ground beef to a fine-mesh strainer to drain.
  • Return the skillet to medium heat and add the butter. Add the onion and bell pepper, stirring well to coat. Cook, stirring often, until soft, approximately 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 30 seconds.
  • Return beef back to the skillet and stir in the tomato paste. Mix well to combine.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and water. Add to the skillet, mixing well to combine with the beef. Season with chili powder, red chili flakes (if using), salt and pepper.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
  • Remove from heat and serve the prepared sloppy joe meat sandwiched between your favorite toasted bun.

Jessica’s Notes

  • Ground beef may be substituted with ground turkey, chicken, lamb, or pork.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Sloppy joe mixture can be frozen! Allow mixture to cool completely before transferring to freezer-friendly bags or containers. Freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 884mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 696IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 5mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Homemade Sloppy Joes, Lentil Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joe Recipe, Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joes Recipe
Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

About Jessica

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

2.9K shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Ann says

    December 12, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe that didn’t require tweaking. The flavor profile is excellent and perfect for my family. I did reduce the red pepper flakes but otherwise followed the directions. I keep a well stocked pantry and fridge so this was convenient to make when searching for a quick and tasty dinner option. I’ll certainly make this again.

    Reply
  2. Arthelia Miller says

    March 15, 2021 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    I enjoyed these, thet had great flavor and was simply made. Oh! I added a little smoke and BBQ sause to mine😌

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      March 15, 2021 at 7:38 pm

      Thanks for the kind feedback Arthelia 🙂

      Reply
  3. Barbara says

    February 18, 2021 at 5:06 pm

    5 stars
    This sloppy joe recipe is the bomb!! The last time I had sloppy Joe’s I was a kid. The sauce part of this recipe is perfect. Will be rotating this into our dinner menu more often. Thanks

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      February 18, 2021 at 6:39 pm

      Thanks for the bomb feedback, Barbara 🙂

      Reply
  4. Laura Sisco says

    February 8, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    5 stars
    I couldn’t add the vegetables, chili powder or red chili flakes due to my husbands dietary requirements but this was delicious. Will be making again for sure.

    Reply
    • Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa says

      February 9, 2021 at 8:11 am

      Thanks for the kind feedback Laura 🙂

      Reply
  5. Laura says

    January 14, 2021 at 7:02 am

    5 stars
    I made this recipe exactly as written, and it was DELICIOUS!! I will be making this savory treat again soon. It’s also amazing on a hotdog with American cheese on top…. 😉

    Reply
  6. Nancy Angelo says

    March 26, 2020 at 5:09 pm

    When I was a you grade schooler in the early 1950’s, my friends’ mother made us “Wimpies” for lunch one day and I loved them. A few years later when I got interested in cooking, I asked her for the recipe for her Wimpies. It is very similar to yours except I use celery instead of green pepper and I don’t use chile flakes or powder. My kids ( that includes grands and greatgrands) love mine. I can’t wait to try your recipe on them. I wonder if anyone else ever heard of them being called “Wimpies”?

    Reply

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Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

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