Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (2024)

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posted by Jenniferon May 30, 2023 (updated Aug 16, 2023) 22 comments »

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This EASY sloppy joes recipe makes a simple dinner I’m sure you will love!!It’s a family favorite meal in our house but of course, it works great for summer get-togethers too!

For weeknight dinners, the kids love these with either french fries or onion rings but sometimes I sneak in a healthy cucumber tomato onion salad that I know everyone else enjoys!

Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (1)

Table of contents

  • Why You Will Love Sloppy Joes From Scratch
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make Easy Sloppy Joes
  • Recipe FAQ
  • Storing
  • What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

Why You Will Love Sloppy Joes From Scratch

  • A deliciously messy meal! It’s like taking everything that you’ve ever learned about manners and just tossing them right out the window. And when the word “messy” is part of the name of the food, you know it’s going to be good.
  • A kid-friendly meal that adults enjoy too!
  • Easy-to-make recipe with simple ingredients making it perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
  • A hearty and satisfying one-pot dish that’s sure to be a hit!
Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (2)

Ingredients

  • Ground beef: Our favorite for sloppy joes from scratch but if you prefer, you can use ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
  • Onion: Adding onion gives the sloppy joes a bit more depth of flavor.
  • Celery: You want this to be chopped very finely for the right texture. It adds flavor and sneaks in some more veggies.
  • Ketchup: The slightly sweet tomato flavor makes the perfect base for all the flavors.
  • Lemon juice: A little bit of acid to balance the sweetness and fat in the beef mixture.
  • Brown sugar: My secret ingredient for the sloppy joe sauce! It really works well with the sweetness of the ketchup to make this the BEST sloppy joe recipe.
  • Worcestershire sauce: Enhances the savory flavors in the dish.
  • Vinegar: We’re adding just a tad to balance the sweetness.
  • Dry mustard: For more depth of flavor.
Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (3)

How To Make Easy Sloppy Joes

  1. Brown the meat. In a large skillet pan with the onion and celery until the meat is browned and the vegetables tender. Drain off any fat from cooking.
  2. Add. The ketchup, brown sugar, salt, and dry mustard to the pan.
  3. Also, add. The Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, and water to the pan.
  4. Stir to combine. Everything together. Then cover with a lid and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally as it cooks.
  5. Serve and enjoy. Serve on hamburger buns with your favorite toppings.
Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (4)

Tips & Variations

  • Drain off any excess fat left in the pan when browning the meat especially if you use regular ground beef.
  • Cooking the veggies with the meat softens them so they melt into the sloppy joe sauce.
  • Chop the onion and celery. Into small pieces so they cook up tender and hidden from pickier eaters.
  • Serve up on buns with your favorite toppings such as sliced or shredded cheese, pickles, bacon, fried crispy onions straws(my favorite!), sour cream, and potato chips.
Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (5)

Recipe FAQ

Can I make sloppy joes in the crockpot?

Yes, you can make this sloppy joes recipe in the slow cooker.I like to make these sloppy joes in the crockpot when we are having a party. To make sloppy joes in the crockpot, brown the meat first and then throw the rest of the ingredients in the slow cooker, stir, and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

What do you serve with sloppy joes?

We LOVE to use salads as sides such aspotato salad,broccoli salad, or a deliciouspasta salad! Fries, chips, or roasted veggies make great sides too.

How do you eat a sloppy joe?

The meat and sloppy joe sauce are usually served on a roll or bun to make a sandwich. It’s a bit messy so be sure to have plenty of napkins. You can also serve it open-face with lots of toppings and eat it with a fork and knife.

Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (6)

Storing

  • Store. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to five days. You can also freeze it in small containers or freezer bags for 3-6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
  • Reheat. Reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.

What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

  • Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
  • Waffle Fries
  • 7 Layer Salad

More Easy Dinner Recipes

Crockpot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Taco Casserole with Doritos
Baked Ravioli
Savory Goulash in a Flash

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Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (11)

4.72 from 67 ratings

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Servings: 8 servings

Sloppy Joe Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

This sloppy joe recipe makes a simple dinner I'm sure you will love!!It's a family favorite meal in our house but of course, it works great for summer get-togethers too!

Print RecipePin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds ground beef
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • ½ cup celery, finely chopped
  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown ground beef, onion, and celery. Drain fat.

  • Pour ground beef back into skillet pan or crockpot. Add ketchup, water, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, vinegar, and dry mustard. Stir to combine.

  • Cover and simmer for 1 hour. If cooking in the crockpot, cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.

  • Serve on hamburger buns.

Notes

  • Drain off any excess fat left in the pan when browning the meat especially if you use regular ground beef.
  • Cooking the veggies with the meat softens them so they melt into the sloppy joe sauce.
  • Chop the onion and celery. Into small pieces so they cook up tender and hidden from pickier eaters.
  • Serve up on buns with your favorite toppings such as sliced or shredded cheese, pickles, bacon, fried crispy onions straws(my favorite!), sour cream, and potato chips.
  • Store. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to five days. You can also freeze it in small containers or freezer bags for 3-6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
  • Reheat. Reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stove.

Calories: 573kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 43g, Fat: 34g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 154mg, Sodium: 1602mg, Potassium: 913mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 339IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 57mg, Iron: 5mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Course

Author: Jennifer

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4th of July Beef Dinner One pot Super Bowl

originally published on May 30, 2023 (last updated Aug 16, 2023)

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22 comments on “Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe”

  1. Judy M Smedra Reply

    Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (12)
    One of my go to recipes for large crowds of adults or kids. It’s a big hit because of the sweet and tangy flavors.

  2. Julie Reply

    This is my new go to recipe for sloppy joes from now on.
    Made 1/2 recipe and froze the rest.
    Yummy!

Leave a comment »

Easy Sloppy Joes 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 joe to make it taste better? ›

Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or shredded carrot, can easily be added to this recipe and your kids won't even notice a difference. Hawaiian Sloppy Joes: Substitute more BBQ sauce for the ketchup and add 8 oz., drained crushed pineapple.

What's the difference between messy Jane and sloppy joes? ›

Sloppy Joe VS Sloppy Jane

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Is there a difference between sloppy joes and Manwich? ›

Manwich is a brand of sloppy joe. Like how Oscar Meyer is a brand of hot dog.

Can I use tomato sauce 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 can I use in place of Worcestershire sauce? ›

9 Worcestershire Sauce Substitutes That Get the Job Done
  • DIY Imitation Blend.
  • Reduced Balsamic Vinegar.
  • Soy Sauce.
  • Miso Paste.
  • Oyster Sauce.
  • Anchovy Paste.
  • Red Wine.
  • A1 Steak Sauce.
Apr 28, 2024

What do you usually eat with sloppy joes? ›

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes: 13 Sides of Yum - Jane's Kitchen
  • Produce. • 1 Beans, Baked. • 1 Cauliflower mash. • 1 Corn, on the Cob. • 1 French fries. • 1 Poblano peppers. ...
  • Canned Goods. • 1 Potato hash.
  • Condiments. • 1 Dill pickles.
  • Snacks. • 1 Onion rings. • 1 Potato chips.
  • Deli. • 1 Lentil salad. • 1 Pasta salad. • 1 Potato salad.

Do I strain the meat for sloppy joes? ›

When the meat is done cooking, strain off all but 1 tablespoon of any fat left in the pan. Make the sloppy Joe mix: Return the cooked ground beef and vegetables to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break up any chunks of ground beef into smaller bits.

Is mayo good on a sloppy joe? ›

Spread Mayo or Miracle Whip over toasted hamburger buns top with sloppy joe mix, sliced pickles and sliced cheese.

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.

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 maid rite and a Sloppy Joe? ›

While both are made with seasoned ground beef, Sloppy Joes feature a rich tomato-based sauce. The meat mixture is slightly sweet and often enjoyed without additional toppings. Loose meat sandwiches like Maid Rites, on the other hand, have no sauce at all.

How to make sloppy joes 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!

Are you supposed to drain the grease from sloppy joes? ›

While it's fine to get rid of some excess grease, you always want to keep some of it in the pan. If you rinse away all the grease, you're literally rinsing away flavor, and your beef will end up dry.

What was the original sloppy Joe made with? ›

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 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.

What is manwich made of? ›

TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DISTILLED VINEGAR, CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 2% OF: SALT, SUGAR, CARROT FIBER, DRIED GREEN AND RED BELL PEPPERS, CHILI PEPPER, GUAR GUM, SPICES, XANTHAN GUM, DRIED GARLIC, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID.

Is Manwich just the sauce? ›

Manwich, a portmanteau of man and sandwich, is the brand name of a canned sloppy joe sauce produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's, introduced in 1969. The can contains seasoned tomato sauce that is added to ground beef cooked in a skillet. It is marketed as a quick and easy one-pan meal for the whole family.

What exactly is a sloppy joe? ›

What is a sloppy joe? Notorious for being 'messy' to eat, a sloppy joe is a sandwich filled with a saucy meat mixture (typically using Ground Beef) with a sweet, tangy or spicy flavor profile, with seasonings and vegetables tucked in. It's fun to eat and is a crowd pleaser for kids and adults alike!

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