The Easiest Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

These homemade sloppy joes are loaded with flavor and come together in about 30 minutes in just one pan! They’re easy to double or triple so you feed a crowd and they are the perfect make-ahead meal!

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe Ever

• Step aside Manwich! Once you try these homemade sloppy joes you’ll never buy a can of Manwich again! The best part is that you’ll likely have all of the ingredients in your fridge or pantry right now. So you can throw sloppy joes together whenever the craving strikes!
• They’re perfectly saucy! Some homemade sloppy joe recipes end up dry and bland. But these homemade sloppy joes are super flavorful and have just the right amount of sauce to beef ratio. Dry sloppy joes are a thing of the past with this recipe!

Ingredients to Make Sloppy Joes

• Onion & Bell Pepper: I prefer to use yellow onion and green bell pepper for these homemade sloppy joes.
• Garlic: Finely minced or grated garlic adds tons of flavor with minimal prep work. You can substitute 1/2 a teaspoon of garlic powder in place of the fresh garlic if you prefer.
• Tomato Paste: Tomato paste is my favorite way to add depth of flavor to tomato-based dishes. These sloppy joes come together quickly but still have that “cooked all day” flavor.
• Ground Beef: I recommend 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef. Remember that fat equals flavor, so a leaner cut like 90/10 or 93/7 isn’t going to give you as much flavor.
• Tomato Sauce: Grab your favorite brand of canned tomato sauce for this recipe.
• Ketchup: I like to stick with Heinz but you can use whatever brand you like.
• Brown Sugar: We typically have light brown sugar on hand but dark brown sugar will work as well.
• Worcestershire Sauce: If you don’t have Worcestershire sauce try adding soy sauce or tamari.
• Yellow Mustard: Stick with regular yellow mustard for this recipe. Dijon mustard or stone ground mustard will not give you the same flavor.
• Brioche Hamburger Buns: Feel free to use your favorite buns. I love Brioche hamburger buns for a full-size sloppy joe. Or King’s Hawaiin slider rolls work well for smaller sloppy joes.

How to Make Sloppy Joes at Home

Saute onion and pepper in a large saute pan. Then add garlic and tomato paste.

Add ground beef and cook.

Add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper.

Stir together.

Cook until thickened slightly.

Serve on toasted brioche hamburger buns and enjoy!

Tips for Making Sloppy Joes

• Feel free to switch up the veggies! Swap diced red pepper for green pepper or add canned diced tomatoes instead of peppers if you prefer. Finely diced jalapenos are another delicious addition. As written, this is an old-fashioned sloppy joe recipe but you can add whatever your family likes!
• Spice it up! Add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce or a couple pinches of cayenne pepper.
• Toast the buns! My favorite tip for making the best sloppy joes is to toast the buns before adding the sloppy joe mixture. This ensures that they don’t get soggy. You can do this in a large skillet over medium heat. If you want to add extra flavor, try melting a little butter in the skillet before adding the buns so they’re buttered and toasted!

FAQ

What is sloppy joe sauce made of?

Homemade sauce for sloppy joes is actually easier to make than you might think! It’s made from tomato paste, tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.

What’s the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy jane?

A sloppy jane is the same as a sloppy joe, but it’s made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

How much does 1 pound of sloppy joes feed?

Sloppy joes made with one pound of ground beef will yield about 6-8 sloppy joe sandwiches depending on the size of the bun, how hungry your guests are, and what else you’re serving with the sloppy joes.

Make Sloppy Joes Ahead of Time

Sloppy joes are the perfect make-ahead meal because they stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week! Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just looking for an easy meal you can warm up throughout the week, sloppy joes fit the bill!

Making Sloppy Joes for a Group

If you’re looking to double or triple the recipe, just hit the 2x or 3x button in the recipe card below. This will double or triple all the ingredients so you can make a double or triple batch. Make sure you use a large saute pan or divide the ingredients evenly between two pans if you’re making a large batch.

Storing Leftover Sloppy Joes

Store sloppy joe mix in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Reheating Sloppy Joes

• Reheat sloppy joe mix in a large saute pan over medium heat. Stirring occasionally until warmed through.
• You can also use a crock pot or slow cooker to keep the sloppy joe mixture warm for serving. Heat the sloppy joe meat up on the stove and then carefully transfer it to the insert of a crock pot. Keep it on the “low” or “warm” setting and let guests help themselves! Just be sure to stir it occasionally so it doesn’t burn.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Freezing Sloppy Joes

Freeze sloppy joe meat in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then follow reheating instructions.

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