The VERY BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

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The VERY BEST Sloppy Joe recipe is delicious, quick, and easy to make. A scrumptious, from-scratch sloppy joe sauce made with real ingredients puts it over the top. Hundreds of rave reviews agree that these Homemade Sloppy Joes are fantastic!

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There aren't many dinners that you can get on the table faster than whipping up Sloppy Joes. And while the store-bought sauce that rhymes with San-wich might make this meal even quicker, it's got some less-than-ideal ingredients. After all, I tend to avoid high fructose corn syrup in my sweets, much less my dinner.

So what's a Sloppy Joe lovin' family to do? Why, put together your own quick and easy, all-natural sauce, of course! Once you make these amazing homemade Sloppy Joes, y'all, you won't go back.

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Ingredients

This sloppy joe sauce only takes a couple of minutes to stir together, it tastes soooo much better (in fact, you get to control how sweet and/or salty you want it), and you don't have to worry about any unnecessary additives!

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  • Ground beef. I usually use 85/15 ground beef, but it's okay to use a leaner or fattier ratio, depending on what you have on hand. The grease gets drained either way. Alternatively, these homemade Sloppy Joes also turn out delicious using ground turkey.
  • Garlic. Fresh garlic is great, but to save time, I often use minced garlic in water, which I always keep in my refrigerator.
  • Tomato sauce. An 8-ounce can of tomato sauce is the perfect amount for this recipe. I sometimes use tomato puree (passata) instead if I already have a jar open in the fridge.
  • Ketchup. I prefer using an all-natural brand of ketchup without too much added sugar. As you'll see below, I like to control the sugar. 🙂 Keep this in mind as the sweetness of your ketchup will likely dictate how much additional sugar you want to (or don't want to) add.
  • Brown sugar. An important recipe note...use as much or as little brown sugar as you like! Some people prefer totally savory Sloppy Joes while others like their sandwiches on the sweeter side. You may also substitute a squeeze of honey in place of using brown sugar, which I often do.
  • Worcestershire sauce. For an extra savory undertone. Again, you may tweak the amount to your liking.
  • Prepared mustard. Believe it or not, a little squirt of plain ol' yellow mustard adds depth of flavor.
  • Garlic powder + onion powder + fresh black pepper. For further seasoning.
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How to Make Sloppy Joes

(The below photos are intended to be helpful, but please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for FULL DIRECTIONS.)

I shared my Slow Cooker Chicken Sloppy Joes awhile back, which feature this same homemade sloppy joe sauce. But sometimes you don't have the forethought (or the time) to toss something into the crockpot first thing in the morning.

So if you still want an effortless, family-pleasing meal come 5 o'clock, make this tried-and-true Sloppy Joe recipe!

I like to start out by mixing up my sauce and setting it aside so that it's ready to go once my meat is browned.

  1. Measure the Sloppy Joe sauce ingredients directly into a 2-cup glass measuring cup and stir together until well combined.
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  1. Brown your ground beef (or turkey) and drain the fat.
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  1. Stir the sloppy joe sauce into the drained ground beef.
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  1. Allow the mixture to simmer on the stove, stirring occasionally.

Easy-peasy!

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Sloppy Joe Recipe Additions

My family likes our Sloppy Joes on the plain and simple side. However, if your family likes yours with onions and/or peppers, they're easy to add!

  1. Before browning the ground beef, dice up half an onion and half a bell pepper and cook them in a tablespoon of olive oil until softened (about 5 to 10 minutes).
  2. Remove the onions and peppers from the pot and proceed with the recipe, cooking the meat and then stirring the onions/peppers back in at the same time you add the sauce.

How Long to Simmer Sloppy Joe Sauce

This Sloppy Joe recipe is flexible and turns out tasty whether you need to make it in a flash or you have extra time to allow it to simmer.

At a minimum, you should let the mixture simmer long enough to heat through once you've stirred the sauce into the meat. I'd recommend 10 minutes of simmering, if possible.

However, if you have the time, the flavors will really meld and develop if you allow your mixture to simmer for 30 to 45 minutes (or even longer). Just keep the heat low and stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning. And if the sauce starts to get too thick, stir in a little bit of water to buy you more simmering time.

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Crock Pot Option

One trick I sometimes use is to make this recipe on the stove and then transfer it to a slow cooker (set to WARM) just before I go pick up my kids from school. When it's time to eat that evening, dinner is already ready and the flavor is extra yummy...double win!

Alternatively, if you need to whip up this Sloppy Joe recipe more than an hour or two ahead of time, you can actually let the sloppy joe sauce do its cooking in the crock pot (as opposed to simply keeping it warm, as described above):

  1. Brown and drain the ground beef and transfer to a slow cooker.
  2. Add all of the sauce ingredients and stir well to combine.
  3. Scrape down the sides of the slow cooker with a spatula (so that the sauce around the edges doesn't burn), cover, and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours.
  4. Stir well and serve!

If you choose to make homemade Sloppy Joes this way, just keep in mind that if your particular model of slow cooker runs hot, the sauce may darken a bit around the edges. But if you're home, you can stir a couple of times during the cooking time to help prevent this.

Also, make sure your slow cooker is suitable to the size of the recipe. In other words, if you have a crock pot that's on the larger size, you may want to double or triple the recipe!

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Other Ideas for Serving Sloppy Joes

Everybody knows that meaty Sloppy Joe sauce is scrumptious piled high on hamburger buns! But there are lots of other fantastic ways to enjoy it, whether you're wanting to put a new twist on a fresh batch or you're simply using up leftovers:

  • Turn it into a "casserole." For example, you could arrange tater tots on top, like this Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole, or bake a crust on top, similar to Cheeseburger Pie or a even a cornbread casserole.
  • Stir into mac & cheese or other pasta.
  • Sprinkle over nachos.
  • Fold into quesadillas.
  • Top baked potatoes (and then melt cheese over the top).
  • Spoon it over hot dogs in place of chili (like Chili Dogs).
  • Or similarly, spoon it over French fries and add cheese (like Chili Cheese Fries).
  • Stir it into queso for a hearty dip with tortilla chips.
  • Stuff it into bell peppers and then bake.
  • Layer it into grilled cheese sandwiches.

Have you tried any other creative ideas?

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There's a reason this Sloppy Joe recipe is one of the all-time most popular recipes on the site, folks.

Kids adore it, but adults love it, too.

It's so simple but oh-so-good.

A side salad, some baked beans, and -- of course -- some thickly-sliced pickles on top of your Sloppy Joes, and...dinner is served!

Helpful Tips, Tricks, & Equipment

  • If you're making your own homemade Sloppy Joes in order to avoid processed ingredients, be sure to use all-natural ketchup.
  • The sauce in this Sloppy Joe recipe is intended to be slightly sweet, but it's really a matter of taste. If you prefer a more savory sauce, feel free to use less brown sugar. Additionally, you may use unrefined sugar or a squeeze of honey in place of the brown sugar, if you wish.
  • Along those same lines, if you'd like to make this meal even healthier by packing in some extra veggies unbeknownst to your kids (or your spouse), be sure to check out my How to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies post, which specifically addresses Sloppy Joes. 😉
  • My family loves homemade Sloppy Joes so much that I've also come up with a zesty Tex-Mex version...olè!
  • If, like me, you make a lot of ground beef (or ground turkey) recipes, this tool is pretty darn handy for breaking up your meat.
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More Easy (& Popular!) Ground Beef Recipes

  • One-Pot Spaghetti
  • Beefy Cheesy Beef Tortellini
  • Tamale Pie

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The VERY BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe

The VERY BEST Sloppy Joe recipe is delicious, quick, and easy to make. A scrumptious homemade sloppy joe sauce made with real ingredients puts it over the top. Hundreds of rave reviews agree that these Homemade Sloppy Joes are fantastic!

By Samantha Skaggs

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 sandwiches

Calories: 258kcal

Print Pin Rate

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef (OR turkey)
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 to 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Hamburger buns
  • Sliced pickles

Instructions

  • Make the sauce in a 2-cup glass measuring cup (or a medium bowl). Stir together the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined; set aside.

  • Set a large pot over medium-low heat. Add a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil, and saute the garlic for a minute or two until just fragrant and very light golden brown. Add ground beef, increase heat to medium/medium high, and cook until nicely browned with no pink remaining, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks. Drain the grease.

  • Pour the sauce over the browned meat, stir to combine, and simmer for at least 10 minutes until heated through, stirring occasionally.

  • Serve warm on hamburger buns or rolls with sliced pickles on top.

Equipment Needed

Video

Notes

  • This Sloppy Joe sauce is intended to be slightly sweet, but it's really a matter of taste. If you prefer a more savory sauce, feel free to use less brown sugar. Additionally, you may use unrefined sugar or even a squeeze of honey in place of the brown sugar, if you wish.
  • If you like your Sloppy Joe recipe with onions and peppers, you may dice up half an onion and half a bell pepper and cook them in a tablespoon of olive oil until softened (about 5 to 10 minutes) before browning the beef. Remove the onions and peppers from the pot and proceed with the recipe as directed, cooking the meat and then stirring the onions/peppers back in at the same time you add the sauce.
  • The simmering time is up to you. If you're in a hurry, 10 minutes is all you need. However, if you have more time, simmering for 30 to 45 minutes (or longer) will really allow the flavors of the sauce to develop and meld. Just remember to stir occasionally to prevent sticking/burning and add a splash of water if the sauce starts to get overly thick.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 742mg | Potassium: 714mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 3.7mg

Made this recipe? I'd love to see on IG!Mention @FiveHeartHome or tag #FiveHeartHome!

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Post originally published on January 13, 2015 (back when a certain two-year-old couldn't keep her little marker-stained mitts away long enough for me to snap a few pictures) and updated on November 2, 2017, January 5, 2021, January 31, 2022, and May 10, 2023.

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The VERY BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to add to Sloppy Joe to make it better? ›

I may just add some more peppers, or even a red pepper for a kick next time! I only added about half of the brown sugar, and a little bit more ketchup. Others suggested adding a little barbecue sauce which I may try next time! I substituted ground beef for ground turkey breast.

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.

How to get sloppy joe sauce to thicken? ›

Why Use These for Sloppy Joes? Baking soda helps keep the ground beef moist and tender, and incorporating baking soda into the finely chopped onion causes the onion to soften rapidly so it nearly melts into the sauce. Cornstarch thickens the sauce and binds up any fat, creating a silky-smooth, cohesive texture.

What's the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? ›

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.

How to doctor up sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Spice Your Sloppy Joe Up With Chile Flakes Or Canned Chiles

Classic red chile flakes offer a moderate amount of heat, but you could also go for powerful Carolina Reaper flakes for even more heat. Canned chiles can also add loads of flavor and texture to your sloppy joes.

Should you drain meat before adding sloppy joe sauce? ›

Sloppy Joe Tips

We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

What are the ingredients in Not So Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

'WATER, TOMATO PASTE, BROWN SUGAR, CIDER VINEGAR, SALT, GREEN BELL PEPPERS, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, DEHYDRATED ONIONS, SWEET PICKLE RELISH (HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CUCUMBERS, VINEGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, XANTHAN GUM, NATURAL FLAVORING, ALUM AND POLYSORBATE 80), SPICE, CONCENTRATED ...

How to fix too much vinegar in sloppy joes? ›

  1. If you have added too much vinegar to your recipe, don't panic. There are some simple ways to balance the acidity and save your dish. ...
  2. - Add some sugar or honey to the dish. ...
  3. - Add some baking soda to the dish. ...
  4. - Add some dairy products to the dish. ...
  5. - Add some herbs or spices to the dish.
Mar 19, 2021

Does sour cream help thicken sauce? ›

For an add-in that both thickens and enhances flavor, turn to a versatile, dairy-forward ingredient: sour cream. Sour cream is a common add-in for thickening soups and sauces, but it can also be stirred into gravy for a touch of tang and a smooth, creamy finish.

What is a substitute for tomato paste in 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's the difference between a man witch and a sloppy joe? ›

A Manwich is a sloppy joe made with Manwich sauce. Because Manwich is a brand of sloppy joe sauce.

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 do Northerners call Sloppy Joes? ›

Loose meat is what some northern Iowans call it. Tavern is a pub that sells sandwiches. If its in a tomato based sauce, it's sloppy Joe. If its just ground hamburger, it's a maid rite.

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

How are these different from sloppy joes? I love a good Sloppy Joe sandwich, but these Sloppy Janes are a bit lighter and more nutritious by serving on a sweet potato instead of a sandwich bun.

How to make Sloppy Joe less sweet? ›

If you like Sloppy Joes a little less sweet, you can reduce the brown sugar to 1 teaspoon. If you keep the mustard at 2 teaspoons, the result will be a tangier Sloppy Joe.

What is the difference between bold and regular Sloppy Joe? ›

The majority used ground beef in the sauce - a concoction of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and spices - and made it into sandwiches. Food scientist Bill Skinner occasionally buys Hunt's Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce and described the bold version as being a little sweeter with more tomato flavor.

Is mayo good on a Sloppy Joe? ›

Indulge in a flavorful homemade sloppy joe dish with melted American cheese and creamy mayo. Perfect for a satisfying dinner with a twist!

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