Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (2024)

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This is a simple dinner idea. Sloppy Joes Recipe has only 3 ingredients and there are no excuses to not try this family friendly dinner idea that everyone will love.

This 3 ingredient Sloppy Joe recipe taste so much better than the can sloppy joe mix. The best part it is so easy to make and delicious too. You probably already have most of the ingredients to make this easy stovetop recipe for the best sloppy joe recipe.

My family loves this meal. We will often plan on eating this for lunch on the weekend. It is so easy to put together and we have a homecooked meal for lunch in between our basketball games.

Table of Contents

  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Sloppy Joes
  • Recipe Tips
  • Can I Double The Recipe?
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Try these other Sloppy Joes
  • Sloppy Joes Recipe Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

In under 30 minutes, you can have this quick, easy classic dinner idea that your family will love. You can probably cook this in 20 minutes. The sloppy joe mixture is really easy to modify for what you have on hand and so versatile.

We have even added a tiny bit of Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder to the ground beef mixture. You can try using chili powder, red pepper flakes, bbq sauce, olive oil or whatever you prefer.

It really is such a great recipe and we all love sloppy joe meat. It never gets old and we enjoy this recipe so much. Try toasted buns next time to make a delicious sandwich. It is really good!

Ingredients

Besides ground beef, you only need three ingredients to make this delicious Sloppy Joes recipe.

  • Yellow Mustard
  • Ketchup or tomato sauce
  • Brown Sugar

Yep! That is all you need to make a fast sloppy joes for your family. What makes it even better is one of my kids does not like the traditional sloppy joes, but loves this recipe!

Once you make this, you won’t ever buy that store bought stuff again. This has so much more flavor than the canned sloppy joes. For the full recipe, scroll to see recipe card.

How to Make Sloppy Joes

  • Step 1 – Brown the ground beef in a large skillet on medium heat until no longer pink. You can use ground turkey too. Once browned, drain the excess grease from the beef. I like to season with salt and pepper while the beef is cooking.
  • Step 2 – Add in brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup. Stir to combine.
  • Step 3 – Reduce the heat and allow the meat mixture to simmer on low for about 5 minutes to combine the flavors.
  • Step 4 – Serve on hamburger buns and with your favorite sides.

Recipe Tips

  • Make Ahead – The prep time is very easy on this recipe, but you can prepare ahead of to save even more time.
  • Ground Beef – Before mixing in the sauces makes sure to drain the meat to remove any grease.
  • Simmer – Allow the mixture to simmer on low to combine the ingredients.
Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (5)

Can I Double The Recipe?

Yes, this is a great recipe to make a double or triple batch and freeze the left overs. It does not take anymore work to make extra. We love to cook once and eat twice or more. This is such a huge help during busy weeks.

It really isn’t any extra work to double the recipe and you have a super easy dinner for another night. I try to do this as much as possible and keep a few quick meals in the freezer.

Serving Suggestions

Here are a few of my favorite side dishes for sloppy joes.

  • Easy Homemade French Fries Recipe
  • Deep Fried Pickles
  • Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
  • Check out our full post on What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
  • Top a baked potato for a complete meal idea.
  • Potato Chips

It’s really good served withGrilled Corn on the Cob andOven Baked Sweet Potato Fries. These are both so easy and really delicious side dishes. Just keep it simple. This meal can easily be ready with hardly any work at all.

Try adding green bell pepper or onion to the ground beef while cooking. Onion and green pepper really give it an amazing flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers

Store the leftovers in an airtight container and place in the fridge. Leftovers will stay great for up to 4 days.

Can I Freeze Sloppy Joe Sauce?

You can freeze the sloppy joe sauce in a freezer bag. We also like to freeze them in silicone cupcake pans, Then pop them out and place in a freezer bag. Now you can have a lunch or dinner for 1 in no time. This is such an easy dinner idea, but when you freeze them it makes it an even faster dinner idea.

How to Reheat

When you are ready to reheat, place in a crockpot or in a pan for an even faster dinner idea. Trysloppy joe recipe slow cooker version and come home to dinner ready to enjoy. This is great for reheating what you put in the freezer and makes dinner so simple. If you have a smaller portion, just thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the microwave.

Try these other Sloppy Joes

  • Quick and Easy BBQ Sloppy Joes Recipe
  • Big Mac Sloppy Joes Recipe
  • Ultimate Sloppy Joes
  • Homemade Sloppy Joes
  • Easy Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe
  • Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes Recipe
  • Easy Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
  • easy Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes recipe

We love to hear from you. If you make this homemade sloppy joe sauce recipe, please leave us a comment or star review.

Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (8)

Review

Pin Print

Sloppy Joes Recipe

4.94 from 597 votes

This Sloppy Joes is so easy to make and taste way better than sloppy joes in a can. How to make sloppy joes with ketchup and just two more ingredients.

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine American

Course Main Course

Calories 354

Author Carrie Barnard

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Brown the ground beef in a skillet.

  • Once browned, drain.

  • Add in brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup. Stir to combine.

  • Allow it to simmer on low for about 5 minutes to combine the flavors.

  • Serve on buns and with your favorite sides.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

3 ingredients, that is all you need to make a fast sloppy joes for your family. You are going to love this recipe!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 354kcal, Carbohydrates 31g, Protein 17g, Fat 16g, Saturated Fat 6g, Cholesterol 53mg, Sodium 507mg, Potassium 334mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 11g, Vitamin A 105IU, Vitamin C 1.4mg, Calcium 98mg, Iron 3.1mg

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About the Author

Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe (17)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
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.

Is there a difference between sloppy joes 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.

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

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 to add to sloppy joes to make it 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!

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 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.

How do you jazz up sloppy joes? ›

Serve easy-to-make Manwich Sloppy Joes on sweet dinner rolls for a fun bite-sized treat the whole family can enjoy. Give your Sloppy Joe a unique spin by replacing hamburger buns with taco shells and adding a little cumin, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, and juicy tomatoes.

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

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 was the original sloppy joe made with? ›

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.

What is a cold sloppy joe? ›

In this part of the country, where I grew up, a sloppy joe is something else entirely. It's a triple decker sandwich—cold deli meat and cheese on dense rye bread—glued together with coleslaw and Russian dressing.

Why do they ring the bell at Sloppy Joe's? ›

At Sloppy Joe's, tipping is a tradition. A good tip gets a ring of the bell dangling on a long rope above the bar. It's worth a nice tip to watch bartenders like Edy Ducruet ring the bell.

What do people in Wisconsin call Sloppy Joes? ›

sloppy Joes. Some in southeastern and central Wisconsin call these "barbecue" sandwiches. For those who say Spanish hamburger, there's a good chance they grew up in the Fox Cities. Outside of Wisconsin, sloppy Joe is the dominant name.

How to doctor up sloppy joes? ›

Canned chiles can also add loads of flavor and texture to your sloppy joes. Mild Hatch chiles are perfect for people who don't want their sloppy joes too spicy, while chipotle chiles add some heat and some lovely smokiness. You could also opt for fresh chiles like fruity (and super spicy) habaneros or milder Anaheims.

What do you usually eat with sloppy joes? ›

What to serve with Sloppy Joes (24 simple ideas)
  • Herb & Garlic Cheesy Mashed Potatoes.
  • Sweet Corn Salad.
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad.
  • Spinach and Artichoke Pasta Salad.
  • Hassleback Potatoes.
  • Potato Salad.
  • Mac and Cheese.
  • Coleslaw.
Apr 22, 2023

What will thicken sloppy joes? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

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 in a can of Manwich? ›

Serve on hamburger buns. Tomato puree (water, tomato paste), high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, corn syrup, less than 2% of: salt, sugar, dehydrated onions, dehydrated red and green bell peppers, chile pepper, tomato fiber, spices, guar gum, xanthan gum, dehydrated garlic, carob bean gum, natural flavors.

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? ›

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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