Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

Looking for a nostalgic, quick, and easy one-pot dinner for the whole family? Try these Homemade Sloppy Joes. They’re a messy, yummy dinner that’s fun! 

Sloppy Joe’s? What’s this, 1994? Well, no – but why not eat like it is? I loved Sloppy Joe night as a kid and I’m here to make my kids Sloppy Joe lovers, too! What’s more fun than eating an intentionally messy dinner? Uh, nothing. Have some fun and introduce your kids to this childhood family favorite!

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

• So much fun: Sloppy Joes were immortalized in the 1990’s by Adam Sandler in “Lunch Lady Land”. “Sloppy Joes, Slop-Sloppy Joes”, I can still hear it in my head – sing it with me!
• Nostalgic flavor: Sloppy Joe is hamburger meat mixed with sauteed veggies, ketchup, brown sugar, and water (plus loads of other yum) to create a saucy meat mixture that’s served on a hamburger bun. It’s messy fun so you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a fork and loads of napkins. They became popular around the 1950’s as an alternate use for hamburger meat, but loose meat sandwiches date back to the 1920’s. 
• Quick and easy: When it comes to easy weeknight dinners, ground beef recipes are where it’s at! This homemade Sloppy Joes recipe is ready in just a few minutes and cooks all in one pot.

What You’ll Need

Sloppy Joes are a great way to use up that ground meat you’ve had in the freezer forever. Here’s everything you’ll need. Check out the recipe card for exact amounts.

• Olive Oil
• Ground Beef
• Veggies: We’ll be using finely diced bell pepper, onion, and fresh garlic.
• Seasoning: Chili powder, salt, and pepper add the perfect flavors!
• Tomato Paste
• Brown Sugar
• Hot Sauce
• Ketchup
• Worcestershire Sauce

How to Make Sloppy Joes

Dinner is ready in just 30 minutes with this easy homemade Sloppy Joes recipe. Let’s dive in! Check out the recipe card at the end of this post for detailed instructions.

1. Heat: Add 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil to a large 12-inch skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. 
2. Beef: Stir in the beef and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, or until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain and remove it from the skillet. Set aside and keep it covered. 
3. Saute: Return skillet to the stove. Heat the remaining oil and add the peppers and onions. Cook until they are softened.
4. Add: Stir in garlic, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Sauce: It’s time to make the homemade sauce for Sloppy Joes! Stir beef back into the skillet and mix in the tomato paste, brown sugar, and hot sauce. Add the ketchup, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix and stir until thoroughly combined. 
6. Simmer: Lower the heat to MEDIUM and continue to cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened.
7. Serve: Remove from the heat. Serve over toasted buns.

Tips and Tricks

• Veggie size. If you’ve got veggie haters in your home, prep your veggies in the food processor. They’ll never know they’re hiding in the meat mixture!  
• Spice it up. Adding hot sauce is optional but I recommend it. If you or your kids are super sensitive to spice, though, you can go without it. 
• Consistency. The amount of water needed might vary, add it slowly and watch for the consistency you’re going for. 
• Ground meats. You can use any ground meat you have in your freezer, ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken – you name it. 

What to Serve With Homemade Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe’s are best served as a sandwich. I like mine on a toasted, seeded bun. Throw some oven baked potato wedges on the side, maybe a crispy green veggie, and you’ve got yourself a complete meal. You could also do a Sloppy Joe sandwich on a wrap or flatbread.  

But, let’s think outside the box here. Maybe consider topping some fettuccine with your sloppy joe mixture. How about making some Sloppy Joe quesadillas? The possibilities are endless! 

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Let your Sloppy Joe mixture come to room temp and then transfer it into an airtight container. Pop it in your fridge for about 5 days. Don’t store your Sloppy Joe’s with their buns. The buns would become soggy and well – gross. Be sure to store them separately. 
• You can reheat the Sloppy Joes mix in the microwave for a quick sandwich the next day! Or, dump into a skillet and simmer on medium-low until heated through. Add a bit of water if you need to loosen it up a bit. 
• To freeze, let it cool, add it to a zip top freezer bag and store it in the freezer for 3 months. This makes it a great freezer meal for your family or to bring over to a new mom friend. Just be sure to label your freezer bag so you know when to use it. 

More Ground Beef Recipes

• Easy Ground Beef Tacos
• Beef and Bean Freezer Burritos
• Easy Cheeseburger Casserole