This easy and delicious homemade sloppy joe recipe is sure to become a family favorite. With simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions, you’ll be whipping up this classic comfort food in no time.
The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes
The Sloppy Joe is as all-American as hot dogs and french fries. This recipe is full of flavor from onions, bell pepper, garlic, and brown sugar in a tomato-based sauce. They are the perfect blend of ingredients without being overly spicy or ridiculously bland. If you like them a little spicier, add a pinch of crushed red pepper, a bit of cayenne, or even one teaspoon of sriracha. I love to serve these with air fryer potato wedges, baked macaroni and cheese, green beans and potatoes, and funeral potatoes.
Why are they called Sloppy Joes?
The Sloppy Joe has been around since the 1950s. It came about as a variation on what used to be referred to as loose meat sandwiches. Legend has it that Joe, a cook at Floyd Angell’s cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce to a loose meat sandwich, and that was the start of what we now call the Sloppy Joe. Thanks, Joe! I appreciate your creativity, and so does my family!!
Homemade Sloppy Joe Ingredients
How to make Homemade Sloppy Joes
Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook until the veggies are soft and the ground beef is no longer pink. Next, carefully drain any excess fat. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Now stir in the apple cider vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, spicy barbecue sauce, ketchup, chili powder, and water. Simmer the meat mixture for about 20 minutes over low heat. Serve over any soft roll or, for a change of pace, serve over cooked rice, egg noodles, or homemade pizza dough for sloppy joe pizza.
How to make Sloppy Joes in a Crock Pot
Over medium heat, in a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain any excess grease. Add the onion and pepper and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Drain any excess grease and add it and the other ingredients to the crock pot. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
Recipe Tips
- Use ground beef with a bit of fat in it. The fat is what flavors the meat and makes it juicy and tasty. Drain the excess fat after browning the ground beef and cooking the veggies.
- Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork can be substituted for the ground beef.
- Use a spicy barbecue sauce with limited sugar. I like Stubbs Barbecue Sauce.
- If the mixture seems to be a little drier than you like, add a little more water, barbecue sauce, or ketchup.
- Spoon over brioche bun, freshly baked hamburger buns, rice, or pasta.
- Add a couple of pinches of red pepper flakes, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne, or a teaspoon of hot sauce to spice up the taste.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.
Freeze sloppy joe meat mixture in a freezer bag or freezer container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
More Ground Beef Recipes
Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 small green pepper finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons prepared mustard the condiment kind
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup spicy barbecue sauce see notes
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅓ -½ cup water
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 8 brioche or hamburger buns
Instructions
- Over medium heat, in a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain any excess grease. Add the onion and pepper and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- Add the cider vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, chili powder, and water.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes and spoon onto buns.
Notes
- Use ground beef with a little fat in it. The fat is what flavors the meat and makes it juicy and tasty. Just drain the excess fat after browning the ground beef and cooking the veggies.
- Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork can be substituted for the ground beef.
- Use a spicy barbecue sauce with limited sugar. I like Stubbs Barbecue Sauce.
- If the mixture seems to be a little drier than you like, simply add a little more water, barbecue sauce, or ketchup.
- Spoon over brioche bun, freshly baked hamburger buns, rice, or pasta.
- To spice up the taste, add a couple of pinches of red pepper flakes, 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne, or a teaspoon of hot sauce.
- Freeze sloppy joe meat mixture in a freezer bag or freezer container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
Nutrition
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Kaitlyn W
These sloppy joes are my favorite. I love to eat it over fried potatoes or tater tots. It is so much better than buns or toast.
Beth Pierce
Sounds like a great idea!
Millie Huff
Best homemade sloppy joe recipe ever. So tasty! I served it on toasted brioche buns with a side of fried potatoes and your beer battered onion rings. Thanks for sharing all your great recipes with us.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Millie!
Edith Wade
Your Sloppy Joe recipe is a delicious classic! I appreciate the tip on adjusting the spice level to suit personal preferences—it’s great to have options for adding a bit of heat for those who enjoy it. I love to serve this tasty mixture over toasted fresh baked bread with your mac and cheese recipe. You have the best recips.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Edith I am so glad that you like my recipes.
Chrissy
I am a sucker for trying new sloppy joe recipes. My mom always made them for us when we were growing up. They were so yummy! I have been searching for a similar recipe. I think I have found it. Your recipe is just as good as my moms. Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories.
Beth Pierce
That is great Chrissy! I am so glad that I could help! Isn’t it crazy how food can take us back to a special place in time.
Jupiter H.
When I was younger, I always remember having sloppy joes from a can! We’ve not had it in England, so thank you for this recipe so I can share some of the classic American food with my friends.
Yasmina
My first ever Sloppy Joe! Great to read how it got its name too. The meaty filling tastes amazing – full of flavour and it really is great comfort food! Try it over toasted English muffins!
Beth Pierce
Sounds delicious!
Laura Lee
This is my new go to recipe for quick and easy weeknight dinners. Hubby and the kids love them. We like the buns buttered and grilled! We also like to serve it up with your air fryer potato wedges recipe! Delicious!
Beth Pierce
Okay now you are making me hungry, Laura Lee!