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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Kasey Waller
These sloppy joes are the best. They are so quick and easy to make and always a huge hit with the kiddos and hubby! The meat freezes well too as sometimes I make a double batch.
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip, Kasey!
Heather B
I love good sloppy joes and this recipe did not disappoint. They were just as good as the ones my mom used to make. I really miss her homecooking!
Janey Price
These turned out so great. My kids all loved it and so did my husband. Don’t forget to toast the buns! It really does make a difference.
Beth Pierce
Great reminder, Janey!
Katie P
It was an easy recipe that turned out to be a comforting and satisfying meal. Definitely a recipe I’ll use again for a quick and tasty dinner.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Katie!
Kira V
I just made these homemade sloppy joes, and they turned out incredibly delicious! It was a simple recipe, but the result was a hearty, comforting meal that felt like a warm hug.
Beth Pierce
That is a great way to describe it! Thank you!
Erin S
Always a favorite at our house! I make this often. It is our favorite sloppy joe recipe.
Serenity Wright
My husband asked me to make this again for dinner! It was quick and easy to make. Especially delicious over brioche buns!
Beth Pierce
I agree on the brioche buns!
Addison Thompson
Sloppy Joes are my all time favorite food. Homemade sloppy joes are THE BEST and this recipe was so delicious!
Gabriella Duke
We loved this – so flavorful and I love that the seasonings didn’t come out of a package full of additives. YUM!
Kris
These sloppy joes are the best. We LOVE them! This is my new go to recipe. The whole family agrees! Thanks for the recipe.
Melissa
Oh my goodness….. homemade is always better than the store bought. So tasty and easy to make. Leftovers warm up so well. Just toss in a little bit of beef broth or water and simmer over the stove.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Melissa! So glad that you liked the sloppy joes!
Michelle Williams
The blend of flavors from onions, bell pepper, garlic, and that touch of brown sugar in the tomato-based sauce creates a mouthwatering experience. I served them over toasted english muffins for a change of pace. So incredibly delicious! This will be on repeat here.
Melanie E
Ha, would you believe I have never had a sloppy joe. I see where it gets its name. I’d love to try it!
Jane
Delicious! You hit the nail on the head with this tasty recipe. Even my picky kids loved these. We will make them again.
Tammy
I haven’t had sloppy joes in ages but always a delicious and comforting meal for the whole family especially during the winter months. I’ll have to make these for game day!
Sandy
This is such a satisfying meal! Everyone at my house enjoyed it! It was a hit! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sandy! I am so glad that you enjoyed the sloppy joes.