The Best Sloppy Joes are the ultimate meal in a bun! This easy to make dinner is one your family will love and you’ll make over and over again.
How did Sloppy Joes get their name?
Sloppy Joes have been around since the 1930-40’s. Some say the term “Sloppy Joes” comes from a sandwich, sold in Iowa made by a cook named, you guessed it – Joe. Others say it originated in Cuba, when cooks threw together all of the leftover meats after a day’s work and piled it on leftover buns. No matter the origin, this messy, warm sandwich is still a popular quick lunch or dinner today!
What makes this the Best Sloppy Joes recipe?
When you bite into the sandwich it’s a little sloppy- but that’s half the fun of eating it. What would a Sloppy Joe sandwich be if it didn’t drip all over your plate? Truth be told, I usually eat mine with a fork, because I want to get every last bit of the flavorful meat!
This recipe is straightforward with just a few pantry staples and a couple of fresh vegetables included. The blend of sweet, savory, and a little tangy, along with the simple method makes this the Best Sloppy Joes recipe!
Better than Manwich or a package!
The Best Sloppy Joes are SO simple to make. I’m not talking about opening a can of Manwich, or using a package of flavoring. Homemade makes all the difference. I wanted to make a Sloppy Joe recipe that would be easy, tasty, and quick to make when my kids were young. This pantry friendly meal is homemade without being complicated! If you are wondering about the pan I’m using in this recipe, it’s my favorite Le Creuset Dutch Oven, which I use for everything spaghetti sauce to pot roast. An investment, but worth every penny.
Quick and easy Sloppy Joes for family or a crowd!
Sloppy Joes take about 20 minutes start to finish so you’ll have dinner on the table in no time! This recipe is perfect for make ahead or large crowds as well. Store the ground beef mixture in an airtight container in the fridge, and then heat it up on the stove before you’re ready to serve with hamburger buns. This recipe also includes instructions for cooking in a slow cooker or Instant Pot in the recipe notes.
This recipe also freeze well, and are perfect for taking on River rafting trips, to Lake Powell, family reunions or Girl’s Camp! Make it ahead, place in Gallon Ziplock bags, lay flat in your freezer and it will act as a piece of ice in your cooler when you are traveling. Nothing better than leaving the mess at home when you need to feed a group on vacation!
This recipe was originally posted in 2010, and has been republished with new photos and alterations to the recipe and post.
Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Sloppy Joes:
- 1 1/2 lb extra lean ground beef
- 1 onion, white, sweet or yellow, chopped, about 1 1/2 cups total
- 1 red pepper, stem and seeds removed, chopped (optional) about 1 cup total
- 1 clove garlic, minced or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce, or 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, more if you like it sweeter!
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- water 1/4 to 1/2 cup to thin sauce, if needed
- few drops hot sauce, such as Tobasco , optional
Instructions
Sloppy Joes:
- Brown ground beef in skillet over medium high heat. Drain off any grease.
- Add chopped onion and chopped red pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until onion is softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for one additional minute.
- Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Cook over medium heat. Add hot sauce if using. Simmer on low for about 5-8 mintues or until mixture thickens up a bit.
- If mixture is too thick, thin with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water. Serve with hamburger buns, top with cheese, if desired.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, letting me know how you liked it. I’d love to see a photo, tag @abountifulkitchen on Instagram!
Erica s
The name says it all – these are the best! I keep a lot of ground beef on hand and this recipe transforms it into something special that my kids can’t get enough of. I especially love the subtle flavors added by the red pepper and the Worcestershire sauce. I can’t wait to do it in the slow cooker for our busy Monday meal!
Jo
Hands down family favorite! I always make a double batch and freeze some. Thank you ❤️
Jessica Macdonald
These were a huge hit. My kids loved the taste.
Kerri Fabry
Love this delicious recipe!
Cherylann
I love Sloppy Joes and this recipe is the best. For my kid that doesn’t like to eat vegetables it is nice that it has so much “hidden” in the sauce. He doesn’t usually like bell peppers, but he eats this up without hesitation. The Worcestershire just makes it perfect too. If I am ever in charge of food for a large group, this will be on my list!
Anna Palmer
Where did the recipe for hamburger buns go? So sad, because they were so perfect!
Brynn
Made this tonight and it was so good! I did a little less sugar as well (3 Tbsp) and thought it was perfect. Thanks another yummy recipe!
Si Foster
Thank you so much Brynn, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!
xo
Si
Jennifer
Before last week, I had never had sloppy joes before! My daughter wanted to try them so I used this recipe and we liked them so much that I made them again for dinner last night! Easy and tasty! I don’t add as much sugar, just a little less than 1/4 cup, and that still provides enough sweetness for us. I serve them with sweet potato fries and fruit!