Sloppy Joes – A classic sandwich that’s meant to be messy! This recipe requires only one pot and features seasoned ground beef, onions, peppers, and garlic, with a richly flavored tomato sauce.
There is something so fun and nostalgic about sloppy joes, it might be the fact that you get to eat a sandwich that is messy by design. These sloppy joes are made from scratch, with simple ingredients coming together to make a flavorful beef mixture, piled high atop a toasted bun.
The best part about sloppy joes is that you can make a big batch and freeze it, for a hearty and satisfying last-minute meal! Whether you’re serving these up for dinner, for a potluck or even a backyard BBQ, sloppy joes are an ever-classic crowd pleaser, sure to be a hit!
What are sloppy joes?
A sloppy joe is a classic American sandwich consisting of ground beef or pork, onions, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings (varies by recipe), served on a hamburger bun. The dish originated in the United States during the early 20th century and is still widely popular to date! Two Iowan restaurants both claim to have invented the Sloppy Joe but it hasn’t been proven where the sandwich originated, so we are still unsure of who “Joe” actually is. According to legend, a cook named Joe at Floyd Angell’s café in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches and the “sloppy joe” sandwich was born.
Ingredients
Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!
- Olive Oil – Can be substituted with vegetable oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil or avocado oil.
- Beef – Ground beef
- Onion – Chopped
- Bell Pepper – I used a green bell pepper, finely chopped. Use your preference!
- Garlic – Fresh is best! Minced.
- Ketchup and Tomato Paste – To add that nice flavor and make them extra sloppy! It wouldn’t be a sloppy joe without them!
- Mustard – I used yellow mustard but feel free to use your preference.
- Brown Sugar – Packed!
- Worcestershire Sauce – If you don’t have worcestershire, use a mixture of soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar and a dash of hot sauce.
- Salt and Pepper – To taste.
How to make sloppy joes
- Cook Beef – Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up into small crumbles, about 5 minutes.
- Cook the Veg – Add the onion, bell pepper to the same skillet and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Mix in the Sauce – Stir in the tomato paste, then add the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Stir well to combine.
- Cook and Thicken – Continue cooking over medium heat for another 10 to 15 minutes. The mixture should thicken, if it’s too dry, add a bit of water.
- Serve – Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.
How to serve
Sloppy Joes can come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from tiny sliders to requiring both hands just to hold onto them! There’s no wrong way to serve a sloppy joe, as long as it’s a little messy – that’s what matters. Here are some awesome sides to serve up with it:
- Potato Chips
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Baked Beans
- Pickle Spears
- Mashed Potatoes or Mashed Cauliflower
- Veggies and Dip
- Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
- Onion Rings
- French Fries
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
- Crispy Fried Zucchini
- Pasta Salad – try this Cowboy Pasta Salad
- Potato Salad
Now that we’ve covered sides, all that’s left to do is choose what type of bun you want to use! Kaiser roll? Whole wheat roll? Mini ciabatta? Or the classic hamburger bun? All have individual qualities that lend the Sloppy Joe a different flavor and texture, so don’t be afraid to try different options – Just make sure that bun is toasted. Toasting your bun is a must! Other than that, like I said before, there’s no wrong way to serve a sloppy joe.
How to store leftover sloppy joes
Store leftover mixture in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezing
You can freeze your sloppy joe mixture for up to 3 months! Transfer the cooked (make sure it’s cooled) mix to a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze.
When it’s time to reheat, put it in a saucepan with a little water, heat it through, and serve with freshly toasted buns.
Did you like this recipe? Try these!
- Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork
- Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Stromboli
- Classic Reuben
- The Best Chili Recipe
- French Dip Sandwiches
- Beef Enchilada Stuffed Peppers
- Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
- Oven Baked Beef Brisket
- Skillet Sloppy Joe Casserole
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Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard prepared
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up into small crumbles, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, bell pepper to the same skillet and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the onion softens. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste, then add the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Stir well to combine.
- Continue cooking over medium heat for another 10 to 15 minutes. The mixture should thicken, if it's too dry, add a bit of water.
- Remove from heat and sover over toasted buns.
Tips & Notes:
- Nutritional information does not include buns.
- Store leftover mixture in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze your sloppy joe mixture for up to 3 months! Transfer the cooked (make sure it’s cooled) mix to a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze.
- When it’s time to reheat, put it in a saucepan with a little water, heat it through, and serve with freshly toasted buns.
