My Homemade Sloppy Joes is a classic recipe that you’ll just never get tired of. It’s hearty, full of flavor, and easy enough to make at the end of a long day. You can even make it ahead, stash it in the freezer, and have supper on the table in just a few minutes.
It’s that time of year again when everyone is getting ready to return to the regular school routine. Whether your kids attend school in person or are homeschooled, you always need something quick and easy to put on the table on a school night. Especially after you’ve worked all day yourself and you’re pretty tired, right?
My Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe will never let you down when dinner time rolls around. It’s one of those standard recipes that all cooks need in their repertoire. If you’ve had the kind from the can before, this homemade version might just spoil you for anything else. It’s rich, savory, a little tangy, and just saucy enough to live up to its name.
Plus, you can even make the meat sauce ahead and freeze it. Just thaw it in the microwave, pop it on some hamburger buns, and supper’s ready!
— This post was originally published on August 24, 2009. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
Recipe Snapshot
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Stovetop
Total Time: 55 Minutes
Servings: 8
Primary Ingredient(s): Ground beef, onion, bell pepper, tomato sauce/paste
Skill Level: Easy
What You’ll Like About This Recipe
- Quick enough for school nights.
- Familiar ingredients you probably already have.
- Freezer-friendly for easy meals down the line.
- Always a crowd-pleaser, especially with kids and teens.
Ingredient Notes
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- Ground beef – I almost always use 80-20 ground beef (ground chuck). The higher fat content gives it much more flavor than the lower fat choices.
- Dijon mustard – If you don’t have Dijon mustard on hand, simply substitute any kind of mustard available.
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste – I like using both for a richer tomato base.
- Cayenne pepper – This is totally optional; if you think it would be too spicy for your family, simply leave it out.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef until no pink color remains. Drain the beef and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add the onions and peppers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook for another 30-45 seconds.
- Return the drained ground beef back to the skillet with the onions, peppers, and garlic.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine.
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- Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened and the liquid has reduced.
- If desired, butter and toast the hamburger buns. Divide the beef mixture evenly between the buns.
Recipe Tips
- Toasting the buns helps keep them from getting soggy and adds a nice buttery crunch.
- For extra richness, stir a small pat of butter into the sauce right before serving.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings toward the end of cooking. A pinch of salt can make a big difference.
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Add a splash of hot sauce or a sprinkle of smoked paprika for a different flavor option.
How to Make it a Meal
Some suggestions for sides to serve with sloppy joes include French fries or potato wedges, tater tots, potato chips, potato salad, tossed green salad, sweet potato fries, and dill pickles.
How to Make it Ahead
It’s really easy to make sloppy joes ahead and freeze them for future use. After the meat mixture has cooled, transfer it to one or more freezer-safe containers. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let the mixture thaw in the refrigerator and reheat either on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Questions About Homemade Sloppy Joes
No. Manwich is a store-bought commercially canned sauce, while this recipe is made from scratch with whole ingredients.
Yes! This recipe can be made with an equal amount of ground turkey substituted for the ground beef.
According to some sources, the name came from the recipe of a cook named Joe at a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa. Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches, thus creating the “sloppy joe” sandwich.
More Easy Weeknight Dinners
Instant Pot Beef Stew
Steak Tips with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers
Italian Sausage and Rotini
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 yellow onion (medium size) chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 6 cloves garlic finely minced
- 15 ounces tomato sauce canned
- 12 ounces tomato paste canned
- ¼ cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef until no pink color remains. Drain the beef and set aside.2 pounds ground beef
- To the same skillet, add the onions and peppers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook for another 30-45 seconds.1 yellow onion, 1 green bell pepper, 6 cloves garlic
- Return the drained ground beef back to the skillet with the onions, peppers, and garlic.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine.15 ounces tomato sauce, 12 ounces tomato paste, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened and the liquid has reduced.
To serve:
- If desired, butter and toast the hamburger buns. Divide the beef mixture evenly between the buns.8 hamburger buns
Notes
- The recipe can be made with an equal amount of ground turkey substituted for the ground beef.
- To make ahead and freeze for future use – after the meat mixture has cooled, transfer it to one or more freezer safe containers. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let the mixture thaw in the refrigerator and reheat either on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
we put our sloppy Joe on hotdog buns. makes it even more kid friendly
Good idea!
What I like about Sloppy Joe’s is the way I have to slurp around the bun to get all the ingredients before they hit the plate! LOL
It’s 1:30 AM and I’m hungry after reading all the recipes here!
Thanks to everyone for visiting and commenting on the Sloppy Joes! I almost didn’t post this one because I thought, “who in the world would want to see that?” Apparently, quite a few people! Ha! Who knew?
To those who have been craving sloppy joes recently, glad I could provide you with a recipe to satisfy that craving.
Lee — I agree that that chef doesn’t know what he’s missing. As I’ve said before I am no food snob. I enjoy all kinds of food from the most elegant right down to, well, sloppy joes!
And Angelia – those sweet potato fries sure sound like a great accompaniment.
That is almost the same as my recipe, I just add a few more spices, its so easy and delish, and great with sweet potato fries!
Recently I heard a famous chef say a Sloppy Joe wasn’t something he would make or eat. He doesn’t know what he’s missing! They are still one of my favorites, especially come Fall.
I laughed out loud when I saw these, just been saying how much I was craving sloppy joes.
This is one of the meals that Daddy Bon used to make when I had to work late. Your recipe looks much better than his. He did not put tomato in his so it was like eating a scrambled hamburger with onions & bell pepper. He served it with ketchup, mustard & relish. This and chilli were the two things that he excelled in making. Bless his heart.
Neena
I’m glad you put a sloppy joe recipe on your blog. Sometimes, it’s those simple, easy dishes that make us happy. Sloppy Joes are a comfort food to me, and they’re a dish my kids love. (I even put a version on my blog a while back.) These look yummy.
Looks so easy and delicious. Always wanted to try Sloppy Joes so saving this one! Thanks!!!
Nice photos and what a perfect recipe for me… always short on time!
I was craving for a sloppy joe the other day and almost bought one of those manwich sauces. I like your version better. I’ve got to try that. Mmmmmm…
I just made sloppy joes last night and they were delish! I used the leftovers over pasta tonight for sloppy mac. YUM!
Great pictures and step by step
These look really good! I don’t have anyone in school, but I work a lot . I love quick recipes. Thanks a bunch! Joe Ann