Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

old fashioned sloppy joes featured image

These delicious sloppy joe sandwiches are flavored with onions, peppers, and have a tangy sauce made from pantry staples. It is an easy one-pan meal for busy cooks and will soon be a family favorite.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, American Classic

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 468kcal

Author Diana Reis

Equipment

Large Skillet 10-12"

Ingredients

1.25 Pounds Ground Beef
1 Cup Bell Peppers diced 1 whole red or green bell pepper
1 Cup Yellow Onion diced ½ medium onion

Sloppy Joe Sauce

1 Cup Ketchup
2 Tablespoons Yellow Mustard
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 Teaspoon Paprika
Salt and Black Pepper to Taste
Hamburger Buns or soft white rolls

Instructions

Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat.
Add ground beef to the skillet and brown, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
Once the ground beef is well browned, add the diced onions and peppers to the pan.
Season with salt and pepper and cook until the onions are translucent.
Next, add the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika to make the Sloppy Joe Sauce.
Mix together with the beef and bring to a low simmer. Let cook for another 2-3 minutes to let the sauce combine and flavor the beef well.
Serve sloppy joe meat mixture on toasted hamburger buns and enjoy.

Notes

How to Serve

Classic Sloppy Joes are served on a soft roll or hamburger bun.

For fun add a slice of cheese or some pickle chips to top off the sandwiches.

Add Simple and Delicious Side dishes like...

Potato Chips
French Fries
Cole Slaw
Baked Beans
Tater Tots
Green Beans
Simple Green Salad

What does a sloppy joe taste like?

Making homemade sloppy joes is a lot like making a meat sauce, but the taste is very close to barbecue sauce. Using ketchup and mustard along with brown sugar gives you a nice sweet taste with a good amount of tang. Of course the cooked beef adds richness. All of this is set off nicely with a soft, white bun.

What can I use to make sloppy joes if I don’t have Ketchup?

If you don’t have ketchup you can substitute one cup of tomato sauce mixed with ¼ cup white sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon paprika. You can also use ½ cup of tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and ¼ cup of water.

Diana’s Tips for Success

Do not drain the beef after browning, any excess liquid will combine with the sauce and make the meat extra juicy.

Always serve on a well toasted hamburger bun. A crispy bun holds up to the saucy beef and is delicious and makes your Joes slightly less sloppy to eat.

Storage and Reheating

You can store sloppy joe meat in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

You can freeze the cooked meat for up to 3 months.

To reheat, simply place the sloppy joe filling in a microwave safe bowl, cover with a paper towel and cook 30 seconds at a time until it is heated through. Stirring in between will help it heat evenly.

If you are reheating a large amount, transfer meat to a skillet heated on low. Add 2 tablespoons of water and slowly bring the meat to a simmer.

Nutrition