EASY Sloppy Joe Recipe

This easy sloppy joe recipe is hearty, saucy and a family friendly dinner everyone will love. favorite. Ground beef is simmered in a homemade sauce then served on a toasted hamburger bun.

Other favorite easy dinners include meatball sub, turkey sloppy joes and homemade Philly cheesesteak.

The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes

This is one of those dishes that almost everyone grew up eating, it’s not the prettiest but delicious! This sloppy joe recipe was a childhood favorite in our house, as well as meatloaf, chicken pot pie and pot roast.

Making these sloppy joes from scratch is a classic 30-minute meal like easy salisbury steaks that’s hearty, flavorful, economical and family-friendly. My kids love these sloppy joes as well as my goulash recipe!

Sloppy Joe Ingredients

Below are the main ingredients for sloppy Joes, but feel free to sneak in even more veggies if you’d like. We love to serve them on fresh hamburger buns!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Ground beef: I use 80-90% lean ground beef. It still has enough flavor, without being overly greasy. You could also use ground turkey.
• Onion: I prefer to use a white or yellow onion when making sloppy joes. If you don’t have an onion on hand, feel free to add 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
• Red bell pepper: Diced red bell pepper is my go-to veggie to add in. Feel free to add in others like chopped yellow bell pepper, a green bell pepper, celery or chopped carrots.
• Minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds so much flavor. You could also use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder if you don’t have fresh garlic on hand.
• Ketchup: This gives the sloppy joes that famous red color and tangy taste. The bulk of the sauce is made of ketchup.
• Brown sugar: You don’t need a lot…just enough to balance out the acidity from the ketchup and add a slight hint of sweetness.
• Mustard: Plain yellow mustard works best.
• Worcestershire sauce: Adds a savory umami flavor to the sauce. If you want to take up the heat, dd a pinch of red pepper flakes.

How to Make Sloppy Joes

1. Cook. Brown the beef in a large skillet with chopped onion, red bell pepper and garlic. Drain any excess grease from the meat mixture.
2. Mix. Add in the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire and season with salt and pepper.
3. Simmer. Cover and let simmer for 10 to 20 minutes (stirring occasionally). If more liquid is needed, add more ketchup or a couple Tablespoons of water.
4. Serve. Add mixture to toasted hamburger buns and serve with your favorite sides (we love homemade french fries or mac and cheese). Potato chips and pickles also make a great side.

Cooking Tips

• Thickening the sauce. The sauce will thicken as it simmers. If your sloppy joes have too much liquid after simmering, add in corn starch. Mix a Tablespoon of both cornstarch and water together in a small bowl then add mixture to the sauce and stir.
• Toast the buns. This makes all the difference! Not only does it give a nice flavor, but it helps soak in the sauce without getting soggy. I love to toast mine on a buttered griddle for a few minutes until golden.
• Crockpot. Sloppy joes are easy to make in the slow cooker. Once the meat is browned in a skillet, just add all the ingredients and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours.
• Repurpose leftovers. Use leftovers to make a whole new dish! Serve over a baked potato or on top of nachos.

Storage + Freezing Leftovers

Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days.

This recipe makes a great freezer meal. I love to double the batch and freeze half for a busy night. Let the meat cool, then place in a freezer bag (make sure to seal out any air) and freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat, let thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a skillet or microwave until warm. Add more water and seasonings if needed.

More Easy Dinner Ideas

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