Do you have favorite old-fashioned recipes from your childhood? Sloppy Joes is one of mine – it was always a really great family dinner recipe! Let’s make this homemade recipe to relive those days!
But make sure you also give these sloppy joe sliders a try too because they are the perfect large crowd party food, or even just a fun twist on the classic sandwich recipe.
Are you a fan of beef? It’s often a favorite meat in many households, and I especially love to use it in sandwiches! A classic French Dip made in the Instant Pot is a great option, and I also love the ease of layering up Roast Beef Sliders.
This recipe is a great budget-friendly option where the beef is still the star. There are so many ways to use ground beef, and this saucy sandwich is no exception! I also use it in my Asian sloppy joes.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It uses a few ingredients: Some pantry seasonings take this sauce up a notch!
- Make-ahead recipe: Double this and set half aside before serving dinner and you’ll have a dinner stashed in the freezer!
- Ready in only 30 minutes: Just simmer on the stove while you gather up some side dishes and dinner is served. Almost as fast as our cheeseburger subs that you’ll want to make too!
Ingredients Needed
I’ve highlighted a couple of ingredients below with some relevant notes. Aside from this, the ingredients needed are pretty basic.
- Ground beef – Use a lean ground beef and there won’t be any grease to drain.
- Tomato sauce – Check the salt level here and adjust any added salt as needed.
- Ground mustard – Dry mustard is a great spice to keep on hand for dishes like this or adding to macaroni and cheese.
- Pepper and onion – Did you know you can freeze these? Dice the whole green pepper and onion and freeze the second half, labeled so you know to use it next time you make this recipe!
- Worcestershire sauce – Adds the perfect umami as well as a hit of salt to enhance flavor. Check ingredients if you need gluten-free.
- Brown sugar – Sloppy Joes often have a hint of sweet in them, which is why we add just a touch!
Substitutions
Sometimes substitutions are necessary because of ingredients that are unavailable or needed for dietary restrictions. Here are some suggestions that can help:
- Buns – serve on your favorite buns, whether wheat or gluten-free. You can also serve over pasta or potatoes like a chili sauce.
- Meat – you can use ground chicken or turkey, or a combination here instead.
- Pepper – green is the classic or typical here, but you can also reach for a red bell pepper too!
How to Make the Best Sloppy Joe Recipe
All we do here is season, simmer, and serve!
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
STEP 1. Sauté veggies. Give the onions and peppers a quick turn in the pan to soften (Image 1).
Tip: This recipe uses half an onion and half a pepper. You can freeze the other halves together in a bag ready for another time!
STEP 2. Add sauce. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine (Image 2). Simmer until desired thickness is reached (Image 3).
Recipe Pro Tips
- Thin it out. Meal not “sloppy” enough? Add up to ¼ cup water with the tomato sauce for a thinner sauce. Or – simmer longer for a nice thick sauce!
- Lean beef. I used an 85/15 mix and I didn’t need to drain much at all. You can use whatever you like, just be aware that you may need to drain grease before adding sauce.
Recipe FAQs
They have the same sauce! The only difference is a Jane has ground turkey instead. So if you feel like lightening up your meal, go ahead and reach for some poultry instead of ground beef.
It all depends on the fat content of your meat, and whether you are using turkey, chicken, or beef. The meat is browned first and then it’s time for draining if necessary. This way you aren’t removing any seasonings or sauce!
A savory and sweet tomato-based sauce, grab some plan tomato sauce and doctor it up with brown sugar and Worcestershire plus a few seasonings. Some people add a squirt of ketchup for that touch of sweetness!
Grab that bottle of barbecue sauce from the fridge! This is a sauce made with vinegar and sugar, which gives us the sweet vs savory we are looking for. You could try doctoring up your own sauce with bbq sauce and a bit of tomato paste, or even a bit of ketchup. And with all that sweet, you’ll want to dash in some umami such as Worcestershire or even soy sauce.
What to Serve with The Best Sloppy Joes
Some people love to top their sandwiches with a slice of cheese or some bread and butter pickle slices. You could also try a scoop of slaw for a great texture contrast!
Serve these sloppy joes with a side of blue cheese dip, this easy Elote dip or this old-fashioned macaroni and tomatoes recipe!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To freeze, let cool completely before transferring to a bag or freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight before reheating.
I prefer to reheat in a skillet for the best flavor. Add a splash of water or beef broth to loosen things up if needed. You can also microwave leftovers, but be sure and use a cover of some sort to combat splatter!
More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ medium yellow onion diced
- ½ medium green bell pepper diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 can tomato sauce 15 ounces
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium high heat and add the oil. Saute the onions and bell pepper until they begin to soften, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned (may not be cooked through yet), using a wooden spoon to break up any chunks. This should take about 5 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir well to combine.
- Bring the mixture up to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer until desired thickness is reached, about 10-15 minutes.
- Serve hot on your choice of buns.
Notes
- If you like a wetter sauce, add up to ¼ cup water with the tomato sauce.
- If after 15 minutes the sauce isn’t thick enough for your liking, you may simmer longer, over low heat to ensure it doesn’t burn.
- Sloppy joes are traditionally slightly sweet, but you may reduce the brown sugar as desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Toni says
This is such a great recipe!! It was a huge hit with my family! Thanks for this delicious recipe!
Kara says
So good! My roommate in college used to make sloppy joes that tasted just like this. Brought back some fond memories!
Shar says
These sloppy joes are packed with flavors! They’ve been on our on repeat recipes!