If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner, you can't go wrong with this old-fashioned family favorite.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- It's easy comfort food like you grew up on without the can!
- This classic recipe is quick to make on a busy weeknight and so much better than canned sauce.
- Make up a big batch and freeze it in meal-sized portions. You'll have a quick, easy dinner whenever you need it!
Even the picky eaters in your house will love these family-favorite sloppy joe sandwiches.
🧾 Old-fashioned sloppy joes ingredients
This is an overview of the sloppy joe ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Regular ketchup can be used in place of spicy ketchup if your family is not a fan of a little heat.
- Ground turkey is a great ground meat alternative if you want a lower fat meal.
- White vinegar can be used instead of apple cider vinegar if want to avoid a trip to the grocery store.
- Add some extra spice to this meal by adding crushed pepper flakes or chili powder to the sauce mixture.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Saute ground beef, onions, and peppers in a large skillet until the onions and peppers are soft.
- Stir the remaining ingredients into the beef mixture.
- Simmer for at least 10 minutes or until thickened.
- Make into sandwiches.
🥫 How to store leftovers
Let the mixture come to room temperature. Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to four days.
You can also freeze the sloppy joe mixture for up to 3 months.
Expert Tip:
If you are out of ketchup, use bbq sauce and reduce the amount of brown sugar by half. Or use tomato paste.
💭Things to know
- Easily add more veggies to this dish by stirring in some grated carrots or sliced mushrooms when sauteing the vegetables.
- Canned sweet corn is a great alternative for added sweetness and flavor if you don't have any bell peppers on hand.
- Be sure to cook the onions until they are starting to turn translucent to prevent biting into a bitter onion.
- If you find that your sauce thickens to much, you can add in some water to reach the desired consistency.
- I like to serve my sloppy joes with a toasted bun for extra crunch.
👩🍳 FAQs
These sandwiches taste like a sweet and savory tomato-based sauce, with a spicy kick.
The name comes from a 1930 cook in Sioux City named Joe who added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches.
Yes, the sloppy joe filling can be stored in an airtight container or freezer bag without the buns for up to three months.
📚 Related recipes
- Save yourself and trip to the grocery store and make your own hamburger buns at home.
- Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are zesty and easy to make for a weeknight dinner that cooks right in your crock pot.
- Try this sloppy joe tater tot casserole!
🍽️ Serve with...
This Classic Pea Salad is full of fresh flavors that are filled with bacon and smoky flavor and makes for a great side salad.
Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad is creamy, flavorful, and great when made ahead to keep dinner time simple.
Fried Potatoes are a Southern staple side dish that is my favorite side to serve with this easy recipe.
You'll find more great ideas for sides in What to Serve with Hamburgers.
📞 The last word
I have to admit to a weakness for homemade sloppy joes! They are so quick and easy and so delicious! In fact, I cannot resist a sloppy joe with a root beer float on the side.
YUM!
Love this recipe? Give this easy, 30 minute casserole a try!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Sloppy Joes
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
- salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup spicy ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, be sure to pack it into the measuring spoon
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Season the ground beef lightly with salt and pepper and brown in a large skillet - be sure to break it up as it cooks.
- Stir in the onions and peppers. Check the seasoning and make sure it has enough salt.
- Continue cooking the mixture until the onions and peppers are soft. Stir often so it doesn't stick.
- Stir remaining ingredients into the skillet.
- Bring to a simmer, the reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or so, stirring often. If the mixture seems too dry during simmering add up to ¾ cup of water or V-8 juice.
- When the sloppy joe mix has thickened, remove the skillet from heat
Notes
- If you are out of ketchup, use bbq sauce and reduce the amount of brown sugar by half or use tomato paste.
- If you find that your sauce thickens to much, you can add in some water to reach the desired consistency.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published February 9, 2022. Last updated February 14, 2024 for editorial improvements.
Pam says
Made it for dinner for my husband and I. Just being the two of us, I expected left overs. He said he was saving enough for lunch tomorrow. 😂😂
Marye says
That's so good to hear! I grew up on this stuff!
E.L. says
I'll be 80 this & my mother made this in the 1950's filling on toasted buns, topped with cheddar & put under the broiler for just a bit to melt & maybe brown slightly for any of us that asked. Soooooooo good!!!