This classic sloppy joes recipe is easy to make with ground beef and a tangy, zesty tomato-based sauce that brings the perfect balance of flavor, the best! So much better than straight from a can.
How to Make the Best Sloppy Joes
It's comfort food time in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen, my friends! There are all sorts of comfort food classics out there, but when it comes to comfort food in sandwich form, it's hard to beat this particular recipe.
We're talking Sloppy Joes! Sloppy Joes are easy to make and hit all those spots that need comforting. And, when you make them like I do, you can spice them up as much as you'd like.
Sloppy Joes are an American classic, definitely a favorite. Better than the Cuban Sandwich? The Juicy Lucy Burger?
Never heard of a sloppy joe?
What is a Sloppy Joe?
The classic Sloppy Joe is an American sandwich made with ground beef cooked in a lightly seasoned tomato-based sauce with some sweet and tangy notes.
I ate them a lot growing up. You'll often find it made from a can, with Manwich being a popular brand.
The problem with the canned stuff is it is often overly sweet or laden with sodium. Yikes!
When you make it at home, you can not only spice it up as I've mentioned, but you can balance things out to your own preference. Want more brown sugar? Go for it! Less vinegar? Your choice.
Personally, I love adding in a few additional seasonings along with spicy chili peppers to get it to where I love it, but that's me!
I'm sure you'll love this as much as we do.
Let's talk about how to make Sloppy Joes!
Sloppy Joe Ingredients
- Oil. For cooking.
- Onion and Garlic.
- Peppers. Use bell pepper for a milder version, or use spicier peppers to heat things up. I love jalapeno or serrano peppers, or similar.
- Ground Beef.
- Brown Sugar.
- Mustard. I prefer spicy brown mustard, but Dijon is great, or use your favorite.
- Spices. Chili powder, salt and black pepper, and optional cayenne for a spicy version. You can use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, if preferred, and onion powder.
- Tomato Sauce. You can also use ketchup, or a mixture of ketchup and tomato sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar.
- Toasted Buns. For serving.
How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes - the Recipe Method
Cook the Peppers and Onions. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large skillet to medium high heat. Add onion and peppers and cook 5 minutes to soften.
You may need a bit more time if you're making a larger batch.
The Gorgeous Garlic. Add garlic and cook another minute, stirring.
Cook the Ground Beef. Add ground beef and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the beef is cooked through.
Drain excess fat if desired. If you're using 80-20 beef, you may have some excess fat. You can leave it in for flavor, no problem, but it will results in looser Sloppy Joes.
Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer. Add mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, chili powder, cayenne (if using), salt and pepper, and tomato sauce.
This is your Sloppy Joe sauce.
Stir and simmer at least 5 minutes to bring the flavors together. If your sauce is too thin, cook a bit longer to thicken. You can easily simmer longer to let the flavors develop even more.
Simmering Time. I like to simmer for 20 minutes usually, to let the the meat mixture thicken up and let the flavors meld.
Serving Time! Serve up your Sloppy Joes on your favorite buns! Sloppy Joe sandwiches are the best. Everyone loves them.
Recipe Tips & Notes
The Peppers and Heat Factor. For the peppers, I typically prefer a spicy pepper mix, from jalapenos up through serranos, maybe toss in a habanero here and there, or a ghost pepper for myself, but you can easily dial down the heat with your preferred heat levels.
Less Spicy Version. If you want a "no heat" version, go with green peppers (bell peppers). It will be just as tasty and savory.
The Meat. I'm using lean ground beef here, but if you're looking for a lower calorie version, try it out with ground turkey. I've made this with ground turkey and it tastes great. Ground chicken is very good, too.
Consider using a mix of ground beef and Mexican chorizo for a spicier version. So god!
Get Thick Buns
This recipe is a bit like a thick no-beans chili. Serve this up on thick buns. Hamburger buns are usually fine.
Make sure the buns ARE thick, because, you know, Sloppy Joes can be SLOPPY. No joke. But very tasty!
Toasting the buns also helps keep them from getting soggy.
Double the Recipe
You can very easily double this recipe by doubling all of the ingredients exactly. Simmer in a very large pot!
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
To make in a slow cooker or crockpot, cook down the beef, peppers, onion and garlic in a pan for 5 minutes to brown the meat, then transfer to a slow cooker.
Add the remaining ingredients and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 3-4 hours. Enjoy!
I hope you like it! It's such a great recipe!
Serving Ideas for Sloppy Joes
Here are some other ways you can enjoy your Sloppy Joe Sauce instead of your classic Sloppy Joe sandwich!
- Sloppy Joe Pasta.
- Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese.
- Sloppy Joe Tacos. Top them with chopped tomato, roasted or pickled jalapenos, and shredded cheese!
- Sloppy Joe Hot Dog. Use it to top your favorite beef dog.
- Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese. Use the best melty cheese and nicely buttered bread.
Storage
This recipe will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Simply reheat in a pot to enjoy it again.
You can also freeze the Sloppy Joe meat for 3 months or longer.
Try Some of My Other Popular Sandwich Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy my favorite sloppy joe recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe (The Best Sloppy Joes Ever!)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped (use jalapeno or serrano for a spicier version)
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons mustard (I use spicy brown - or use Dijon)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne powder (optional, for spicy)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup tomato sauce (or use ketchup)
- Buns for serving (toasted buns are best!)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot to medium heat. Add onion and peppers and cook 5 minutes to soften.
- Add garlic and cook another minute, stirring.
- Add ground beef. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the beef is cooked through. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Add mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, chili powder, cayenne (if using), salt and pepper, and tomato sauce. Stir and simmer at least 5 minutes to bring the flavors together. If your sauce is too thin, cook a bit longer to thicken. You can easily simmer longer to let the flavors develop even more.
- Serve on your favorite buns!
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 11/28/22 to include new information and photos. It was originally published on 12/27/16.
Cindi says
I happened upon your site when I was looking up a recipe for Jambalaya. Hooked from there. Went right to the Gumbo recipe, then the Shrimp Taco with Jalapeno sauce and slaw. Well, tonight I tried your recipe for Sloppy Joes. Will never go back to that popular "canned" Joe. What a great fresh taste, and yes, I added the Cayenne...we LOVE spicy in this house. FYI...had some leftover slaw and sauce from the tacos so I figured, what the heck, lets not waste ANYTHING and man were we pleased with the results! The coolness from the slaw with the spicy Joes and the Jalapeno sauce...what a winner!!! We have surely found a kindred spirit with Chili Madness!!! Started our large variety of hot pepper seeds already!!! Thanks for such deliciously spicy posts!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome, Cindi! Yes, glad you found me! I hope you find many recipes you enjoy. Best!
Nancy says
just tried this! Doubled recipe, couldn't have been easier. Perfect dinner for a chilly day.
love your site because of all the helpful hints and flexibility of recipes. Add what you like, make it mild, make it spicy. love all the make it yourself hot sauces etc. Thank you for sharing!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Nancy! Very happy you enjoyed it! =)
Margarita says
This was really delicious! I have been craving a good spicy sloppy joe for over a month and was so happy you posted this recipe. We had all the ingredients and made them for Sunday dinner. It truly hit the spot!! Thank you.
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Glad you enjoyed it! So good!!
Charles Pascual says
Saw this in your email a couple of weeks ago and thought, "Why not? We haven't made sloppy joes in years and one recipe is as good as another." So I saved it to our favorites. Glad I did - this makes a really good sloppy joe. Took your advice and let the sauce simmer down and thicken. That made it just right - "sloppy" but not "sloppy" - perfect.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Charles! I know, right? I haven't made it in so long, figured I'd redo this one. Super happy I did! Glad you enjoyed it. The world needs more sloppy joes. =)
Darryl Noack says
Hi Mike, I’ve just started getting Jalapeños on my bush. Do I pick them green or wait until they turn red.
Mike Hultquist says
Darryl, you can pick them now if you'd like, as most jalapenos are consumed green, but they are great as well when red, a touch sweeter.
Darryl Noack says
Thanks for all the great recipes mate. I’m in Australia
And have been working my way through your recipes
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Darryl! I hope you find many you enjoy!
Hariet says
This is my daughter's favorite. She requests it all the time. I think you've created a new chilihead. Well done!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Hariet! I'm glad she enjoys the sloppy joes! Great stuff.
Dianne Thomas says
Great recipe! Just wish it included a recipe for the chorizo so if don't have it on hand I can make some.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Dianne. I actually have it on my list to make a homemade chorizo recipe. However, it's very readily available at many, many grocery stores. I appreciate it.