• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop

Chili Pepper Madness logo

  • Recipe Index
  • RECIPES BY TYPE
    • BBQ/Grilled
    • Burgers
    • Chicken Wings
    • Chili
    • Curry
    • Dehydrator
    • Game Day
    • Hot Sauces
    • Jalapeno Poppers
    • Marinades
    • Pickling
    • Preserving
    • Quick and Easy
    • Salsas
    • Sauces
    • Seasonings
    • Stuffed Peppers
    • Tacos
  • COOKING TIPS
  • Pepper Info
    • Chili Pepper Types
    • The Scoville Scale
    • Hottest Peppers in the World
    • Growing Chili Peppers
    • Preserving
    • Health Benefits
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Buy Plants & Seeds
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • All Recipes
  • Pepper Info
  • Chili Pepper Types
  • The Scoville Scale
  • Growing Chili Peppers
  • Preserving
  • Chili Pepper Health Benefits
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Cooking Tips
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • About Us
×

Home » Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

by Mike Hultquist · Nov 28, 2022 · 16 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Sloppy Joes Recipe

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.

Sloppy Joes Recipe

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!

A Sloppy Joes sandwich on a platter with pickles

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.
A Sloppy Joes sandwich on a platter

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.

A pan of peppers and onions simmering to make Sloppy Joes

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.

Cooking down ground beef to make 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.

A pan of Sloppy Joes simmering

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.

Mike scooping up Sloppy Joes from the pan with a spoon

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!

Sloppy Joes in a pan, ready to serve

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

  • Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
  • Muffaletta Sandwich
  • Shrimp Po' Boys
  • Mexican Torta
  • Pepper and Egg Sandwich
  • Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich
  • Prime Rib Sandwich with Roasted Poblanos and Garlic Mayo
  • Mexi Cheesesteak Sandwiches
  • See all of my Sandwich Recipes
A Sloppy Joes sandwich ready to serve

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.

Sloppy Joes Recipe
Print

Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe (The Best Sloppy Joes Ever!)

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!
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: recipe, sandwich, spicy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 420kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 4
Tap or hover to scale
4.86 from 7 votes
Leave a Review

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

Sub in ground turkey instead of ground beef for a lighter version - add Mexican chorizo for a spicy version.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 420kcal   Carbohydrates: 15g   Protein: 22g   Fat: 31g   Saturated Fat: 10g   Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g   Monounsaturated Fat: 15g   Trans Fat: 1g   Cholesterol: 81mg   Sodium: 597mg   Potassium: 753mg   Fiber: 3g   Sugar: 9g   Vitamin A: 2323IU   Vitamin C: 47mg   Calcium: 67mg   Iron: 4mg
Sloppy Joes Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

NOTE: This recipe was updated on 11/28/22 to include new information and photos. It was originally published on 12/27/16.

Categories: Beef Tags: Chili Pepper Madness, chili pepper recipe, game day and superbowl parties, jalapeno pepper, mikes favorites

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Cindi says

    January 24, 2023 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    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!!!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      January 24, 2023 at 2:18 pm

      Awesome, Cindi! Yes, glad you found me! I hope you find many recipes you enjoy. Best!

      Reply
  2. Nancy says

    December 07, 2022 at 11:45 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 07, 2022 at 11:58 am

      Thanks so much, Nancy! Very happy you enjoyed it! =)

      Reply
  3. Margarita says

    December 05, 2022 at 9:58 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 05, 2022 at 12:09 pm

      Boom! Glad you enjoyed it! So good!!

      Reply
  4. Charles Pascual says

    December 05, 2022 at 8:19 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 05, 2022 at 8:54 am

      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. =)

      Reply
  5. Darryl Noack says

    November 28, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    Hi Mike, I’ve just started getting Jalapeños on my bush. Do I pick them green or wait until they turn red.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      November 29, 2022 at 8:11 am

      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.

      Reply
  6. Darryl Noack says

    November 28, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for all the great recipes mate. I’m in Australia
    And have been working my way through your recipes

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      November 28, 2022 at 12:53 pm

      Thanks, Darryl! I hope you find many you enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Hariet says

    July 28, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    5 stars
    This is my daughter's favorite. She requests it all the time. I think you've created a new chilihead. Well done!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 28, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      Thanks, Hariet! I'm glad she enjoys the sloppy joes! Great stuff.

      Reply
  8. Dianne Thomas says

    July 28, 2020 at 10:39 am

    4 stars
    Great recipe! Just wish it included a recipe for the chorizo so if don't have it on hand I can make some.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      July 28, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      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.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

ALL. SPICY. RECIPES. Hi, I’m Mike and I LOVE Spicy Food! Say goodbye to bland and boring food with my easy-to-follow recipes. Let’s get cooking!

More about me →

Mexican
Cajun
Sauces
Seasonings

5 ESSENTIALS FOR SPICY COOKING

Subscribe and receive my FREE email series with tips for spicy cooking and new Recipes

Order The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND / BOOKS A MILLION

Order The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook by Mike Hultquist

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / INDIEBOUND

Most Popular Recipes

  • Bang Bang Chicken
  • Jamaican Curry Chicken
  • Mexican Birria Recipe
  • Homemade Blackening Seasoning
  • Michelada Recipe - Spicy Mexican Beer and Tomato Juice Cocktail
  • Pollo Guisado Recipe (Chicken Stew)

Footer

NEVER MISS A RECIPE

Receive my "5 Essentials for Spicy Cooking" email series & new recipes

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

↑ back to top

About | Contact | Travel-Food | Stories | Privacy | Disclaimer | © 2022 Chili Pepper Madness

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF MEDIAVINE FOOD