This bold Sloppy Joe recipe delivers big flavor with a spicy twist, easy to make with ground beef drenched in tangy, zesty Sloppy Joe sauce. This is the best sandwich around. So much better than straight from a can.
The Best Sloppy Joe Sandwich
We're making classic Sloppy Joes, my friends! 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? This recipe will bring back pleasant childhood memories.
Featured Reader Comment
"Oh so much better than the can. I was never a Sloppy Joe person because of the taste of the canned stuff. However my husband loves SJ’s and frequently requests them. I compromised and found this recipe since you have never let me down with other recipes on your site. I am officially a SJ lover now. Thanks Mike for this winner." -- Cindy
What is a Sloppy Joe?
The classic Sloppy Joe is an American sandwich made with ground beef cooked in a seasoned tomato-based sauce with 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, but you can balance things out to your own preference. I, of course, like to make a spicy version.
I'm sure you'll love this as much as we do.
Let's talk about how to make Sloppy Joes (without needing to doctor up a can).
Sloppy Joe Ingredients
- Oil.
- 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 green peppers.
- Ground Beef.
- Brown Sugar.
- Mustard. I prefer spicy brown mustard, but Dijon is great, or use your favorite yellow mustard.
- Spices. Chili powder, salt and black pepper, and optional cayenne (or red pepper flakes) 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 Sloppy Joes - the Recipe Method
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large skillet to medium high heat and cook down the onion and peppers.
Add the garlic and cook another minute, then add the ground beef. Cook 5 minutes, until the beef is cooked through.
Drain excess fat if needed. If you're using 80-20 beef, you may have some excess fat. You can leave it in for flavor, but it will results in looser Sloppy Joe meat.
Add mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, chili powder, cayenne (if using), salt and pepper, and tomato sauce. And hot sauce!
This is your Sloppy Joe sauce.
Stir and simmer at least 5 minutes to bring the flavors together. You can simmer longer for thicker, more flavorful Sloppy Joe sauce.
I like to simmer for 20 minutes to let the the meat mixture thicken up and let the flavors meld.
Serving Time! Serve up your Sloppy Joe mixture on your favorite buns! Sloppy Joe sandwiches are the best. Everyone loves them.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- The Peppers and Heat Factor. I prefer a spicy pepper mix, from jalapenos up through serranos, maybe toss in a habanero, but you can use green bell pepper for a milder version.
- The Meat. I'm using lean ground beef, but use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lower calorie version. Consider using a mix of ground beef and Mexican chorizo for a spicier version.
- 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. Sloppy Joes can be SLOPPY. Toasting the buns also helps keep them from getting soggy.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes (Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe)
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!
Serving Ideas for Sloppy Joe Sauce
Here are some other ways you can enjoy your Sloppy Joe Sauce:
- 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 & Leftovers
Leftover Sloppy Joe sauce 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 it for 3 months or longer in freezer containers.
Try Some of My Other Popular Sandwich Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy my homemade 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 Joe Recipe
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)
- hot sauce to taste
- Buns for serving (toasted buns are best!)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot or pan 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, tomato sauce, and hot sauce to taste. 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!
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 4/8/25 to include new information and photos. It was originally published on 12/27/16.
Robert O'Brien says
Pulled some ground beef out of the freezer the other day, on my way to the grocery store, trying to figure out what recipe to use. I was thinking sloppy Joes ( I've used this recipe before) or enchilada casserole. A moment of brilliance washed over me, I decided to make the casserole with this instead of the taco seasoning base. It was crazy good. I paired Serrano for heat and red bell for sweet, added A can of pinto beans. Using corn tortillas instead of buns cut down the carbs as well.
Mike H. says
Robert, I love your creative approach. Well done! I bet it tasted like nothing else! =)
Cindy says
Oh so much better than the can. I was never a Sloppy Joe person because of the taste of the canned stuff. However my husband loves SJ’s and frequently requests them. I compromised and found this recipe since you have never let me down with other recipes on your site. I am officially a SJ lover now. Thanks Mike for this winner.
Mike Hultquist says
This is great to hear! Same for me, never LOVED the canned stuff, figured it has to be better homemade, right? Yes! Especially with the few extra spices. Glad you both enjoyed it, Cindy.
Rock steady says
Tried this today as is written,used 2 jalapeños just cause they were a bit small.was satisfied with this recipe,good flavor and just a bit of heat from peppers.probably try again with a bit of ghost pepper.hit the spot kind of meal.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Rock! Yes, a touch more heat for myself as well! Glad you enjoyed the flavors. =)
Gloria C. says
Mike - I followed your recipe to the letter and holy cow was this incredibly delicious. My hubby informed me that I'm making these every other week and I said "ok" 🙂 Thanks for the recipe. BTW I made it with a green bell pepper, but next time I'm doing it with Jalapenos.
Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding!! Very happy you both enjoyed it, Gloria!
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.