Sloppy Joe Recipe

4.95 from 19 votes

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, the best ever!

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: recipe, sandwich, spicy

Servings:

Calories: 420kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

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

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

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!

Nutrition