The Best Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

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This homemade Sloppy Joe recipe is the one I grew up eating around my grandparents’ dinner table, and it’s still one of my favorite easy family dinners. Ground beef, onion and green pepper simmer in a simple sweet and tangy sauce made with ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and a little hot sauce. It’s saucy, messy in the best way and ready in about 30 minutes.

My grandma always served hers on a soft bun with bread and butter pickles, so naturally, that’s exactly how I still like mine. Some recipes just stick with you, and this is definitely one of them.

Why You’ll Love This Sloppy Joe Recipe

This is a true old-fashioned Sloppy Joe recipe made from scratch with simple ingredients you probably already have. No canned Sloppy Joe sauce or seasoning packet needed.

It’s also one of those dinners that just works. It takes about 30 minutes, uses one skillet and makes enough for 4–6 people. I lean on simple ground beef dinners like this one and my Ground Beef Pasta with Peas on busy weeknights because they’re quick, filling and made with ingredients I usually have around. The Sloppy Joe sauce is a little sweet, a little tangy and thick enough to pile onto a bun without completely running off the sides. Although, let’s be honest, a little mess is part of the Sloppy Joe experience.

And this isn’t just a favorite in my house. One reader told me these have become such a family favorite that she makes them once or twice a week, while another said her teenagers loved them so much they took the leftovers to school the next day. I love hearing that because this is exactly the kind of recipe I want to share—simple food that families actually want to eat.

My Grandma’s Homemade Sloppy Joes

This recipe is near and dear to my heart. I have so many memories of eating warm rolls piled with Sloppy Joes around my grandparents’ dinner table. If you know anything about me, the dinner table meant a lot to me growing up…still does!

My grandma made hers with ground beef, onion, green pepper and garlic, then added ketchup, yellow mustard, brown sugar and a few dashes of hot sauce. Nothing fancy. Just a really good homemade Sloppy Joe.

I still make them the same way because, well, Grandma knew what she was doing.

What You’ll Need

The Sloppy Joe filling starts with ground beef, onion, green bell pepper and garlic. For the sauce, you’ll need ketchup, yellow mustard, brown sugar, Tabasco sauce and water, plus salt and pepper to taste.

The ketchup creates the tomato base, mustard gives the sauce some tang and just a tablespoon of brown sugar balances everything without making the Sloppy Joes overly sweet. The water may seem like a lot at first, but don’t worry. As the mixture simmers, the liquid reduces and turns into a thick, saucy filling.

And don’t forget a good bun. I like a soft hamburger bun or roll that can soak up some of the sauce without falling apart. Add bread and butter pickles and I’m happy.

Instructions:

How Do You Thicken Sloppy Joes?

Time is really the secret here.

When you first add the water and sauce ingredients, the mixture will look fairly loose. Let it simmer uncovered over low heat so the excess liquid can cook off. After about 20 minutes, the sauce should be noticeably thicker and cling to the ground beef.

If your Sloppy Joe mixture still looks too runny, just let it simmer for another 5–10 minutes. There’s no need to add flour or cornstarch.

On the other hand, if you let it simmer a little too long and it becomes thicker than you like, stir in a splash of water.

Easy Ways to Make Them Your Own

I usually stick pretty close to Grandma’s recipe, but Sloppy Joes are easy to adjust for your family.

You can swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken, add finely diced celery or carrots with the onion and pepper, or add a few extra dashes of hot sauce if your family likes more heat.

For toppings, try shredded cheddar cheese, extra pickles or even a little coleslaw for crunch.

You can also skip the bun altogether and use the filling to make Sloppy Joe nachos, spoon it over a baked potato or serve it over noodles.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

Keep this dinner easy. We usually serve Sloppy Joes with potato chips and bread and butter pickles, which is probably part nostalgia and part because it’s delicious.

French fries, tater tots, potato salad, a simple green salad, coleslaw, corn or cut-up vegetables also work well.

Can You Make Sloppy Joes Ahead of Time?

Absolutely. In fact, the filling is one of those things that tastes just as good—if not better—the next day after all those flavors have had time to hang out together.

Store leftover Sloppy Joe filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

The cooked filling can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.

A Family Dinner Worth Keeping Around

Sloppy Joes will always remind me of sitting around my grandparents’ dinner table. That’s probably why I still love making them for my own family now.

They’re simple, comforting and a little messy—and sometimes that’s exactly what dinner should be.

If you make my Grandma’s Sloppy Joe recipe, I’d love to hear what you think. Leave a comment and rating below!

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Yield: 4-6

The Best Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

4.5 Stars (42 Reviews)

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These easy homemade Sloppy Joes are made from scratch with ground beef simmered in a sweet and tangy sauce with onion, green pepper, ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. My Grandma’s tried-and-true recipe is ready in just 30 minutes for an easy family dinner.

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 white onion, diced
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 garlic cloves)
• 2 cups ketchup
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 5 dashes tobasco sauce
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil for skillet
• Buns
• Bread and butter pickles

Instructions

1. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven and place over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion and 1 diced green pepper and sauté for about 4 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic and cook for another minute.
2. Add 2 pounds ground beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease if needed.
3. Stir in 2 cups ketchup, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 5 dashes Tabasco sauce, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and 1 cup water.
4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for at least 20 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced and thickened. Taste and add salt and additional pepper as needed.
5. Spoon the Sloppy Joe filling onto soft hamburger buns and serve with bread and butter pickles.

Notes

If the filling seems too thin: Continue simmering it uncovered for another 5–10 minutes. The sauce will thicken as the liquid reduces.

Storage: Store leftover Sloppy Joe filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Freezing: Let the filling cool completely and freeze in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Substitutions: Ground turkey or ground chicken can be used in place of ground beef.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 607Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 1418mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 4gSugar: 27gProtein: 44g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated. Use as an approximation only.

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