The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe brings back the classic, kid-loved flavors of homemade, messy, meaty goodness piled high on a toasted bun—grab some ground beef and get ready to wow at the dinner table in under 30 minutes!

Need some lightning-fast and super-easy ground beef dinner ideas like Iowa’s original Loose Meat Sandwich, Cheesy Meatloaf, Turkey Meatballs, or pasta with Homemade Meat Sauce?

This is one of my all-time favorite ground beef recipes because my mom used to make a huge batch of her homemade Sloppy Joes, freeze it, and bring it along for our annual trip to northern Wisconsin.

When we got to the cabin, dinner was already made for the kids, cousins, aunts, uncles, and parents, and the kids practically licked their plates clean—which, when you think about it, is helpful since there’s less to wash off the dishes!

The Best Sloppy Joes are perfect for making in big batches, freezing for last-minute dinners, and easily adjusting the ingredients by sliding the “servings” number on the recipe card below—no math required!

A little Sloppy Joes wiki:

Like many famous recipes, the Sloppy Joe sandwich has plenty of people claiming to have invented it, including a bar in Key West.

It’s much more likely that the original Sloppy Joe came from a type of sandwich popular during the early 20th century and the Great Depression, made of cooked loose meat and onions served on a bun.

For almost a hundred years, it’s easy to see why people have loved Sloppy Joes—they’re a thrifty, filling, and delicious meal.

The addition of tomato sauce to ground beef may have been inspired by picadillo, a Cuban dish of sweet and spicy ground meat sauce served over rice.

Sloppy Joes ingredients:

Here’s how to skip the Manwich and make the best Sloppy Joes yourself.

• Ground beef. Or ground turkey, for a healthy Sloppy Joe.
• Onion. My mom always adds finely chopped celery, too.
• Tomato sauce. Canned tomato sauce is perfect.
• Ketchup. Buy organic if you like.
• Brown sugar. Because it tastes so good!
• Ground mustard. (An equal amount of Dijon mustard works if you don’t have it.)
• White vinegar.
• Worcestershire sauce. This fermented British condiment, packed with umami flavors, is your sloppy Joe secret weapon—just a little bit of Lea & Perrins, if you can find it, adds extra body to the sauce, making it rich and savory.
• Salt and cracked black pepper.
• Buns. Split and toasted, if you please.

How to make old school Sloppy Joe in a Slow Cooker:

See videos tutorials:

If you want dinner ready the moment you walk in the door, grab your crock pot.

1. Brown your meat in advance, then toss the rest of the ingredients into the cooker.
2. Cook on LOW for approximately 6-7 hours, or HIGH for around 3-4 hours.
   

How to make vegetarian Sloppy Joes:

The impossible is possible—vegetarians can get messy too! Try this recipe with your favorite plant-based protein, like…

• Crumbled firm tofu
• Veggie patty
• Sautéed mushrooms
• Seitan or tempeh
• Cooked lentils

Sloppy Joe sides:

What to serve with Sloppy Joes? This all-star sandwich is almost a meal on its own but could use something extra to round out the menu.

1. Rip open a bag of your favorite potato chips and crack open a jar of pickles—done, though Easy Cold Pasta Salad or The Best Macaroni Salad could be a nice touch too.
2. Wait a minute—there’s also Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese, and whatever you do, don’t forget dessert; No Bake Peanut Butter Bars are sensational and ready in minutes.

Brilliant Sloppy Joe ideas:

• Homemade Sloppy Joes get a smoky twist when you swap out the ketchup for your favorite barbecue sauce.
• Mix up the meat—ground chicken, turkey, lamb, or even venison (if you’ve got a connection) can all get sloppy, too.
• Sloppy Joes with diced bell peppers, extra onion, and even garlic add a unique twist to this simple recipe.
• A can of tomato soup can be added to the ground meat if that’s what you have, with a little extra ketchup for an added burst of tomato flavor.
• Skip the ketchup and swap in barbecue sauce or tomato paste for a tasty alternative to your Sloppy Joe.
• Healthy Sloppy Joes are a great way to sneak in extra veggies like shredded zucchini, carrots, or finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes—your kids will never know!
• Spicy. If you love some heat, spice things up with a tablespoon of ancho chili powder, a teaspoon of ground cumin, or a half teaspoon of chipotle powder to take your Joe to the next level.
• A splash of wine, just like in a bolognese sauce, adds a rich depth of flavor and balances the natural sweetness of a Sloppy Joe—and don’t worry, the alcohol will cook off over time.
• For a no-sugar Sloppy Joe recipe, skip the sugar and use no-sugar-added ketchup, or, if you prefer a touch of sweetness, try monk fruit sugar or a small drizzle of honey.
• Sandwich toppings. Because I’m from Wisconsin, a Sloppy Joe wouldn’t be complete without a thick slice— or wonk—of Wisconsin cheese melted right on top of the meat.

When it comes to other Sloppy Joe toppings, the sky’s the limit—chopped scallions, pickles, green olives, a dollop of sour cream, or even a handful of crushed potato chips—it’s your sandwich, after all!

Best bread for Sloppy Joes:

I love soft, toasted buns for Sloppy Joes, especially when they’re buttered, though some readers prefer pretzel buns or pillowy soft brioche rolls.

But if you forgot to buy buns at the store, don’t let that stop you—serve it on pasta or rice, or even try my crazy One Pot Sloppy Joe Casserole.

Don’t forget the toppings—a Sloppy Joe wouldn’t be complete, at least in my Wisconsin family, without a thick slab of Wisconsin cheese (called a “wonk” in our house) melting right on top of the meat.

How to freeze Sloppy Joes for meal prep and last minute dinners:

1. Leftover Sloppy Joes can be turned into a casserole with a tater tot crust or frozen beautifully for later.
2. Once cooled, freeze the ground meat mixture in smaller portions to thaw whenever you’re craving the best dinner ever.
3. Or freeze a giant batch to serve up at your cabin as soon as you arrive!

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