the BEST Homemade Sloppy joes recipe (2024)

27 Comments / By Janel Hutton / February 28, 2019

This recipe makes the best sloppy joes you’ll find! Don’t get yoursloppy joe sauce from in acan (like Manwich), use this easy and simple to make homemade sloppy joes! Perfect amount of spice, sweet, and delicious sloppy joe flavor!

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Sloppy Joes are a family favorite in many homes across the nation, mine included. Most families reach for a canned sauce to create their sloppy joe sandwiches. But gosh darn…give this recipe a try!! You’ll find that making the sauce from scratch is really easy and the best way to customize it to your family’s preferences. Skip the canned stuff!

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This sloppy joe recipe hails from the original from the 1950’s. Simple ingredients like ketchup and Worcestershire sauce mixed with ground beef shouldn’t be changed. Many older recipes call for dry mustard to be added…feel free to add some and see if you approve of the change!

Are you looking for great ground beef recipes? Try my One-Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff or Ground Beef Wellingtons…so good!

Sloppy Joe Sauce Ingredients:

This sauce is completely gluten-free (be sure to use gluten-free hamburger buns!), dairy-free AND you can certainly make any additional dietary changes you needed.

  • Lean Ground beef, turkey, or chicken.
    I use any of the above, depending on what is on sale or what I’m feeling like. For the ground turkey or chicken, add a bit of oil into the pan when sauteing it to compensate for the lack of fat.
  • Ketchup.
    Some recipes call for tomato paste and you could totally go that route if you wanted to. I find that ketchup comes with a good amount of salt and is an easy way to add additional flavor. And, let’s face it, I always have ketchup on hand.
  • Onions and Green peppers.
    But there are no green peppers in mine, at all. My family does not like green peppers and I leave them out. However, most recipes will have finely diced green peppers. If you are about green bell peppers, add them in. Onions are another must. Keep the onions diced up fairly small so they don’t overpower the meat. If you don’t have fresh onion go ahead and use onion powder.
  • Sugar.
    Brown or white, but you’ll need a little brown sugar to give perfect balance to the sauce. It also helps if, like mine, your recipe has a bit of kick to it. That little bit of sweet is a nice contrast.
  • Siracha.
    Just a bit makes all of the difference in the world. Or a lot, if your family likes heat.
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What is sloppy joe sauce?

Legend has it that a cafe owner named Joe from Iowa added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwich (oi, that’s a whole additional topic!) and the name was born…Sloppy Joe.

What is the difference between Not So Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Joes?

Nothing. Not So Sloppy Joes is simply a brand name in the same way Manwich is. Neither tastes as good as this homemade version!

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How do I make sloppy joe sauce?

  • In a large skillet, on medium high heat, saute meat and chopped onion until meat is in small bits and onion is transparent about 6 minutes. Note: if you are using it, add green bell pepper with the onion.
  • Add garlic to the meat mixture and continue to saute until garlic is fragrant, a minute or two.
  • Pour in the first half of the water, scrape the browned bits from the pan, and add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce,brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 3 min on med-high heat.
  • Add the additional water, turn heat down to medium heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until thickened. Stir often.
  • Stir in the sriracha and vinegar. Let stand a couple of minutes. Serve on a toasted bun, side salad and potato chips for a yummy meal!

How do I thicken up Sloppy Joe Sauce?

If you find that your sauce turned out thinner than you would like mix a bit of cornstarch into water to create a paste. Stir it into your hot sauce (about 1 tablespoon at a time), wait for it to cook for a minute or so, add additional, as needed. Be aware that you NEED to let that cornstarch mixture cook for a bit so don’t keep adding more without giving it a bit of time in between additions.

Can you freeze the Sloppy Joe mixture?

Absolutely! The key is to let it cool down before placing it in a ziplock bag and freezing it. It’s best to lay the freezer bag flat in the freezer and freeze so that you won’t have large clumps of frozen meat. This makes thawing easier and safer. Simply thaw in the fridge, reheat, and serve!

Can I make this without Worcestershire sauce?

Sure, although I think it isn’t as great! You can also make your own version of Worcestershire sauce with 2 teaspoons soysauce, 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon sugar and a dash of hotsaucefor every tablespoonWorcestershirethe recipe calls for.

What can I use instead of ketchup in this recipe?

Try using tomato paste or tomato sauce. Be ready to use the cornstarch method mentioned above to thicken it, if needed. Also you may find that you need to add a bit more salt.

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What can I use this Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce Recipe for?

Oh girl, the possibilities are endless and certainly not for just a sad hamburger bun!

  • stuffed peppers
  • tater tot casserole
  • baked potatoes
  • burritos
  • nachos
  • mac & cheese
  • on pasta
  • stuffed in bread and smothered in cheese

Try my Sloppy Joe Tater Tot hotdish…a fantastic and easy recipe that uses homemade sloppy joe sauce (make a double batch next time to have extras for this!) and kids love it!! Cheese, sloppy joe sauce, tater tots, and mixed veggies…a mixture that always wins!

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Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce is magical stuff and helps you make yummy comfort foods your family loves and YOU love because it’s so. dang. easy.

Tip: toast your bun and put a bit of butter on it. This will help keep your bun from getting soggy with the sauce!

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Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce

| 4

Prep Time | 5 minutes mins

Cook Time | 25 minutes mins

Total Time | 30 minutes mins

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Make sloppy joe sauce from scratch with this yummy, easy, and flavorful recipe. Never reachfor the can again!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup water divided in 1/2
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 2 dashes worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha

Check out our Kitchen Reference Guide for help with unfamiliar terms.

Instructions

  • In skillet, on med-high heat, saute meat and onions until meat is in small bits and onion is transparent about 6 minutes.

  • Add garlic and continue to saute until garlic is fragrant, a minute or two.

  • Pour in the first half of the water, scrape the pan, and add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce,brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 3 min on med-high heat.

  • Add the additional water, turn heat down to medium and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until thickened. Stir often.

  • Stir in the sriracha and vinegar. Let stand a couple of minutes. Serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 13gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 307mgSugar: 8gVitamin A: 135IUVitamin C: 2.9mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1.6mg

the BEST Homemade Sloppy joes recipe (7)

Recipe Tester Lisa says…

Nice, simple recipe. I wasn’t sure my family would like it as they are not big on sloppy joes. Everyone liked it! (Ages 17, 15, and 10). I served it on hamburger buns and I prefer to add shredded cheese to the top. Timing estimates were perfect.

Learn more about our recipe testing…

Other easy family meals to try:

the BEST Homemade Sloppy joes recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make a sloppy joe better? ›

Try serving your sloppy joes with their own toppings such as slaw, melty cheese, grilled pineapple, or Hatch green chile. Even just adding a pickle gives extra flavor and crunch, transforming it from a bland sandwich into something great, like the recipe below!

What are the main ingredients in sloppy joe? ›

A Sloppy Joe is a sandwich consisting of ground beef and onions in a tomato-based sauce served on a hamburger bun. The sandwich likely originated in Sioux City, Iowa in the 1930s. According to legend, the "loose meat sandwich" was the creation of a cook named Joe.

How do you thicken homemade sloppy joes? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

What's the difference between Manwich and sloppy joe mix? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

Should I drain hamburger meat for Sloppy Joes? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

How many people will 1 lb of sloppy joes feed? ›

In general, we call for 1 pound of ground beef to make 6 sandwiches in our sloppy joes recipes. That works out to 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich. Depending on the size of your bun and how meaty you like your sandwich, you can increase or decrease that amount an ounce or two either way.

How to keep sloppy joes from getting soggy? ›

Sloppy Joe Tips and Tricks

As we said below, a key step here is placing the buns inside-up on a baking sheet and placing them under a broiler until they're golden brown. This will toast the inside of the bun, preventing the buns from getting soggy and gross.

Do you drain grease when making sloppy joes? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain.

What can I use instead of tomato paste in sloppy joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Who makes the best sloppy Joe sauce? ›

By far the best!!

I have been using the Del Monte Sloppy Joe Sauce for years and have always received nothing but compliments.

What was the original Sloppy Joe made with? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.

What is the New Jersey version of Sloppy Joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

How to jazz up sloppy joes? ›

Serve easy-to-make Manwich Sloppy Joes on sweet dinner rolls for a fun bite-sized treat the whole family can enjoy. Give your Sloppy Joe a unique spin by replacing hamburger buns with taco shells and adding a little cumin, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, and juicy tomatoes.

How to level up sloppy joe? ›

Here are some phenomenal ways to make next-level sloppy joes at home.
  1. Add some brown sugar or apple to lend sweetness to your sloppy joe. ...
  2. Spice your sloppy joe up with chile flakes or canned chiles. ...
  3. Sneak extra veggies into your sloppy joes. ...
  4. Throw in some liquid smoke. ...
  5. Deglaze your sloppy joes with beer. ...
  6. Add salsa to the mix.
Feb 28, 2024

What goes well on sloppy joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

What is the difference between bold and regular sloppy joe? ›

The majority used ground beef in the sauce - a concoction of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and spices - and made it into sandwiches. Food scientist Bill Skinner occasionally buys Hunt's Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce and described the bold version as being a little sweeter with more tomato flavor.

References

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