This Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe is a great weeknight dinner for a family of two or ten!
This hot, meaty sandwich recipe has all natural ingredients, as opposed to canned Sloppy Joe sauce...no additives, preservatives or high-fructose-corn-syrup.
Before you open a can of "Manwich™" Sloppy Joe sauce, try this Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe! It's a life-saver and you can feel good about serving your family a "healthy" Sloppy Joe!
You'll love this recipe!
I like to serve this with a side of Maple Baked Beans and tater tots! Not the healthiest combination, but it works, especially on a weeknight!
- Quick and easy - ready in 35-minutes!
- Simple ingredients - you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry
- No additives, preservatives and no high-fructose-corn-syrup
- Affordable - A little ground beef goes a long way when you make this messy sandwich!
This recipe is my Grandmother Lucille's...an old-fashioned recipe I found in a Piggly Wiggly bread bag.
It is believed the original Sloppy Joe recipe was invented in the 30's by a cook named...(you got it!) Joe, who worked in a cafe in Sioux City Iowa.
I don't know if this is "Joe's" recipe or not, but my Grandmother made these for us all the time and they really hit the spot!
Here's what you'll need
Ground beef, onion, bell pepper, tomato sauce, brown sugar, dried mustard, Worcestershire sauce, paprika.
How to make it
This seasoned ground beef mess-of-a-sandwich is pretty easy to make; the secret's in the sauce!
Cook ground beef in a skillet with a little oil until the meat is no longer pink
Drain the ground beef and add it back to the skillet
Add onions and bell peppers to beef; cook for 3 minutes
Add remaining ingredients and allow to simmer uncovered until the mixture thickens
Taste for salt and pepper
Put it on a toasted bun and call it dinner!
How much meat per bun?
About 4-ounces, or ½ a cup of meat sauce is plenty... remember, they're called "Sloppy Joes" for a reason... so the sauce will run out a bit, but that's what makes it so yummy.
Can I substitute ground turkey for ground beef?
Ground turkey is an excellent and leaner substitute for ground beef; however, if you use ground turkey, you may need to increase the broth in order to ensure a truly "sloppy" experience!
Make it in advance
Make the sloppy joe meat sauce in advance; freeze it in a safe container, then reheat on the stove top or microwave.
If you reheat using a microwave, be sure to use a microwave-safe container.
Sometimes, busy weeknights call for a hot, messy, homemade Sloppy Joe! Serve with french fries, tater tots or eggplant fries and "call it dinner!"
Related recipes
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- Hot Pastrami Sandwich
- Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade Sloppy Joe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef cooked and drained
- ½ cup choppped onion
- ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons paprika smokey, not sweet
- ½ cup brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 burger buns
- tablespoon butter , for buns
- 4 oz. cheese optional
Instructions
Meat Sauce
- In a large skillet on medium heat, add oil; add ground beef and cook until its no longer pink; drain and add back to skillet; add onions and bell peppers; cook till tender (about 10 minutes)2 lbs. ground beef, ½ cup choppped onion, ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper, 2 tablespoons oil
- Add remaining ingredients: tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, paprika and brown sugar; combine well3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 16 ounces tomato sauce, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 2 teaspoons paprika, ½ cup brown sugar
- Turn heat to medium-low allow to cook for 15 minutes, until sauce thickens
- Taste for salt and pepper and adjust seasonings accordinglysalt and pepper to taste
- Once buns are browned, place beef mixture on buns and top with cheese (optional)8 burger buns, 4 oz. cheese
Bread Instructions
- Turn on oven to 500ºF, or broil setting8 burger buns, tablespoon butter
- Lightly butter buns and place on baking sheet cut side-up; place under broiler for 3-5 minutes
- Once buns are lightly toasted, remove from oven and set aside
Notes
- Drain ground beef in colander after cooking; don't rinse
Nutrition Estimate
Debi says
Wowza! Sloppy Joes are my favorite! I love your grandmother’s recipe! 🤗