Step away from the canned sauce and give these homemade sloppy joes a try! They’re truly the best version of a childhood favorite!
As we head into the upcoming holiday season, I’ve been thinking about family-friendly meals. You know, those meals that your kids always want to eat. In our house, this Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese is number one on our list… with these sloppy joes being number 2! With two little ones myself, I know ALL too well how frustrating it is to cook a meal and have them promptly turn up their noses and say it’s “gross”. *facepalm*
I’ve always been a fan of classic sloppy joes. There’s something so innately satisfying about the sweet and savory combination and messiness of it all! And I know you all love them too, since I’ve been getting a lot of requests for sloppy joe recipes.
I’ve made a LOT of sloppy joe recipes lately, trying to come up with the perfect one. Some were too sweet, others too spicy. Well guys, I finally got it. The perfect balance. This sloppy joe recipe is sweet, tangy, zesty and savory, with the perfect texture and consistency.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOES
Homemade sloppy joes are incredibly easy to make, and come together in one skillet in about 20 minutes or so. Browned beef is mixed with onion and green pepper and simmered in a sweetened tomato/ketchup sauce. The secret is in finding the right seasoning for the sauce!
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANWICH AND SLOPPY JOES?
Technically Manwich is a pre-made sauce that’s used to make sloppy joes. I’m not sure exactly what’s in it, and have never tried it myself, so I can’t say that my recipe tastes similar or not. Manwich is marketed as a easy way to make sloppy joes… but in reality, homemade sloppy joes are JUST as easy to make!
HOW DID SLOPPY JOES GET THEIR NAME?
From what I can glean from the good ol’ internet, a cook named Joe in a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa added a tomato sauce to a loose meat sandwich. It must have been a favorite and took off!
WHAT CAN I DO WITH SLOPPY JOE MEAT?
Number one, slap some on a toasted bun!! After that, here are some of my favorite things to do:
- Spoon some over some crispy waffle fries. Bonus points if you also melt some cheese over the fries before adding the sloppy joe meat!
- Add some to a grilled cheese.
- Roll up in crescent roll dough and bake at 375 F degrees for about 12-15 minutes. Cheese makes a great addition to these as well!
- Add some on top of a burger.
CAN YOU MAKE SLOPPY JOES IN A CROCKPOT?
You can! Just brown the beef and add all the remaining ingredients (no buns though), and cook on LOW for about 4-6 hours, or HIGH for 2-3 hours. This will have a softer texture than skillet sloppy joes though.
PRO TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOES:
- Before you get started, toast your buns. Toasting the bun makes ALL the difference, and only takes a few minutes. Crank up the heat under the skillet to high, and add a drizzle of vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, add the buns, then place the buns cut side up on a cooling rack after they’re toasted.
- Watch the sauce so that it doesn’t reduce too much. When too much of the sauce reduces, it gives you a dry sloppy joe mixture. Everyone likes theirs a little differently, but for me, I cook it down so that I can see the bits of meat, and when I drag my spoon through the sauce, it leaves a trail where the sauce is parted. If the sauce immediately flows back into that trail, it’s too liquid-y. I want a few seconds before the sauce covers the trail, which gives me a saucy consistency that’s not too liquid.
- Choose your favorite type of bun. I usually go for either a pretzel bun (like I did in these Beer and Chorizo Sloppy Joes!), or a brioche bun.
SHOP THE RECIPE:
- Skillet – I like to use either stainless steel or cast iron for this, as they both give a great sear!
- Wooden plate – I love these for sandwiches!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/3 green bell pepper, minced
- 1/2 large yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or less, if you prefer)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 3/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- dash of hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Heat butter and oil in large skillet over MED/MED-HIGH heat. Add beef and brown, breaking apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Transfer to colander to drain.
- Add onion and bell pepper to same skillet and cook 2-3 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds or so, until fragrant. Add beef back to the skillet and add tomato paste. Stir well.
- Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Cook over MED heat for 10-15 minutes, until mixture has thickened to your liking. Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.
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Chef Tips
- Cool the mixture completely, then add to freezer containers and freeze for up to 4 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
Video
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Jennifer says
The best Sloppy Joe’s ever! My whole family absolutely loves them.
Sharon says
This is my go to recipe for sloppy joes. Easy to double for company.
Toni Stacy says
My family loves this recipe!! I love it too because it is a quick & good supper for a busy day.
Nicki says
We LOVE this! I’ve made it multiple times. Thank you!
Sandy says
I’m going to a,4th of July party needed something for a lot of people to go a long way. Decided on sloppy Joe’s. I’m not a fan of sloppy Joe’s but these were fantastic. I sautéed and seasoned the green peppers, onions and garlic then added it to the already browned and drained beef. I used all ingredients you listed. I also added garlic an
Walt Svirsky says
I use this recipe for any kind of meat. Burritos are great with this recipe.
Diane says
Definitely a good recipe. Reminded me of the can Manwich growing up. It wasn’t too sweet. I followed it added everything except for hot sauce. Added a couple more cloves of garlic. This definitely is a good recipe thanks! Yes I added sliced hotdogs to the ground beef in this too. Because that’s how my mom made Manwich growing up lol give it a try before you say it’s not good. Fry it w the ground beef. I did add onions, green peppers at the end I added garlic. Then drained fat. Then added everything else all at once.
Darlene says
First time making this recipe. We loved it! Thanks for sharing, the only change I’ll make next time is no brown sugar 🙂
Sandy says
Absolute BEST sloppy Joe mix ever, it’s the only one I make now. Thank you!!
Patricia Turnage Wilson says
Great recipe so delicious
Gibby says
Outstanding recipe. A 4th of July tradition with my crew. Have to keep increasing the batch size each year. My only adjustment is red pepper vs. green pepper but that is a personal flavor preference.
Sydney Swan says
I love this recipe!! I’ve been using it for years. I make a couple adjustments. A little less ketchup and I add minced pepperoncinis. I have also turned it into a tater tot casserole. Put the sloppy Joe into a baking dish, cover with cheese, and top with frozen tater tots. Bake at 350 until tots are crispy. Sooo good!
Kelly says
I changed up recipe and husband & I both loved it. No butter. Used red, green, and yellow peppers. Granulated garlic. Only 1/3 cup ketchup. No brown sugar. Dash of cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar. On toasted & buttered whole wheat buns. Grated extra old white cheddar. Delicious!
Maria says
Perfect every time! So delicious!
Lonestar Homestead says
Love this recipe!. We try to eat only organic and we all know that manwhich in a can or sloppy joe in a can does not come in organic( I haven’t found any) this great recipe is now locked in as one of our homesteads (12 ppl, 4 farm dogs, 2 mouser cats, chickens and many other critters that come to visit the pond for water lol) favorites!!! I’m able to use all my organic ingredients and ground beef from our local ranchers and make these delicious sloppy joes. Thank you for sharing your recipe!!!
Rebecca Fischer says
Made this today for my hunger farmer and crew. Was trying to make ahead so I could run errands in town during lunchtime. This was ABSOLUTELY HANDS DOWN one of the best recipes I have ever made! I did substitute sweet red peppers in place of the green bell and I had to make my own tomato paste but this is definitely something I will make again and not buy the brands at the store anymore. Thanks!
Amy says
Thank you for this wonderful recipe. Gone are the days of purchasing that stuff in the can with awful ingredients.
Alma Quintanilla says
Hello! I made it today and it was awesome 🙂 thank you kindly for sharing. I added mango habanero sauce to my recipe and it fit so well.
Gina says
My family loves this sloppy Joe recipe! So yum!!
Cheryl says
Not sure why it’s taken me so long to comment because I’ve been using your recipe for years! This is the best manwich! I triple the recipe, mostly eyeball the amounts and it comes out perfect every time. Thank you for such a delicious meal!