the BEST Homemade Sloppy joes recipe (2024)

26 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.
the BEST Homemade Sloppy joes recipe (2)

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 do you make sloppy joes 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!

How many sloppy joe's does 1 pound of ground beef make? ›

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.

What's the recipe for sloppy joe's? ›

Add olive oil to a large skillet or dutch oven and place over medium heat. Add onion and green pepper and garlic and saute for a few minutes. Next, add ground beef and cook, breaking up meat as it cooks. Once the meat has browned, add ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, tobasco sauce, black pepper and waater, and stir.

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? ›

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling.

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 do you thicken up sloppy joe sauce? ›

  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

How many people does 2 lbs of sloppy joes feed? ›

My mom always made sloppy joes with sauce from a can. Remember that stuff? If you use that, you have to try this easy homemade version that is so much tastier! This recipe uses 2 lbs of ground beef and serves about 8 people.

How do you make Manwich sloppy joes taste better? ›

5 Easy Ways to Doctor up Manwich Sloppy Joes to Improve Taste
  1. Produce.
  2. • 1/4 tsp Garlic powder.
  3. • 1/2 Green bell pepper.
  4. • 1 Large or 2 small jalapeno peppers.
  5. • 1 Onion, medium white or yellow.
  6. • 1 Pickled jalapenos.

What will thicken sloppy joes? ›

How to Thicken Sloppy Joes. If you follow this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, you should have the perfect consistency, but if it comes out too watery, try adding a small slurry of cornstarch with water. That should thicken it right up!

What's the difference between sloppy joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

Unlike traditional can Sloppy Joes, which are often loaded with unhealthy additives and preservatives, Sloppy Janes are made with lean meat, low-fat ingredients, and a variety of fresh vegetables. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients.

What is the fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

Can I use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. 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.

What is a New Jersey style 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.

Can I use ketchup instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

I use ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, a little Worcestershire sauce, and a little yellow mustard. It's really more of a barbecue ground beef, but we like it, especially on baked potatoes.

What's the difference between messy Jane and sloppy joes? ›

Sloppy Joe VS Sloppy Jane

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

What can you put on top of sloppy joes? ›

Proper "Sloppy Joe" is a mixture of ground beef, a touch of pork, tomato sauce, spices, a bit of Romano cheese and served over a plate of #9 spaghett. Sharp cheddar is probably the way to go, but I have on a few occasions topped sloppy joe's with blue cheese crumbles or Swiss cheese.

What is the difference between Sloppy Joe and Manwich? ›

Manwich, a portmanteau of man and sandwich, is the brand name of a canned sloppy joe sauce produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's, introduced in 1969. The can contains seasoned tomato sauce that is added to ground beef cooked in a skillet. It is marketed as a quick and easy one-pan meal for the whole family.

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