This Sloppy Joe recipe is an easy homemade dinner made with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce simmered into a sweet and tangy sauce- all in under 20 minutes.
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This is the Sloppy Joe recipe I grew up eating, passed down from my Great Grandmom, made in my family for years. It’s one of those dependable, nostalgic dinners that proves you do not need canned sauce (or tomato sauce) to make an flavorful and easy Sloppy Joe.
Just grab a handful of pantry staples to make the tasty condiment-based sauce, along with onion, bell pepper, and ground beef- and you've got a delicious and nostalgic dinner the whole family is going request on repeat!
What readers say
- Barb ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This recipe is so delicious! We often take supper over to an older neighbor and he requested sloppy joes for his birthday. I made these last week and he raved about them! Both my husband and our friend said they were the best sloppy joes he'd ever had!"
Table of Contents
- Ingredients for this Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Why this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe has been in my family for generations
- What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
- What to make with leftovers
- Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Sloppy Joes
- Storing leftovers
- Reheating your leftover Sloppy Joes
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Looking for more great beef recipes?
Ingredients for this Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe
Just a few simple ingredients make up the classic sweet, tangy, and savory flavor that makes these homemade sloppy joes so good. Here's what you'll need:
Ground beef. I like to use an 80/20 blend of ground beef, then drain off any excess fat as necessary. The fat adds extra flavor to the recipe, and aids in browning for a deeper flavor. If you like, you can use lean ground beef.
Onion and green bell pepper. You'll cook the chopped onion and green peppers in a bit of neutral oil prior to adding the ground beef to the pan, to give the sloppy joe a savory-sweet contrast and texture.
Ketchup, Yellow Mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Sugar. These 4 pantry staples make up the sauce for the Sloppy Joes. The ketchup works as the tomato base, balanced by the tang of the yellow mustard, A bit of Worcestershire goes in for for depth and richness, and a touch of sugar gives the sauce just the right hint of sweetness.
Mustard Note
Choose classic yellow mustard for this recipe- since the neutral taste melds perfectly with the other sauce ingredients. Dijon or spicy brown mustard will change the flavor profile and overpower the sauce.
Hamburger buns. I love a toasted Brioche bun for this recipe, as it's a bit sturdier and has a great texture and buttery flavor. You can also toast the inside of the buns to add some nice flavor, and help the bread keep it's structure while eating the sandwich. Potato buns or classic burger buns also work great!
Why this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe has been in my family for generations
No Sloppy Joe (in my humble opinion) is as good as my Great Grandma's recipe. I am always craving it, especially in summer BBQ season, and I'm instantly transported to my childhood every time I make it.
This Sloppy Joe recipe stands out because of it's simple and unique sauce, made with only 4 pantry staples, and not a can of tomato sauce in sight! The mix of simple condiments creates a truly magical sweet, tangy and savory sauce in minutes.
For such a simple recipe, you’d be surprised how many times my Mom and I have laughed over losing the recipe for this Sloppy Joe AGAIN and AGAIN. My mom likes to joke that it’s my Great Grandma’s way of looking down and messing with us from time to time. When I decided to add this recipe to the blog, I was excited that we would finally have it in one place for safe keeping (bookmark this page, mom!).
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
Below are some tasty and easy sides that go great alongside these homemade Sloppy Joes!
| Chips or Fries | Make some french fries for a classic side, or serve with some chips for something quick and easy. |
| Salad | Serve alongside a classic green salad for a lighter option. |
| Hearty Sides | Make some of my easy doctored up canned baked beans to go with the sandwiches for a heartier meal with additional fiber and protein that's quick and easy! |
Make Ahead Tip
Keep the sloppy joe mixture warm in a slow cooker on low or warm setting for parties, tailgates, or busy weeknights. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick, and stir every 30 minutes or so before serving.
What to make with leftovers
Use leftover sloppy joe meat for sliders, grilled cheese sandwiches, as a topping for baked potatoes or hot dogs, or in a quick casserole.
So easy and so delicious! I will never go back to the canned “sauce” again!"
- Tere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Flavor updates: Add chili powder, garlic powder, or red pepper flakes.
Ingredient swaps: Use red bell pepper or tomato sauce.
Serving ideas: Turn leftovers into sliders or grilled cheese.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
Step 1: Cook the onion and green pepper until softened.
Step 2: Season and brown the ground beef well.
Step 3: Stir in ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar.
Step 4: Simmer until the sauce is thick and glossy, then serve on toasted buns!
Sloppy Joe Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb 80/20 ground beef*
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 1 medium green pepper, chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté onions and pepper in 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften. 2. Move onions and peppers to outer edge of pan and increase heat to medium-high. 3. Brown the ground beef: Spread ground beef out in center of pan in an even layer and cook, undisturbed, for 5 minutes, or until meat begins to brown. 4. Season beef with salt and pepper, and flip over. Continue to cook, breaking meat apart into small pieces as you go with a wooden spoon or spatula, until meat is cooked through and no longer pink, about 2-3 minutes. 5. Reduce heat to medium-low and add in ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce and sugar. Cook 2-3 minutes until flavors are melded. Serve on burger buns, brioche buns or potato rolls.
Notes
The same portion of lean ground beef or bison could replace the 80/20 ground beef. Troubleshooting: Sauce Too thick? Add a splash of water to loosen it up.
Too loose? Simmer the sloppy joes 2-3 minutes longer.
Want a tangier sauce? Add a little extra mustard or Worcestershire sauce.
Want it a bit sweeter? Add a pinch more sugar.
Nutrition
Storing leftovers
| Refrigerator | Allow the dish to cool completely, and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. |
| Freezer | Store in a ziplock bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months! |
Reheating your leftover Sloppy Joes
Reheat in a large skillet or saucepan over medium low heat until warmed through, about 3-5 minutes. If reheating from frozen, thaw first before reheating for best results.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I make sloppy joes ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the sloppy joe mixture up to 2 days ahead, and warm through just before serving.
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
You can, but stay away from ultra-lean turkey for best results. 80/20 ground beef has more fat, giving it a juicier finish, even when you drain the fat. If you opt for ground turkey, using a blend with a little fat will help give the sloppy joes a similar texture and mouthfeel.
To keep the turkey from drying out, skip the browning step, and cook until no pink remains. If it feels a little drier, you can add additional sauce to moisten.
Ground bison or lean ground beef are also great options for this recipe.
How do I keep sloppy joes from getting too runny?
To keep the sloppy joe sauce thick and glossy rather than runny, make sure to drain any excess fat from the pan before adding the sauce ingredients.
Can I freeze sloppy joe meat?
Yes you can! Store any leftover sloppy joe meat in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. For best reheating, thaw overnight in the fridge.
Looking for more great beef recipes?
Looking for another ground beef dinner? Try my One Pot Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper next!
© Jawns I Cooked. All images & content are the sole property of Jawns I Cooked. Please ask permission prior to using my photos. If you would like to share one of my recipes, please link back to this post and re-write the instructions in your own words.
Rita F. says
I will definitely be making this again! Thanks for the recipe!
Tom F says
This was so good! My guest devoured it. One of the best sloppy Joe recipes I've ever made and easy too.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks, Tom!
Timothy S says
An amazing recipe, my kids loved it. looks like i be making it again soon!
Susan says
Made this but doubled the onion and green pepper, also added chopped celery because why not. OMG, loved by all who ate it. This is a keeper recipe. Thank you for sharing it.
Sharon Farnell says
So happy you loved the recipe, Susan! Thanks for stopping by to review!
Jamie Forster says
I made this and my boyfriend thought it was delicious! I made a few changes to fit my dietary needs because I have soy & dairy allergies. I omitted the onions/peppers (I didn't have any lol) & instead of Worcestershire sauce, I used No-Soy sauce. I used 80/20 beef but I think I should have drained it because it was kinda soupy... ? so I added some nutritional yeast and then some potato flakes to thicken it up. Otherwise, it was very good. I think next time I'll leave out the sugar for me it was a tad sweet but that could've been because of my subtraction and addition of other ingredients. A keeper! Thanks for the great recipe. ?
Sharon Farnell says
Hi Jamie, I am so happy you and your boyfriend enjoyed the recipe, and that you were able to adapt the recipe to your dietary needs 🙂
Jan says
Some people use quick oats to thicken, too.
Ashley says
The best Sloppy Joes we have ever had. We added maybe a tsp of w-sauce extra, but was perfect. My boys ate it up.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks, Ashley! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Marcy says
Have you tried brown sugar instead of white ?
Sharon Farnell says
I have not, but I'm sure it would work if you are a fan of brown sugar flavor!
Merle Ann says
I have always used brown sugar. The recipe I grew up on was exactly the same except for the brown sugar! If you want a little kick add some pepper flakes!
Jenna Radl says
I used brown sugar and it worked great!
Lorraine A Keleman says
Made these for the kickoff to football today! Instead of sugar I used honey from our apiary and we LOVED them!!! Will definitely be making these again!
Sharon Farnell says
Awesome! So happy you all enjoyed the recipe!
Rebbecca P. says
Just like my dad used to make it. Idk why I haven’t made it sooner. So easy and tastes much better than canned sloppy Joe mix. Thank you for sharing.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks! So happy you enjoyed it!
Denise Koper says
I used 90% lean meat and drained it and I used a half of a big red bell pepper instead of green as they bother my stomach, otherwise I used a half of a sweet onion and followed the recipe for the rest except I didn’t use any sugar as I feel red bell peppers have some sweetness to them and it was excellent!!! Oh yes I did add some garlic powder. Great recipe and so fast so it’s my go to for sloppy Joe’s from now on, so much better than any store bought!!
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you! So happy you enjoyed the recipe! I have made it with red bell pepper myself and I love it!
Pam says
This was awesome !! I felt it needed something else so I added 2 pkgs of sloppy joe mix into 3 pounds hamburger was delicious
Lore says
Very good. I added a splash of apple cider vinegar and used brown sugar. The whole family enjoyed. Thx for sharing.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks so much, Lore! So happy you all enjoyed!
Chef Gail says
I suggest to remove the cooked vegetables, brown the meat, drain, and then incorporate the vegetables back in and then add the remaining ingredients.
Sharon Farnell says
If that works better for you, feel free!
tere says
so easy and so delicious! even my kids who can be iffy with onions absolutely loved this. i will never go back to the canned “sauce” again!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy to hear this! 🙂
Pamela Brown says
Yummy! I left out green pepper and used brown sugar instead of white.
This reminded me of the sloppy Joe’s my mother made every Saturday for lunch. Great memories!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy you enjoyed the recipe, Pamela! It brings back memories for me too, it was my Great Grandmother's recipe 🙂
Trenton says
This was amazing!! No kidding, I do not leave reviews on anything, not a single thing. But after eating this, this recipe deserved a praise!! You don’t need to add nor subtract anything from the recipe. Cook it as is. I almost ate the entire 1 pound serving of this 😂 Couldn’t get enough. Only sloppy joe recipe i’ve ever liked too!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy to hear this! Thanks so much for leaving a review!
Mona Scaife says
Perfect Sloppy Joe’s every time. My family devours this. Never have leftovers. Quick and easy too. Thanks for sharing!
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks so much for the review, Mona! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Barb says
This recipe is so delicious! We often take supper over to an older neighbor and he requested sloppy joes for his birthday. I made these last week and he raved about them! Both my husband and our friend said they were the best sloppy joes he'd ever had!
Sharon Farnell says
I am so happy to hear this story, Barb! This is such a great story, and I am so happy you all enjoyed the recipe!
Ruby says
I made this last night. I didn’t have a can of Manwich.
This is so much better than what comes out of the can. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
It was a hit. I can’t wait to make it again
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks, Ruby! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Trish says
2nd time making these sloppy joes. Doubled the recipe this time because I wanted to freeze some for a later time. Very easy to make and sooo delicious.
Sharon Farnell says
So happy to hear this, Trish! Thanks for stopping by to leave a review! 🙂
Laura says
This is fast, easy and delicious and the ingredients are always things I have.
I’ve made this a couple of times and just made it again for supper tonight. I didn’t have any green pepper, but it’s still yummy. This is my go-to sloppy jo recipe.
Sharon Farnell says
So happy to hear this, Laura!
Marianne says
Easy and great! Thank you for the recipe!
Jennifer Freese says
So yummy!
I did double the sauce...we like it saucy. Lol
Definitely a recipe i couldn't beat even if i tried🥰
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you so much Jennifer! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Melissa Raynor says
I’ve made quite a few different Sloppy Joe recipes on Pinterest, and this is a keeper! My son and hubby both said it was the best they’ve had. They made sure that I kept a printed copy in my recipe binder. We added a bit more ketchup and Worcestershire sauce as we had more meat than the recipe called for and it was looking dry, but other than that followed the recipe to a T. Sooo good!
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks so much, Melissa! So happy you and your family enjoyed the recipe!
Kimberly Lanier Fowler says
Sooo good! I've made this about 4-5x and it has quickly become a family favorite...even my picky 5yo goes back for seconds! I add a little bbq sauce and less ketchup. Yum!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy you all enjoyed the recipe, Kimberly!
Sami says
Made these a few times and they come out delicious. We substitute for ground turkey and they’re still fantastic. I have been using brown sugar instead of white just because it is how my mom made it. Highly recommend giving this a try.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks, Sami! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Kathy says
I substituted 85/15% lean ground turkey, plus sweet onion and sweet peppers, and brown sugar, plus a few shakes of res pepper flakes. It had the sweet, spicy taste! I also increased the sauce by 1/2. Served with Cole Slaw and tator tots. It was delicious!
I will definitely make it again.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks, Kathy! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Christine Shipley says
Excellent recipe! We loved it and this was quick, easy and all the ingredients were in my pantry. I only added a bit more Worcester & mustard as I prefer a bit more. They were delicious and I plan to make this recipe my go to for sloppy joes. Thanks for posting!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy to hear this! Thanks, Christine!
Chrisse says
Loved this recipe! I used ground turkey instead of beef to make it a tad healthier. The taste was 10/10 perfect proportions!
Sharon Farnell says
So happy you enjoyed the recipe, Chrisse!
Meemee says
Wow, wow, wow!
I made this today, and it was, hands down, the nicest Sloppy Joe's we've ever had! We toasted your great grandmother with our spoons after we finished.
This has already been printed and stuck on the fridge! Haha!
Sharon Farnell says
Meemee, I am so happy to hear this! Thank you for your lovely post, I really appreciate it, and so would Great Grandma 🙂
B says
Love this recipe! I’ve made it probably 100’s of times now and it’s always a big hit! It’s quick and also so easy to double or triple the recipe for large crowds.
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you so much! So happy you love the recipe!
Mary says
Made it and came out so good never buying sloppy Joe sauce in a can
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you so much, Mary! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Stephanie says
And to think I was gonna stop by and grab a can of manwich…never again! Holy Deeeelishousss! I made it per the recipe but had about a tablespoon of ketchup left in the bottle so I just threw it in, added a couple more dashes on Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch more of sugar…I like it saucy. Fantastic recipe! Thanks for sharing!!
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you, Stephanie! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!!
Barry McCockiner says
Definitely the best sloppy Joe recipe I have had
Sharon Farnell says
Thank you!
Brandi says
Hi, do you drain the meat fat?
Sharon Farnell says
If there is excess, yes you can!
Lorri Thompson says
I was a little worried about not draining the meat … but that is where all the yummy goodness comes from!! Great recipe!
Sharon says
Thanks Lorri! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Heather Fletcher says
This was very good! I didn’t change a thing. Making it a second time today!
Sharon says
So happy to hear this, Heather!
Cassidie says
This recipe is delicious! A healthier spin on sloppy joes but honestly tastes better than the can! My husband and two boys love when I make these. I double the sauce recipe to make them a little more saucy and they’re perfect!
Sharon says
So happy to hear this! Thanks so much for taking the time to review! Glad your family loves them!
Tna says
I had some left over taco meat I threw it in with this just because I wanted it to go a bit further. My goodness so super amazing! I also added brown sugar instead of white as I had the spicy taco meat added. I’m t was super amazing. My husband said it was the best sloppy Joe he ever tasted. Thank you for the amazing recipe!!!
Sharon says
Thanks so much, Tina! I'm so happy you both enjoyed the recipe!
Tina says
Did use red pepper instead of green. Really liked the flavor compared to the pre-made canned variety. Put a slice of provolone on them and warmed sandwiches in oven for a few minutes - delicious!
Sharon says
Sounds amazing, Tina! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
Ace says
Fantastic! My husband said, “You can make this again!”😅
Sharon says
So happy to hear this! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Ann says
Good and recipe. So much better then can or packaged sloppy joe mix.
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks Ann! So glad you enjoyed it!