Sloppy Joes

Oh, Sloppy Joes! Saucy, meaty, sweet, and savory. This American classic sure does live up to its name! It’s a meal that everyone will approve of, while barely taking any effort to execute. So, grab a plate, a napkin (or ten), and get ready to put together this spectacular dinner!

I have to admit something to you guys. As someone who spend most of my childhood in Romania, the idea of “Sloppy Joes” was bizarre to me. Ketchup… mixed into the sauce? Sugar? Mustard?? I didn’t give it the chance it so desperately deserved. I avoided this dish for far too long.

It truly was love at first bite. I remember the sauce squeezing out the sides of the bun as I bit down, the delicious tomatoey, meaty flavor. That was it. I was officially converted to the church of Joe. The etymology for this recipe doesn’t give a ton of information, but, they have a pretty good idea of the name of the creator. Can you guess what it is?

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

• Ground beef – If you’re using fattier ground beef, you might need to drain it, but mine was pretty lean so it wasn’t necessary.
• Butter – Or whatever type of fat or oil you like to sauté with.
• Onion – Any type you have handy.
• Bell pepper – I used a green pepper. Use any color you like.
• Garlic – Use as much or little as you want.
• Ketchup – BBQ sauce can be used too if you want to switch up the flavor.
• Tomato sauce – Or tomato passata.
• Brown sugar – You can add more or less depending how sweet you like your Joes.
• Yellow mustard – Or dijon.
• Worcestershire – Soy sauce is a great substitute here.
• Italian seasoning – You can use any combination of dried herbs that you like.
• Salt & pepper – Season to taste.

What kind of meat can I use?

A classic sloppy joe will always be made with ground beef. That being said, you don’t have to stay within the box! I suggest sticking with ground meats if you choose to go with an alternative. The texture will be much better.

You can use ground pork, sausage, chicken, turkey, lamb. You can even use a mixture of different types of meat. If you use a leaner protein such as chicken or turkey, you may need some extra oil to sauté the meat in step 1.

How to make sloppy joes

1. Brown the beef: Add the butter to a large skillet and melt it over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the ground beef and cook, stirring often and breaking apart as you go, until the beef is fully cooked.
2. Sauté veg: To the same skillet add the onion and bell pepper. Stir occasionally and cook until the onion is softened and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Simmer: Add the rest of the ingredients to the skillet and stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy.
4. Finish: Spoon over halved buns and serve.

How to serve

These are best served over buns. Hamburger, kaiser, brioche, ciabatta, even hotdog buns! You name it. I like to brush some melted butter over the cut sides of the buns and toast them under the oven broiler for a minute or two before serving.

Looking for homemade buns to go with your joes? Try these:

• Soft Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
• Quick Yeast Dinner Rolls
• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
• Homemade Slider Buns
• Classic Dinner Rolls

Leftovers

Let the sloppy joes cool down fully before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge. Leftovers will last 3-4 days.

You can reheat either in the microwave, or using the stovetop. Add the sloppy joes to a skillet over medium-high heat and cook, stirring often, until heated through. You can add a splash of water or broth if you find the sauce is getting too thick.

Freezing

Make sure your sloppy joes have fully cooled down to room temperature before storing in an airtight container and transferring to the freezer. Leftovers will last 3-6 months.

I find it’s easiest to let the sloppy joes thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating using one of the methods detailed in the section above. The microwave is the easiest reheating method to use if you are thawing straight from the freezer.

Looking for more easy, delicious dinners?

• The Best Homemade Burgers
• Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken
• BBQ Pulled Pork
• Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
• The Best Meat Sauce
• American Goulash (Chop Suey)