Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

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| by Christina Hitchco*ck

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Hands down this the Best Sloppy Joe recipe (aka wimpies)!This is my grandma’s recipe and my family has been making it for years.It’s been a staple at every party and is always a hit.

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (1)

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Why These Healthy Sloppy Joes Works

Whether you know this iconic sloppy joe mix from your school days, (the Adam Sandler Lunch lady song keeps playing in my head) or it was a staple in your home growing up, my mom’s recipe was always the best sloppy joe! And it is the best comfort food.

For a dish that is this simple and easy to prepare, you need your flavors to be on point. Therefore, this sloppy joe casserole recipe has the best flavor and it is very quick to prepare on a busy weekday or great for parties and get-togethers because it can be made in large quantities to feed a crowd.

You can make sloppy joe mix ahead of time and freeze it for later.You can make them and keep them warm in slow cooker parties.And, you can even substitute ground turkey for the brown ground beef for a lighter version.This recipe is very flexible.

How to Make this Sloppy Joe Mix – Step by Step

For a fast meal that is nutritious and comes together quick, nothing is better than my Best Sloppy Joe recipe.

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  • Step One: First, in a large skillet or large pot, place your green bell pepper, red onion and brown beef.(Photo 1 below)
  • Step Two: Next, prepare your seasonings celery seed, dry mustard, sugar, and then salt and pepper to taste (Photo 2 below)
  • Step Three: Then cook together over medium heat, breaking up the beef as you go. I love my ground beef chopper for this task.(Photo 3 below)
Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (3)
  • Step One: Then drain the fat from the skillet. Next, after the ground meat has browned and the vegetables are tender add the seasonings and cup ketchup to the skillet.(Photo 1 below)
  • Step Two:Then add the vinegar to the skillet. (Photo 2 below)
  • Step Three: Finally, simmer for 15 minutes and serve on your favorite roll or hamburger buns. (Photo 3 below)
Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (4)

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

This is also a great crockpot Sloppy Joe’s original recipe. Similarly, brown the beef, with the onions and peppers, and add it to your slow cooker with all of the other ingredients! Then set it and forget it. When dinner time rolls around, you’ll have delicious Crock Pot Sloppy Joes! Serve classic sandwiches or make an open face style sandwich. The crock pot sloppy joe is one of my family favorite easy meals.

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (5)

Recommendations for What to Serve with Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

I usually serve my Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes with my homemade Bread and Butter Pickles. It’s just one of those classic combinations — like peanut butter and jelly. I can’t have one without the other. I regularly like to make my homemade Baked Sweet Potato fries alongside these instant pot sloppy joes. Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (6)

Expert Tips for Making the Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

Versatility in my recipes is the key to keeping my family interested. So try these handy tips for making the healthy sloppy joes and the best wimpie recipe:

  • Spice it up: Try putting a little hot sauce, chili powder and jalapeno pepper or green pepper into the simple for a spicy twist.
  • This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and you can freeze half or serve to the team, church group, or family reunion. It is the best family food and an easy homemade sloppy joes recipe.
  • Sneak in other Vegetables: If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat their veggies, try sneaking in some finely chopped vegetables to your sloppy joes. They will never know! It is recipe magic!
  • Serve Over Rice:If you are gluten-free, serve over rice, rice cauliflower, or even mashed potatoes to make a hearty meal.

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More Recipes You Might Like

  • Bread and Butter Pickles
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Sloppy Joe Puffs

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Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (7)

4.84 from 50 votes

The Best Sloppy Joes Ever!

Yield: 6

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (8)

Hands down this the BEST Sloppy Joes recipe (aka wimpies)! Whether you know this iconic recipe from your school days, (the Adam Sandler Lunch lady song keeps playing in my head) or it was a staple in your home growing up, my mom’s homemade recipe are the best!

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar
  • 2 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Brown beef with onions and peppers in a large skillet.

  • Drain well and return to skillet.

  • Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes.

  • Serve on your favorite sandwich roll.

Expert Tips

Versatility in my recipes are the key to keeping my family interested. So try these handy tips:

  • Spice it up: Try putting a little hot sauce and some jalapeno peppers into the wimpie for a spicy twist.
  • This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and you can freeze half or serve to the team, church group or family reunion.
  • Sneak in other Vegetables: If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat their veggies, try sneaking in some finely chopped vegetables to your sloppy joes. They will never know!
  • Serve Over Rice: If you are gluten free, serve over rice, rice cauliflower or even mashed potatoes to make a hearty meal.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 324mg | Potassium: 360mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 18.6mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1.9mg

The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!Follow Me: @ItsAKeeperBlog or tag #itisakeeper

Author: Christina Hitchco*ck

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make sloppy joes taste 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!

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.

What is 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.

What's the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joe mix? ›

Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Sloppy Joe Tips

We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings.

What is the best bun for sloppy joes? ›

Worcestershire Sauce and Hot Pepper Sauce: These condiments add umami and a heat, deepening the flavor of the dish. Hamburger or Brioche Buns: The vehicle for the Sloppy Joe mixture, offering a soft and slightly sweet contrast to the flavorful beef filling.

What is the New Jersey version of 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.

What's the difference between Tavern and sloppy joe? ›

Unlike a hamburger, a tavern's meat is cooked loose rather than formed into a compact patty. It more closely resembles a sloppy joe, without the tomato-based sauce.

What is a fancy name for a sloppy joe? ›

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? ›

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 are the ingredients in Hunt's Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Ingredients. Tomato Puree (Water,Tomato Paste), Water, Sugar/Glucose-Fructose, Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spices, Dehydrated Green Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Tomato Fibre, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Dehydrated Garlic, Citric Acid, Flavour, Spice Extracts.

How do you jazz up sloppy joes? ›

Spices: Dress up your sloppy joes with garlic powder, onion powder, or any other flavors you love. If you want heat, throw in a tbsp of ancho chili powder, a tsp of ground cumin, or a half teaspoon of chipotle powder. Or, splash on your favorite hot sauce. Season with kosher salt to taste.

What was the original sloppy joe made with? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce.

Does mayo go on sloppy joes? ›

Spread Mayo or Miracle Whip over toasted hamburger buns top with sloppy joe mix, sliced pickles and sliced cheese. Yield: 4-6 sloppy joes.

How to doctor up canned sloppy joe mix? ›

In addition to sweetness, the diced Gala apple also contributes some textural variety to the recipe.
  1. Spice Your Sloppy Joe Up With Chile Flakes Or Canned Chiles. ...
  2. Sneak Extra Veggies Into Your Sloppy Joes. ...
  3. Throw In Some Liquid Smoke. ...
  4. Deglaze Your Sloppy Joes With Beer. ...
  5. Add Salsa To The Mix.
Feb 28, 2024

How do you make bland sauce taste better? ›

To make spaghetti sauce taste better:
  1. Sauté onions and garlic for flavor.
  2. Use quality tomatoes (canned or fresh).
  3. Simmer the sauce for an extended period.
  4. Add herbs and spices like basil and oregano.
  5. Enhance with a splash of red wine (optional).
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nov 19, 2023

How do I make my sloppy joes less sweet? ›

If you like Sloppy Joes a little less sweet, you can reduce the brown sugar to 1 teaspoon. If you keep the mustard at 2 teaspoons, the result will be a tangier Sloppy Joe.

What goes well on sloppy joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

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