Name: Homemade Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground sirloin ((see recipe notes for using a combination of beans and ground meat)); 1 small yellow onion (minced); ½ small jalapeno (seeded and minced); 1 small red bell pepper (diced); 1 cup tomato sauce; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 8 buns; 8 slices cheddar cheese

Jump to Recipe

Made in less than 30 minutes with lean ground meat and a sweet and tangy homemade sloppy joe sauce, these Sloppy Joes are a true family favorite dinner recipe!

These Homemade Sloppy Joes are the BEST Sloppy Joes you will ever eat. PERIOD.

Instead of using a can or jar of sloppy joe sauce, my recipe is made with a homemade sweet and tangy sloppy joe sauce that features fresh peppers, onions, and jalapeno for a hint of spice, and results in Sloppy Joes that are the perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and savory.

why you'll love this sloppy joe recipe

Wholesome Ingredients. This recipe uses simple ingredients and lean ground meat to create sloppy joes that are lower in sugar, and sodium than using a packet of sloppy joe seasoning or a can of sloppy joe sauce.
Super Easy Recipe. The homemade sauce is nearly as easy as opening a can of Manwhich and these sloppy joes come together in under 30 minutes, making them perfect for an easy family dinner any night of the week.
Picky-Eater Approved. Sloppy Joes are a loved family dinner recipe. The sweet and tangy sauce combined with ground beef is an irresistible combination. Add a side of baked fries and maple-glazed carrots for the ultimate kid-friendly dinner.
Affordable with Option to Make it EVEN Cheaper (and More Nutritious!) I love replacing half of the ground beef with 1 can of pinto beans. The beans may sound like an odd addition, but they blend in perfectly with the flavor and texture of the sloppy joes. They also add fiber, lower the fat and cholesterol in the recipe, and save you money, as beans cost much less than meat.

Ingredients for Homemade Sloppy Joes

The key to this recipe is the homemade slopy joe sauce! That is what makes these sloppy joes the absolute best!

Ground Meat: While classically made with ground beef, free to use ground chicken, bison, or turkey to make homemade sloppy joes.
Vegetables: Adding yellow onion, sweet bell pepper, and a bit of a jalapeno, adds layers of flavor and texture to the sloppy joes.
Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce: This sloppy joe sauce recipe uses plain tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of salt to create that sweet and tangy sauce that makes a sloppy joe a sloppy joe.

How to Make Sloppy Joes with Homemade Sauce

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Sauté Ground Meat with Vegetables

Adding the onions, bell peppers, and jalapeno to the ground beef (or turkey or chicken) as the meat sautés, will not only make the process of making sloppy joes simpler, but the vegetables will absorb the flavor of the meat as they soften, adding flavor to the sloppy joes.

Side by side picture of skillet with meat and vegetables before and after sauteeing.

Add Sloppy Joe Sauce

To make a sloppy joe a sloppy joe, it all comes down to the sweet and tangy tomato sauce the simmers with the browned beef. Simply simmer the browned meat with tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce until the sauce has thickened and coats the meat evenly.

Skillet with homemade sloppy joes next to buns and jalapenos.

How to Serve Sloppy Joes

The classic way to serve a Sloppy Joe is to add the sloppy joe mixture to a bun and top with sliced cheddar cheese. Add a side of Oven Baked Fries or Air Fryer French Fries for a meal the whole family will love! Or get creative with one of the options below.

Ditch the bun and serve on Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, or Instant Pot Baked Sweet Potatoes.
Add a scoop of homemade creamy coleslaw for flavor and texture.
Spread the sloppy joe mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish, top with cornbread batter, and bake just as you would a Tamale Pie.
Instead of Irish Nachos, make Sloppy Joe Nachos! Top the baked potato rounds with the sloppy joe mixture and shredded cheese and return the fries to the oven for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.
Instead of serving the Homemade Sloppy Joes on Buns, serve them on Homemade Biscuits or Sweet Potato Biscuits halves like you would Sausage Gravy.

Recipe Modifications

Gluten-Free Sloppy Joe Recipe: Use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, Braggs amino acids, gluten-free soy sauce in place of regular Worcestershire sauce. Serve the sloppy joes on gluten-free buns or over an Instant Pot Baked Potato or Air Fryer Baked Potato.
Add Beans: Replace 1 pound of ground meat with one 15-ounce can of drained and rinsed pinto beans. Add the beans to the skillet when adding the tomato sauce.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: Allow the mixture to cool completely and then store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Let the sloppy joes cool fully. Once cooled, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat: If needed, defrost the sloppy joes in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a dry skillet over low heat, or a heat-safe bowl in the microwave in 30-second intervals.

More Family-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes

These Sloppy Joes are a one-skillet meal that is always a hit! If you gave this recipe a try, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.

This recipe was inspired by Ellie Krieger's recipe and was updated with new pictures, a video, and tips in 2021.

Comments

4.97 from 26 votes (12 ratings without comment)

Homemade Sloppy Joes