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    Homemade Sloppy Joes

    30-Minute Meals Allergy Friendly Recipes Beef Recipes Budget Cooking Dairy-Free Recipes Kid Friendly Main Courses Real Food Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps March 11, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 41 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Made in less than 30 minutes with lean ground meat and a sweet and tangy homemade sauce, Sloppy Joes are a true family favorite!

    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!

    Pair Homemade Sloppy Joes with Oven Baked Fries or Sweet Potato Fries for a meal the whole family will love! Or ditch the bun and serve on Instant Pot Baked Potatoes or Instant Pot Baked Sweet Potatoes.

    2 sloppy joes on wooden cutting board.

    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 tomato-based 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

    • Healthy. This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients and lean ground meat to create a sloppy joe that is lower in sugar, sodium, and fat than sloppy joes made using a packet of sloppy joe seasoning or a can of sloppy joe sauce.
    • Super Easy Recipe. These sloppy joes come together in under 30 minutes, and the homemade sauce is nearly as easy as opening a can of Manwhich.
    • Picky-Eater Approved. Sloppy Joes are a loved family dinner recipe. The sweet and tangy sauce combined with ground beef is an irresistible combination.

    Ingredients for Homemade Sloppy Joes

    Labeled Ingredients for homemade sloppy joes.
    • Ground Beef: I start with lean ground sirloin, but feel free to use ground chicken, bison, or turkey.
    • Yellow Onion: Use a yellow or white onion, rather than a red onion that won't pair well with the flavors of the sloppy joe sauce.
    • Bell Peppers: Use any color of bell pepper for this recipe.
    • Jalapeno: Fresh jalapenos add a bit of spice and wake up the flavors, but you can omit the jalapeno if you don't care for spice. Just be sure to remove the seeds of the jalapeno or these sloppy joes could end up REALLY spicy.
    • Honey. Sloppy joe sauce must have a bit of sweetness added to balance the flavors and acidity in the tomato sauce. I use honey, but brown sugar, maple syrup, or molasses would be a great substitute.
    • Vinegar: The vinegar adds an acidic punch that gives the sauce its famous tang. I love apple cider vinegar, but red wine vinegar works as well.
    • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a salty depth of flavor to the sauce. If you want to make these Gluten-Free Sloppy Joes, use Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce,  Braggs Amino Acids, or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce.
    • Beans (optional): My secret is to use 2 cups of pinto beans for 1 pound of ground beef. It helps to make this recipe healthier and less expensive.

    How to Make Sloppy Joes

    • Preheat a large nonstick skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat.
    • If you are using super-lean ground beef or ground turkey or chicken breast, you will want to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil to help prevent the meat from sticking to the pan. I find that I rarely need to add any oil to saute the meat and veggies, as the meat will render off some fat as it browns.
    • Add the ground beef, peppers, onions, and jalapenos to the pan and saute the meat and vegetables, breaking up the meat into small chunks, as it cooks.
    Side by side picture of skillet with meat and vegetables before and after sauteeing.
    • Once the beef is browned, drain off any excess fat that has been rendered in the skillet.
    • Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, and salt, and stir well. If you are using beans, add them now.
    • Bring the sloppy joe mixture to a boil over medium-high, then lower the heat to a simmer.
    • Add in the apple cider vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce.
    • Stir well and let simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes for the flavors to develop.
    Skillet with homemade sloppy joes next to buns and jalapenos.

    A Healthier Option

    When I make Sloppy Joes, I typically use 2 cups of pinto beans in place of one pound of ground beef.

    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. And even my midwestern, meat-loving husband approves!

    If you are looking for a Meatless Sloppy Joe recipe, you can use 4 cups of pinto beans in place of the 2 pounds of ground meat or you may enjoy my recipe for Slow Cooker Vegan Sloppy Joes.

    Sloppy Joes in a cast iron skillet next to buns and sliced cheese

    Storage Instructions

    This Sloppy Joe Recipe makes enough for 8 large Sloppy Joes, therefore you may find yourself with leftovers.

    Allow the mixture to cool completely and then store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze leftover Sloppy Joe mixture for up to 3 months in the freezer. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and heat over a low simmer or in the microwave and serve as desired.

    Serving Suggestions

    The classic way to serve up a Sloppy Joe is to serve the sloppy joe mixture on top of a bun with a slice of cheese. However, there are plenty of other delicious ways to serve these Homemade Sloppy Joes.

    • Serve over a baked potato or baked sweet potato and top with cheese if desired.
    • Spread the sloppy joe mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish and top with cornbread batter and bake just as you would a Tamale Pie.
    • Instead of Chili Cheese Fries, make Sloppy Joe Fries! Top Oven Fries 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.

    More Family-Friendly Recipes Using Ground Beef

    • Tamale Pie
    • Tater Tot Casserole
    • Chop Steaks with Mushroom Gravy
    • Beef Tacos
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper
    • The Best Burger Recipe

    These Sloppy Joes are a one-skillet meal that is sure to please your family! I would love for you to leave a comment below if you gave this sloppy joe recipe a try!

    Sloppy Joe mixture on Sesame Bun.

    Homemade Sloppy Joes

    An easy homemade recipe for Homemade Sloppy Joes made with lean ground beef and a sweet and tangy homemade sloppy joe sauce. 
    4.96 from 21 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 221kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground sirloin (see recipe notes for using a combination of beans and ground meat)
    • 1 small yellow onion minced
    • ½ jalapeno seeded and minced
    • 1 small red 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

    For Serving (optional)

    • 8 buns
    • 8 slices cheddar cheese
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Preheat a non-stick or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Add in the ground meat, onion, jalapeno, and red pepper. Saute the meat and vegetables until the meat is browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat, and return the skillet to the stove.
    • Add in tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, salt and stir well. Bring mixture to a boil then lower to simmer. If using beans, add the drained beans now.
    • Add in the apple cider vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and let simmer for5-10 minutes.
    • Serve on buns with cheese or as desired.

    Notes

    Ground Beef: Use lean ground sirloin, ground chicken, bison, or turkey. 
    Using Beans (An even healthier option): Use 2 cups of drained and rinsed pinto beans to replace 1 pound of ground beef.  Alternatively, if you want Vegetarian Sloppy Joes, use 4 cups of pinto beans and omit the ground meat. 
    Storage: Leftover sloppy joe mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months. 
    Jalapeno: Omit the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno so they lend more flavor than spice. Or omit altogether if despise heat. 
    Sweetener: Feel free to use brown sugar or molasses would be a great substitute for the honey. 
    Vinegar: Use either apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.
    Optional: You may want to add in 1-2 teaspoons of oil before adding the meat and onions to the skillet if you are using meat that has less than 3% fat OR if you are not using a nonstick skillet. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 522mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 670IU | Vitamin C: 24.7mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2.6mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

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

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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Erin Collins

      January 11, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      Yum! These look so great!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 12, 2017 at 7:45 am

        Thank you Erin!

        Reply
    2. Christina A Thomas

      January 09, 2017 at 11:40 pm

      5 stars
      My mom used to make sloppy joes when I was a kid. I don't think I've had one in decades! Your recipe looks fantastic. I've never had it with beans. What a great addition!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 10, 2017 at 8:25 am

        You have to give this a try Christina!

        Reply
    3. Cindy Kerschner

      January 09, 2017 at 6:47 pm

      Homemade sauce is so smart you can control what goes in there!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 10, 2017 at 8:25 am

        Exactly!

        Reply
    4. Shashi at RunninSrilankan

      January 09, 2017 at 9:26 am

      Kristen, your sloppy joes sound so hearty and delicious! Yes - recipe love is the best and so are requests to lighten up favs! By the way, these sloppy joes are SOOOOOO much better than those canned versions for sure! Love your double dose of pinto beans in this! Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 09, 2017 at 4:26 pm

        SOOOO much better than canned versions for sure!

        Reply
    5. Wendy Klik

      January 08, 2017 at 10:17 pm

      I've never thought of adding beans to my sloppy joes. Great idea.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 09, 2017 at 7:45 am

        Thanks Wendy! It adds such great health benefits, plus makes the meal stretch further!

        Reply
    6. Liz

      January 08, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      So yummy and hearty! I haven't had sloppy Joes in years---now I'm craving one!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 09, 2017 at 7:45 am

        You need to have one! These are so much better than your childhood version!

        Reply
    7. Christie

      January 08, 2017 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      We are TOTAL sloppy joe eaters! I've made several different kinds on my blog; all delicious, healthy, and lean. I love that you added beans to yours. I'll be trying that next!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 08, 2017 at 1:13 pm

        I hope you enjoy it Christie--I will have to check out your recipes!

        Reply
    8. Laura Dembowski

      January 08, 2017 at 11:41 am

      I don't think I have ever had a sloppy joe, but they certainly look great! Love the addition of the beans.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 08, 2017 at 1:13 pm

        You MUST try them Laura!

        Reply
    9. Shelby

      January 08, 2017 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      Looks delicious and I love the addition of the beans!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 08, 2017 at 1:14 pm

        It sure makes this dish heartier and healthier

        Reply
    10. Caroline

      January 08, 2017 at 10:00 am

      Definite comfort food, love the healthier twist.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 08, 2017 at 1:14 pm

        Thanks Caroline!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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