Quick and Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

A Simple Sloppy Joe Recipe for those busy evenings!

• On your table in just over 30 minutes. This means you’ll be spending less time in the kitchen and more time with your family AKA winning at life!
• Easy. Brown the beef, onions and bell peppers, then simmer with the sauce.
• Pantry friendly. Make Sloppy Joes whenever you need a last-minute dinner or whenever the cravings strike.
• Gone in minutes. They are serious comfort food that even the pickiest eaters will be gobble up.
• Make ahead friendly. Reheat the filling or keep it warm on the stove or in the crockpot.
• Easy to double or triple. The ideal recipe for a large crowd!
• Customizable. Make this recipe more or less tangy, add cheese and serve with endless toppings because this recipe is YOUR recipe!

Ingredients for Sloppy Joes

You will love that this Sloppy Joe recipe is made with pantry friendly ingredients. Keep everything on hand (and even freeze the buns) so you can make this family favorite at a moment’s notice! Here’s what you’ll need (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Brioche hamburger buns:These buttery, golden, soft pillowy buns pair amazingly with the savory filling. They toast up beautifully and don’t become soggy quickly. Brioche buns can usually be found in the bakery section of the grocery store or in the pre-sliced bread section.
• Lean ground beef:One pound of ground beef will do the trick – make sure it’s lean so the filling will be tender but not greasy. I use 90/10 percent lean.
• Aromatics: Use half of a finely diced yellow onion and 3 minced cloves garlic.
• Bell pepper: Half of a green bell pepper adds subtle texture and earthiness.
• Seasonings:Chili powder, paprika, dried thyme, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper awaken the filling. Use more or less to taste.

• Ketchup: Any ketchup will work. Ketchup is preferred over tomato sauce for its bright, balanced tanginess with a subtle sweetness. Tomato sauce, on the other hand, is more mild tasting with unbalanced acidty.
• Water: Provides liquid to thin out the sauce which is then simmered to reduce, concentrating the flavors.
• Worcestershire: This adds a punch of tangy, umami depth with a subtle sweetness. This recipe uses more Worcestershire than most for undeniable flavor.
• Mustard: Yellow deli mustard cuts through the sweetness with its crisp, tart-tanginess and pungency.
• Vinegar: White vinegar adds clean, bright tanginess.
• Brown sugar: This is a must to balance the tangy ketchup, Worcestershire and vinegar.
• Beef bouillon:This is a secret ingredient that adds a complex depth of flavor. Use beef bouillon cube, beef base (Zoup! or Better Than bouillon), or granulatedbeef bouillon. If using a cube, crush and add directly to the sauce – don’t dissolve in water first.

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Make these Sloppy Joes your own! Use ground turkey, add veggies, make it spicy, add toppings, etc. Here are a few ideas:

• Shortcut onion and garlic: Use 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon garlic powder instead of fresh.
• Turkey or chicken: To help the poultry taste beefy, omit the salt and add an additional 1-2 teaspoons additionalbeef bouillon,then salt to taste.
• Different bread: Use traditional hamburger buns, hoagie rolls, or even sandwich bread. Level up with pretzel buns (for a little more crunch) or Hawaiian sandwich buns (for a little more sweetness).
• Add cheese: Top the hot Sloppy Joe filling with sharp cheddar, white cheddar, provolone, Colby, Gouda, Havarti, pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, etc.
• Don’t use buns!Alternatively, try adding the filling to pitas, wraps, or go low carb with lettuce wraps.
• Change the flavor profile: Go tangier with additional vinegar, sweeter with additional brown sugar or sweet and tangy with additional Worcestershire.
• Make them vegetarian:Substitute the ground beef with Beyond Meat or Impossible Meat – both are great options for producing a juicy texture. You could also try substituting the ground beef with an equal amount of plant-based protein such as crumbled firm tofu, lentils, mushrooms, etc.
• Make them vegan: Use a ground beef substitute described above and use vegan Worcestershire sauce.
• Make them gluten-free:Use gluten free Worcestershire and ketchup; double check the rest of the filling ingredients are gluten free. Use gluten free buns. Canyon Bakehouse’s gluten-free buns are a great substitute.

How to make Sloppy Joes

This Sloppy Joe recipe is as easy as sauté, brown and simmer! Let’s take a closer look at how to make it (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Step 1: Toast buns. Split buns and lay them cut side up on alarge baking tray (15×21). Lightly brush the cut sides with softened butter or mayonnaise (optional for crispier/more flavorful buns). Bake for 5 minutes to toast the buns.

• Step 2: Cook onions and beef. Sauté the onions in a drizzle of olive oil for 4 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until almost browned; drain grease.

• Step 3: Sauté bell pepper and garlic. Add bell pepper, garlic and all seasonings. Cook for 3 minutes or until onions are softened.

• Step 4: Add filling ingredients. Add the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, brown sugar, beef bouillon, water, etc.

• Step 5: Simmer.Gently simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, but the mixture is still a little saucy, about 8-10 minutes.

• Step 6: Assemble. Divide mixture between the toasted buns and dig in!

TIPS FOR making Sloppy Joe Recipe

• Scale up or down. Use the arrows next to the servings in the recipe card to double or triple the recipe.
• Don’t skipping toasting the buns! Toasting the buns provides barrier which helps prevent the juices from soaking into the bun and making it a soggy mess.
• Use a hot pan: The best pan for this iscast iron. It heats up quickly and retains the heat, continuously evaporating any moisture, ensuring the filling is extra flavorful and not diluted and watery.
• Drain excess fat: After browning the ground beef, drain fat from the skillet to prevent excessively greasy Sloppy Joes.
• Watch the sauce consistency:The Sloppy Joe meat can take more or less time to reduce depending on your stove/pot, etc. The key is to watch it closely so it doesn’t reduce too much – we want slightly saucy Sloppy Joes and not dry Sloppy Joes.
• Adjust the seasoning: This is the most important part of the recipe! Some like Their Sloppy Joe recipe tangier, others like it sweeter. Adjust after simmering with additional Worcestershire sauce, mustard, or brown sugar to achieve the desired balance of flavors.
• Enjoy hot: Sloppy Joes are best enjoyed while hot and fresh.
• Don’t assemble early: If not serving immediately, keep the filling warm on the stove until ready to enjoy to prevent soggy buns and cold filling.

What Toppings Can I add to Sloppy Joes?

Traditional Sloppy Joes are not served with toppings – but that doesn’t mean you can add any! Here are a few ideas:

• cheese
• crispy onion rings (like inthis recipe)
• pickles
• sautéed mushrooms
• caramelized onions
• pickled red onions
• pepperoncini
• pimentos
• jalapenos or we love Trader Joe’s Hot and Sweet Jalapenos
• crispy bacon
• potato chips

What to serve with this Simple Sloppy Joe Recipe

These Sloppy Joes are heavenly with simple sides such as pickles, potato chips,and a big green salad. To level up your side game, try pairing with these sides:

• Pasta Salad:Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad,Greek Pasta SaladorItalian Pasta Salad
• Potluck Salads: Loaded Potato Salad,Broccoli Bacon SaladCorn SaladorPerfect Fruit Salad
• Comforting sides:Easy Baked Mac and Cheese,Baked Beans,German Potato Salad orCreamed Corn
• Green Salad: Caesar Salad, Garden Salad, Apple Salad, Strawberry Salad or Wedge Salad
• Veggies:Roasted Asparagus,Glazed Carrots,Sautéed Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts,or Roasted Broccoli

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH SLOPPY JOES MEAT?

This Sloppy Joe meat is incredibly versatile and can be used on anything and everything from pasta to potatoes. Here are some fun variations to try:

• Rice: Serve the meat over or stirred directly into rice.
• Grilled cheese: Sandwich in between bread and toast or use a panini press.
• Pizza: Top your favoritepizza doughwith the Sloppy Joe Meat followed by cheese and bake according to directions or makeStrombolior calzones.
• Stuffed peppers: Combine the Sloppy Joe meat with rice and followthis recipefor baking instructions.
• Potatoes: Serve overmashed potatoes,French friesorbaked potatoes(detailed below).
• Baked Potatoes.Poke holes in washed, dried potatoes. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and lightly brush with oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender and the skin is crispy. Slice open the potatoes, top with Sloppy Joe meat and provolone then place back in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts. Top with sour cream, green onions, etc.
• Mac and cheese: Stir meat into your favoritemac and cheese recipe.
• Pasta and ramen:Keep the Sloppy Joe filling extra saucy and stir it into pasta or ramen.
• Tacos, taquitos or flautas:Stuff in taco shells/tortillas or roll the filling in quality corn tortillas or flour tortillas and either fry or bake like inthis recipe.
• Burritos: Layer a burrito size tortilla with Sloppy Joe meat, beans and cheese, fold, then toast in a skillet like I do inthis recipe.
• Quesadillas:Layer a burrito size tortilla with cheese and filling and grill until golden, cheesy perfection.

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