Our quick and easy homemade sloppy joes have the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy, just as you’d expect from this childhood classic. With our easy to follow directions, step-by-step photos, and tips for sloppy joe success, you’ll have this fun and messy meal on your table in no time. It’s sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike!
Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“SOOO much better than using the canned stuff! And nearly as easy too. No chopping or fussing. If you can brown ground beef, you can make this recipe!” – Kassie
Who doesn’t love a good ol’ sloppy joe (*insert Billy Madison meme here*). This nostalgic dish is a classic for a reason! But there’s no need to get a can of sauce when you can easily make an even better version at home.
My husband grew up eating sloppy joes nearly every Saturday when his dad was in charge of lunch, so has a soft spot for this dish. And after throughout testing, he’s confirmed whole-heartedly that our homemade version hits the spot in all the right ways.
What are Sloppy Joes?
A classic sloppy joe refers to a messy-to-eat sandwich filled with a mixture made from ground beef, onion, and tomato-based sauce served on a hamburger bun. The origins of this dish is attributed to a chef named Joe out of Sioux City, Iowa in the 1930s who added tomato sauce to the popular “loose meat sandwich” of the time.
You’ll find different versions of the classic throughout the country. Rhode Island’s “dynamite” is similar to the classic sloppy joe but often includes more veggies like bell peppers and onions. Iowa’s famous “maid-rite” sandwich is often considered similar to the classic, but this version has a distinct flavor profile and is made without the tomato sauce. New Jersey has their own version of a sloppy joe, which is a very different kind of sandwich all together.
Other popular names for classic sloppy joes include slushburgers, spoonburgers, steamers, wimpies, yum yums, sloppy janes, Manwich, and a tavern sandwich.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Homemade Sloppy Joes
Ready in 20-minutes. This meal is quick and easy to make, helping you put a homemade meal on your family’s table (even on those extra busy weeknights).
One pan meal. Less dishes is always a win in my book!
No chunks of onions or peppers. When I was a kid I would put up a stink about trying anything with big chunks of onions in it (any parents relating to this with your own kiddos?!). Our recipe uses onion powder to add flavor (which also saves you the time of cutting up an onion), and just a hint of minced garlic which disappears right into the sauce, making it a great choice for pickier eaters.
Option to make in the crockpot for a party! Having a get together? Make a big batch of sloppy joes to feed your guests with the help of your crockpot.
Best Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef. Beef is the standard base of any classic sloppy joe. We like to an 85/15 blend best (this is a great all-around blend for many recipes). If you’d prefer a leaner variety, try 90/10. Or lean in with a version with a higher fat content.
- Tomato sauce AND ketchup. Our recipe uses a mixture of tomato sauce and ketchup to create the perfect tomato-based sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce. Adds depth of flavor to our sauce, as well as balances out the sweetness of the ketchup and brown sugar.
- Yellow mustard. Just a little mustard adds that pop of acid and tang our sauce needs for a well-rounded sauce.
- Garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. We’re using a combination of simple spices to flavor our sauce.
- Brown sugar. A little brown sugar goes a long way in the sauce, adding that rich hint of sweetness and balancing out the tanginess of the tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for ingredient measurements and full directions.
How to Make Sloppy Joes from Scratch
In a medium or large skillet over medium-high heat, brown your ground beef, breaking it down into small crumbles, until no pink remains (this will take about 7-10 minutes). Strain off any fat/excess liquid.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the pan with the browned beef, sautéing until the garlic is fragrant (about 30-seconds to 1 minute).
Tip for Removing the Fat From Your Browned Beef
The two easiest ways to do this are either 1) tilting your pan and removing the fat/liquid with a spoon into an empty can or container for disposal, or 2) transferring the browned meat to a colander to drain. Then transfer the meat back into your skillet from the colander to continue with the rest of the recipe.
Add the tomato sauce and ketchup to the pan, stirring it into the meat while also working to scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan (we’re using the acid from the tomatoes to help us deglaze our pan!).
Add the remaining ingredients (Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, onion powder, salt, and pepper) to the pan and stir to combine.
Simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld, until the sauce it thickened to your liking. If needed, add 1-2 Tablespoons of water to the sauce during this process.
Serve and enjoy! See the ‘How to Serve’ and ‘Best Sides’ sections below for tips.
Best Sloppy Joe Recipe Variations
Make it spicy. Some folks prefer a spicier sloppy joe, and that’s totally cool. Just add a dash of hot sauce or sriracha into your sauce as it simmers.
Use fresh onion and/or add some bell pepper to you mixture. Like the texture of onions in your sloppy joes? Always had it with some peppers in it? Great. Simply dice and sauté half of a medium yellow or white onion and/or half of any color of bell pepper with a little oil before you brown your meat.
Try our lentil sloppy joes for a delicious meatless version! In my decade as a vegetarian, I mastered our lentil version. And although we have meat incorporated back into our diet, we still love and make the meatless version often. Even meat lovers enjoy this recipe (it surprised my aunt based in rural Minnesota that my uncle and several cousins preferred it to her regular version that she had made as a backup in case the lentil version didn’t go over well… if my uncle loved it, then your meat-loving friend or partner likely will too).
Alternative Cook Method: Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
After browning your ground beef and draining the fat / excess liquid, simply place the browned beef and all sauce ingredients into your slow cooker, stirring to combine. Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or HIGH for 2 hours.
Making a triple batch (using 3 pounds of ground beef) will make 12 hearty servings.
Possible Dietary Restrictions? Notes for Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Eaters
As written, this recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free! However, there are a few things to consider when serving this to someone with a food allergy or restriction:
- Most Worcestershire sauces are gluten-free, but if serving to someone with celiac, be sure to double-check the ingredients on the label to ensure no wheat or barley was included. The same goes for any of your ingredients.
- Be sure to provide a style of bun for serving that meets your dietary needs. Gluten-free hamburger bun varieties may be easier to find than dairy-free ones. If needed, there are a lot of dairy-free bun recipes on the internet that you could try.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
Sloppy joes are designed to be served on a hamburger bun and eaten like (a very messy) sandwich. Toasting the bun is optional, based on personal preference. And I’ll be the first to tell you no judgement if you’d prefer to eat yours open faced (this is what I usually do when I bring in leftover sloppy joes to work for lunch, you know, to be professional and all).
Adding a slice of cheese such as cheddar, Colby jack, American, or pepper jack is a great addition to your sammie.
Other toppings often enjoyed on sloppy joes include pickles, slices of onion (raw or pickled), slices of jalapeños (fresh or pickled), and slices of banana peppers.
Want something other than a sandwich? Try serving your filling one of these ways:
- Serve it on a baked potato with any other toppings you enjoy.
- Spoon it over a hot dog, similar to a chili dog.
- Make loaded French fries (similar to chili cheese fries) with this and a generous amount of cheese.
- Use it as the meat filling for a fun twist on stuffed peppers.
- Layer it into a grilled cheese sandwich for an extra cheesy, sloppy, and delicious bite.
Best Sides for Sloppy Joes
Serve your sloppy joes with one (or more!) of the following sides to round out your meal:
- Steamed or roasted veggies like green beans, broccoli, or peas. We often will grab one of those frozen steamer veggie packs if we’re in a rush!
- Green salad. Keep it simple with greens and your favorite dressing, grab your favorite bagged salad, or make something fun and fancy.
- Veggie salads. Try serving this alongside our old-fashioned cucumber salad or our caprese green bean and tomato salad for a different kind of veggie side.
- Creamy coleslaw. A classic and delicious pairing with this dish!
- Carrot sticks. Cut up some fresh carrot sticks or grabs some baby carrots for an easy and crunchy side.
- Potato chips. Regular, sweet potato, BBQ… whatever your favorite flavor may be, chips add a nice crunch to your meal.
- Any of your favorite summer BBQ side dishes (check out our 101 4th of July Cookout Recipes Roundup for ideas!)
How to Store and Reheat the Best Sloppy Joes
Store fully-cooled sloppy joe filling in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
You can also freeze sloppy joe filling! Portion the fully cooked and cooled sloppy joe mixture into labeled zip-top bags and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, allow to thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the microwave or on the stove.
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe FAQs
Manwich is just a brand name for a type of canned sloppy joe sauce that became so popular it’s now often used interchangeably with the term “sloppy joe.” It’s similar to how people say “Kleenex” when they mean tissue or “Band-Aid” when they mean adhesive bandage. The Manwich brand sauce came out in the 1960s as a convenient way to make sloppy joes without mixing your own sauce from scratch. Our homemade version gives you that classic sloppy joe flavor with fresh ingredients and no preservatives, and it’s just as easy to make as opening a can.
If your sloppy joes are too thin or watery, the easiest way to thicken them is to simply let them simmer uncovered on low heat for a few extra minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid will evaporate and the sauce will naturally thicken up. You can also add a tablespoon or two of tomato paste to help thicken the sauce while adding extra tomato flavor. Another option is to mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into your sloppy joe mixture and simmer for a minute or two until it thickens. On the flip side, if your sauce gets too thick, just add a tablespoon or two of water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
Yes! Sloppy joes are actually a great make ahead meal. You can prepare the filling up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through, stirring occasionally. You can also make a big batch and freeze the filling for up to 3 months (see notes above in the ‘How to Store and Reheat’ section).
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Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- Medium or Large Skillet
- Rubber Scrapper (helpful for getting all the tomato sauce out of the can)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (recommend 85/15 blend)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 cloves = ~ 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic)
- 1 , 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ Cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar (dark or light)
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- optional: 1-2 Tablespoons of water (used to adjust thickness of the sauce)
Instructions
Stovetop Method (20-Minute Meal)
- Brown the beef. In a medium or large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it down into small crumbles, until no pink remains (approximately 7-10 minutes). Strain off any fat/excess liquid.
- Make the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic, sautéing until the garlic is fragrant (approximately 30-seconds to 1 minute).
- Add the tomato sauce and ketchup to the pan, stirring it into the meat while also working to scrape any brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Then add the remaining ingredients (Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, onion powder, salt, and pepper) and stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken to your liking. *If needed, add 1-2 Tablespoons of water to the sauce during this process if it's getting too thick or you prefer a looser sloppy joe.
- Serve and enjoy!
Crock Pot Method (Great Option for Parties)
- Brown the beef. In a medium or large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it down into small crumbles, until no pink remains (approximately 7-10 minutes). Strain off any fat/excess liquid.
- Place all ingredients in the slow cooker. After browning your ground beef and draining the fat / excess liquid, simply place the browned beef and all remaining ingredients into your slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours, or HIGH for 2 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
Kassie H says
SOOO much better than using the canned stuff! And nearly as easy too. No chopping or fussing. If you can brown ground beef, you can make this recipe LOL!
Meredith says
So happy to hear you loved these sloppy joes Kassie!! Thanks for the kind feedback 🙂
Marge says
these just take you right back to childhood, so good!