Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
The perfect combination of sweet, savory, and tangy makes these homemade sloppy joes a crowd favorite! This quick and easy meal is sure to be a hit with kids and adults.
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 305kcal
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!
Video
Notes
*Storage: 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. Option to freeze the filling by portioning the fully cooked and cooled sloppy joe mixture into labeled zip-top bags and freezing 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.
*A detailed list of ways to serve, including the best sides for sloppy joes, is included above in the blog post in the 'How to Serve' section.
Nutrition
Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 976mg | Potassium: 632mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg
