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The Best Sloppy Joes are homemade and delicious enough for adults and kids alike! The whole family will love this delicious easy dinner.

Sloppy Joe on white plate with skillet in background

Sloppy Joes can be amazing, didn’t you know? It doesn’t have to be a quick, thrown together meal from a can that kids can tolerate. It can be flavorful and packed full of delicious vegetables. It can have texture!

PRO TIP: Toast your buns before placing your meat on. This will take your sloppy Joes to the next level! Simply place open-face on a baking sheet and put under the broiler setting on your oven. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly browned, but keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.

  • What kind of ground beef should I use?

    A lean ground beef (93/7) mixture is a great option for sloppy joes. There’s hardly any fat which means you probably won’t even need to drain the grease off of your meat. If you like your sloppy joes on the greasy side, feel free to use a higher fat content ground beef.
  • Do I have to add all of the vegetables?

    No. You can adjust the amount of vegetables to your own personal taste. However, the vegetables add extra flavor and amazing texture to this historically mushy sandwich of our childhood, and we do recommend sticking to the recipe as closely as possible.
  • Where did the name “Sloppy Joe”come from?

    There is much debate over who originally created the sloppy joe. It is said that a man named Joe in Iowa possibly created the sloppy joe in 1930. Another possibility, Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida has served sloppy Joes since they opened in 1933. Last but not least, Sloppy Joe’s Saloon in Havana is another contender for original creator. So who really invented this favorite loose meat sandwich? The world may never know.

If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other classic American dinner recipes:

Sloppy Joe meat and veggie mix in skillet with spoon

Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTubeFacebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.

Sloppy Joe with a sesame bun on white plate
The Best Sloppy Joes are homemade and delicious enough for adults and kids alike! The whole family will love this delicious easy dinner.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper diced
  • 2 ribs celery diced
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and yellow onion together, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and cooked through.
  • Drain any excess fat from the skillet and return skillet to heat.
  • Add in bell pepper, celery, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, brown sugar, salt, ground mustard, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. Simmering time depends on how crisp you want the vegetables.
  • Serve meat hot on toasted buns.
Notes
You can adjust the amount of vegetables to your own personal taste. However, the vegetables add extra flavor and amazing texture to this historically mushy sandwich of our childhood, and we do recommend sticking to the recipe as closely as possible.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 598mg | Potassium: 362mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3.2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Sloppy Joes
Best Homemade Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joe with a sesame bun on white plate
The Best Sloppy Joes are homemade and delicious enough for adults and kids alike! The whole family will love this delicious easy dinner.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper diced
  • 2 ribs celery diced
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and yellow onion together, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and cooked through.
  • Drain any excess fat from the skillet and return skillet to heat.
  • Add in bell pepper, celery, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, brown sugar, salt, ground mustard, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. Simmering time depends on how crisp you want the vegetables.
  • Serve meat hot on toasted buns.
Notes
You can adjust the amount of vegetables to your own personal taste. However, the vegetables add extra flavor and amazing texture to this historically mushy sandwich of our childhood, and we do recommend sticking to the recipe as closely as possible.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 598mg | Potassium: 362mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 14.9mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3.2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Sloppy Joes
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