Making sloppy joe from scratch is actually way easier than you might think. You only need 8 ingredients and about 25 minutes to get dinner on the table.
Why this recipe works
Sloppy joes are a family favorite dinner recipe that comes together using simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Ground beef, onion, bell pepper, brown sugar, mustard, ketchup, and spices are mixed together and sandwiched between a bun. Want to switch it up a bit? Try our Sloppy Joe Pasta version where we swap out the bun with some pasta!
RELATED: you might also like this recipe – Bacon Sloppy Joes
Ingredients you will need
How to Make Sloppy Joes
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
- Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- If the meat begins to dry out during the simmer step, you can loosen it up with some water. Season with salt and pepper and serve on hamburger buns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sloppy joe will freeze well. Allow the meat mixture to cool completely before adding to a freezer container or storage bag. Can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw sloppy joes and heat in the microwave, or in a skillet on medium-low heat. A little water can be added to loosen the mixture if needed.
Sloppy Joe sandwiches go great with french fries, baked sweet potato fries, or macaroni and cheese.
Believe it or now, sloppy joe goes great with pasta! Try our Sloppy Joe Pasta one night this week, or if you need a snack or appetizer, these sloppy joe cornbread muffins are delicious and fun!
This homemade sloppy joe recipe beats the canned version out of the park. Serve them up alongside some baked sweet potato fries, homemade baked beans, or baked mac and cheese!
More Ground Beef Recipes
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Instant Pot Sloppy Joe
- Ground Beef Casserole
- The Best Meatloaf
- John Wayne Casserole
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
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Sloppy Joe
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ¼ cup onion chopped
- ¼ cup green bell pepper chopped
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 3 tsp brown sugar
- ground black pepper and salt to taste
- ½ cup water if needed
- 4 hamburger buns
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- We like to toast our hamburger buns, this creates a firmer base for your sloppy joes and helps them not be AS sloppy.
- Sloppy Joe sandwiches go great with french fries, baked sweet potato fries, or macaroni and cheese.
- Sloppy joe will freeze well. Allow the meat mixture to cool completely before adding to a freezer container or storage bag. Can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw sloppy joes and heat in the microwave, or in a skillet on medium-low heat. A little water can be added to loosen the mixture if needed.
Instructions
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
- Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- If the meat begins to dry out during the simmer step, you can loosen it up with some water. Season with salt and pepper and serve on hamburger buns.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Debbie says
Best sloppy Joe recipe I’ve come across! Thank you! It’s delicious!!
Barbara M Stains says
Try adding 2 tablespoons 0f hamburger relish! Very good!!!
Melissa says
Love it!!! added a little worcestershire
Beverly Rampart says
This is just like my mother always made with the green pepper in it but I could not remember what else she added. LOVE
Janet says
So excited to find a sloppy joe recipe my family could eat because we are a bunch with many food allergies and we all love sloppy joes!! This was a big hit, even my 1 1/2 year old grandson gobbled it down. LOVE
Jkay says
Pretty similar to the recipe I use. I just add a little chili powder and add a little water so it can simmer a few extra minutes.
Sue Charlton McEndree says
I used to make sloppy joe a lot when the kids were all home. I don’t use mustard in mine. I like to add a couple capfuls of Worcestershire sauce & a couple teaspoons of Liquid Smoke to mine. I might make some in a few days after we use up the left overs in the fridge.
Sarah says
My family loves sloppy joes. I have made them from scratch before but this recipe is a bit different from the one I made so I will have to give this one a try next time we make sloppy joes.
Susanamantha says
This is exactly the recipe I have used for years. It’s not too sweet and the green pepper adds a lot. Sometimes I add a tablespoon of dill relish and forego a pickle on the sandwich.. Great to keep in the freezer, flat in a baggie for a quick defrost.