Julie Clark
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Homemade Sloppy Joes
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There’s nothing like a classic sloppy joe sandwich! Our homemade sloppy joes start with a from scratch sauce made without ketchup.
Set aside the Manwich canned sauce and make your own sauce for sloppy joes. This vintage recipe is the one I’ve turned to from my early days of marriage because it is so easy. It’s a family dinner that can be on the table in under 30 minutes. You might also like our sloppy joe pasta and Italian sloppy joes which both are also easy family dinners.
The Old-School Sloppy Joes Recipe That Doesn’t Use Ketchup at All
Years ago when I started looking for a homemade sloppy joes recipe, I flipped right past any that called for ketchup. I wanted to be able to control the amount of sugar and seasonings in the sauce, so using tomato sauce as a base was a must. Same goes with my spaghetti sauce.
Side note is that many times sloppy joe meat is called a “loose meat sandwich”. It makes sense, right?
This sloppy joe recipe has the perfect mix of flavor thanks to the bell pepper, onion, tomato sauce and brown sugar. Kids will love it served on hamburger buns with a slice of cheese.
Try serving the homemade sloppy joes with corn casserole, oven baked fries or white cheddar mac and cheese. And maybe a chocolate chip cupcake for dessert.
And try our homemade hamburger helper or quesadilla burger next.
Enjoy, -Julie
Ingredients
I always choose a lean ground beef, which means the beef may not crumble as finely as you remember when you were a kid. But they’ll be better for you!
The sloppy joe sauce ingredients contain Worcestershire sauce and mustard for depth of flavor, plus vinegar for that familiar tangy flavor that sloppy joes often have.
See the recipe card below for complete ingredients and amounts.
Homemade Sloppy Joes
There's nothing like a classic sloppy joe sandwich! Our homemade sloppy joes start with a from scratch sauce made without ketchup.
Servings 4
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup diced white onion
- 1/4 cup diced green pepper
- 1 cup tomato sauce 1 8-ounce can
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, minced garlic, onion and pepper. Crumble the ground beef as it cooks. Drain off any fat. 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, ¼ cup diced white onion, ¼ cup diced green pepper
- Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet. Stir well. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon salt
- Serve on sandwich buns or over potatoes if desired.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 3 days. Reheat any leftovers in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove top.
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 4, with 1 serving being ¼ of the sloppy joe meat. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
Nutrition
Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1018mg | Potassium: 655mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 4mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make sloppy joe in a crock pot?
Yes! Or rather, it’s more about keeping it warm in a crockpot. Make the homemade sloppy joes on the stovetop, then put in a slow cooker to keep warm. If the mixture was made in advance, allow 2-3 hours for the meat to cook through fully.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. You may use ground chicken, too.
