This is our families tried and true recipe for The BEST Sloppy Joes! It’s loaded with ground beef, sautéed onion, bell pepper and garlic. It all gets tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce! This will be your new favorite Sloppy Joe Recipe!

Hand holding a sloppy joe served on a white plate.

The Best Sloppy Joes Recipe

This homemade sloppy joes recipe is the perfect combination of convenience and taste! With simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can have this tasty meal ready in under 30 minutes. Plus, it uses just one pan which means less cleanup! 

The convenience of this recipe makes it great for busy weeknights. Not to mention it is absolutely delicious!

The tangy, savory sauce with just a hint of sweetness makes it a family favorite for kids and adults alike. Especially when you are craving something comforting and easy, this sloppy joes recipe is perfect for you!

For a low carb twist make these into Sloppy Joe Bowls!

Sloppy joe filling in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

Ingredients Needed

  • Onion & Bell Pepper: These veggies start the flavor-building process and add some extra texture to the sauce! I used yellow bell pepper but you can use any color! Green bell pepper has a slightly bitter taste but would still be delicious.
  • Ground Beef: Ground beef makes perfectly savory sloppy joes. For a less rich option, you can substitute it with ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • Garlic: Adds a depth of savory flavor to the sauce.
  • Ketchup & Tomato Sauce: These form the base of the sauce, giving the sloppy joes a rich, tangy tomato flavor.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: For a tangy, umami flavor!
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Gives the sauce a bit of acidity!
  • Light Brown Sugar: Just a hint of sugar balances the tanginess of the sauce with a touch of sweetness. I recommend adding sugar to taste.
  • Seasonings: I added dried mustard, salt and freshly ground black pepper here to season up the sauce to perfection. You can add more or less salt and pepper to taste!
  • Buns: Serve these best sloppy joes on your favorite hamburger buns!

How to Make The best sloppy joes

  1. Sauté the Onion & Pepper: Heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add in onions and bell peppers and saute for 3-4 minutes to soften and develop some color.
Onions and bell pepper sautéing in a skillet on the stove.
  1. Add Ground Beef & Garlic: Add in ground beef and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the ground beef is no longer pink. Stir in garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Ground beef being browned with the onion mixture in a skillet.
  1. Add Sauce: Next add in the ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, dried mustard, salt and pepper.
  2. Simmer: Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes or until everything is heated up and the mixture has thickened slightly.
  3. Serve & Enjoy: Serve on rolls and enjoy!
Sloppy joe beef mixture in a skillet after being simmered.

Serving Suggestions

This sloppy joe meat sauce is perfect to serve on buns to make classic sloppy joes! Or, serve on mini buns to make adorable little sliders. Here are some additional ways to serve them!

  • Topped with cheese. Add a slice of cheddar or provolone cheese on top for extra indulgence.
  • Stuffed baked sweet potatoes. Spoon the mixture over baked potatoes or sweet potatoes for hearty, gluten-free sloppy joe stuffed sweet potatoes!
  • Over rice or pasta. For a different twist, serve the sloppy joe mixture over rice or pasta for a deconstructed version.

On the side, I recommend serving it with some classic side dishes like baked french fries, parmesan crusted potatoes, or crispy smashed ranch carrots!

Sloppy joe mixture served in baked sweet potatoes.

Frequently Asked questions

What if my sauce isn’t thick enough?

If you need the sloppy joes sauce to be thicker before serving it on buns, all you need to do is let it simmer a little bit more! The sauce will reduce, leaving a thick, chunky sauce.

How long do leftovers last?

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the sloppy joes filling will last up to 3 days. Simply reheat, serve and enjoy!

Can I freeze sloppy joe mixture for later?

Definitely! Allow the mixture to cool and them place in a freezer safe container or ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, remove from the freezer and thaw in the fridge overnight before heating it up.

Open faced sloppy joe on a white plate.

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    Recipe

    Sloppy Joes

    5 from 1 vote
    The Best Sloppy Joes are a timeless comfort food featuring a hearty sauce with the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors! Whether you’re feeding a crowd or making a quick weeknight dinner, these sloppy joes are sure to be a hit.
    Author: Kelley Simmons
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Serves 4
    Rate Print

    Ingredients 

    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 large onion, diced
    • 1 large bell pepper, diced
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1/2 cup ketchup
    • 8 ounces tomato sauce
    • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tbsp light brown sugar
    • 2 tsp dried mustard
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp pepper
    • 4 buns, for serving

    Instructions

    • Heat olive oil over medium high heat.
      Add in onions and bell peppers and saute for 3-4 minutes to soften and develop some color.
    • Add in ground beef and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the ground beef is no longer pink.
      Stir in garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • Next add in the ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, light brown sugar, dried mustard, salt and pepper.
      Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes or until everything is heated up and the mixture has thickened slightly.
    • Serve on rolls and enjoy!

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 414kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 22gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 822mgPotassium: 762mgFiber: 3gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 1688IUVitamin C: 62mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 4mg

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