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Homemade Sloppy Joes

Created On:   |  Updated:   |   68 Comments

9.34
1.56
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The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.

Homemade Sloppy Joes is a classic dinner recipe that is easy to make and economical too! It takes less than 30 minutes to make and costs about $9.34 for six servings! That’s just around $1.56 per serving! 

Finished recipe with text overlay for Pinterest.

Every time I make this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, I cannot help but start singing The Lunchlady Song by Adam Sandler. Do you know the one I am talking about? I sing it every single time I make this. 

“Well, yesterday’s meatloaf is today’s Sloppy Joes…Sloppy Joe, slop, Sloppy Joe.” LOL! It’s the BEST song! However, even though this Sloppy Joe recipe is super easy, it does NOT use yesterday’s meatloaf! I just wanted to clarify that.

Now, you could be like the Lunchlady and whip up some Sloppy Joes very quickly by using the can of premade sauce that you just add to the beef. I have done it in a pinch a few times myself.

But once you make Sloppy Joes using this recipe you, will never look back. It is just as easy as opening a can and is seriously the BEST Sloppy Joe recipe ever! It is so much better than anything you will get from the Lunchlady or the premade can. 

A sloppy joe on a plate with a bite taken out of it.

Sloppy Joe Recipe Questions Answered: 

How many pounds of hamburger do I need for 50 Sloppy Joes?

Our recipe calls for 1 ½ pound of ground beef, which makes enough for six servings. To make 50 sandwiches, you would need to purchase 12 ½ pounds of meat. 

The remaining ingredients for 50 sandwiches are as follows:

  • 1 cup of vegetable oil 
  • 8 1/2 large yellow onions, chopped fine
  • 2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon salt 
  • 1/3 cup garlic powder 
  • 2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon chili powder 
  • 12 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
  • black pepper to taste 
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 (29 oz) cans tomato puree
  • 4 cups + 2 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 3/4 cups water
  • 2 3/4 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 50 hamburger buns

How do you thicken up Sloppy Joes?

If you need to thicken up your homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, simply mix 1 TBS cornstarch and one tablespoon of warm water in a small bowl. Use this ratio for every cup of sauce you need to thicken. Whisk in the mixture slowly into the Sloppy Joe sauce until you reach the desired consistency. 

Are Sloppy Joes fattening? 

Sloppy Joes are traditionally made using ground beef. While beef is a good source of protein, it is high fat and calories. If you are looking for a healthier version of this Sloppy Joe recipe, try substituting ground turkey for the beef. 

Overhead picture of the finished sloppy joe mixture.

How to Make Classic Sloppy Joes Recipe:

  1. First, in a large skillet, add oil and heat over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, reduce heat to medium and add onions and salt and saute, often stirring, until onions are translucent and beginning to brown around the edges, about 6-10 minutes. 
  2. Then, stir in garlic powder and chili powder and cook until fragrant, bout 20 seconds. 
  3. Next, add in the beef and use the back of a wooden spoon to break the meat apart. Cook until the meat is almost browned all the way through. 
  4. Stir in brown sugar, tomato puree, ketchup, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer the mixture until the sauce has thickened, about 5-10 minutes. 
  5. Finally, season mixture with pepper. Serve on hamburger buns. 

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

  • Ages 2-3: Let them help you spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture onto the hamburger buns.  
  • Ages 4-5: Let them help measure the ingredients and add them to the skillet when making the sauce. They would also love brushing the butter on the buns. 
  • Ages 6-8: Teach them how to saute the onion and brown the meat. 
  • Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. Remember to teach knife safety when cutting the onions. 
  • Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.

A hand holding up a sloppy joe.

The flavor and Recipe Variations:

What sides go with Sloppy Joes: 

More Easy Main Dish Ideas:

How long is this good for:

  • Serve: The mixture can stay at room temperature for up to 2 hours. 
  • Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
  • Freeze: You can freeze the prepared sloppy joe mixture for up to 3 months in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
    • To reheat: Defrost the mixture in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until heated through, about 7-10 minutes. You may need to add a few tablespoons of water to loosen the mixture a bit. 
A close up picture of a sloppy joe.

Ingredients and Estimated Cost

RECIPE COST: $9.34

PER SERVING COST: $1.56

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil – $0.06
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped fine – $0.62
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt – $0.01
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder – $0.06 
  • 3/4 teaspoon chili powder – $0.02
  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef – $5.40
  • black pepper to taste – $0.03
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar – $0.02
  • 10.75oz canned tomato puree – $0.95
  • 1/2 cup ketchup – $0.44
  • 1/3 cup water – $0
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce – $0.02
  • 6 hamburger buns – $1.71
Picture collage for Pinterest.

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Best Sloppy Joes

Recipe Cost 9.34
Serving Cost 1.56
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Homemade Sloppy Joes is a classic dinner recipe that is easy to make and economical too! It takes less than 30 minutes to make and costs just $9.34 for six servings! 
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes


Equipment

  • cutting board
  • chef knife
  • large skillet
  • Wooden spoon

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped fine
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 ½ teaspoons light brown sugar
  • 10.75 oz canned tomato puree
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • black pepper to taste
  • 6 hamburger buns toasted and buttered
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet add oil and heat over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, reduce heat to medium and add onions and salt and saute, stirring often, until onions are translucent and beginning to brown around the edges, about 6-10 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic powder and chili powder and cook until fragrant, bout 20 seconds.
    Sauté the onions and add in the garlic powder and chile powder.
  • Add in beef and use the back of a wooden spoon to break the meat apart. Cook until the meat is almost browned all the way through.
    Brown the beef and pour in the ketchup, tomato puree, and water.
  • Stir in brown sugar, tomato puree, ketchup, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer the mixture until the sauce has thickened, about 5-10 minutes. Season mixture with pepper. Serve on hamburger buns.
    Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1sloppy joe | Calories: 372.75kcal | Carbohydrates: 35.11g | Protein: 30.01g | Fat: 12.16g | Saturated Fat: 6.78g | Cholesterol: 70.31mg | Sodium: 792.36mg | Potassium: 779.64mg | Fiber: 2.42g | Sugar: 11.42g | Vitamin A: 435.77IU | Vitamin C: 8.12mg | Calcium: 101.16mg | Iron: 5.35mg
Love this recipe?Follow @EasyBudgetRecipes or tag #EasyBudgetRecipes!
2 sandwiches on a wooden board with potato chips.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Claudia Lamascolo says

    5 stars
    Wow does this ever bring back memories of mom … I just got such a great feeling looking at this post thanks so much!

    Reply

  3. Debbie Hagood says

    This caught my eye because you told house much ground beef for to make sloppy joes for 50 but not sure how to multiply out the rest of the ingredients to make for 50. Do you have that information. I would love to make this for our church community meal.

    Reply

    • Jess Jankowski says

      This would be an awesome dish for your church community meal! Thank you for your question. If you look back on the website under the Questions answered, I have updated it with the rest of the ingredients for a serving size of 50. Please let us know how it goes!

    • Jess Jankowski says

      Hi Patsy. I am sorry it turned out runny for you. My first question would be are you sure you used Tomato Puree and not sauce? We just updated the post to include a video with step by step directions to make this. We hope that hopes and that you will try again. Feel free to season to taste.

  5. Debbie Hagood says

    I tried this tonight and we liked it. I see the recipe for 50 now but it says 1 1/5 lbs of ground beef. I think that’s a typo. ??? How much ground beef would I need to make this for 50?

    Reply

  7. Gemma says

    5 stars
    I am embarrassed to admit, I’ve never tried Sloppy Joes before! I feel like I’ve been massively missing out though, after this reading this post. They sound so delicious and something I need to make this weekend! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us xo

    Reply

  8. Tessa Zundel says

    Now this is a family friendly recipe!! I love that you included ways for the kids to help – cooking with kids is SO important. Children raised in the kitchen eat more healthy!

    Reply

    • Jess Jankowski says

      Hi Patty. We have not tried it with bbq sauce yet. But that does sound yummy. If you try it please come back here and let us know how it goes, we would love to know!

  12. Melissa Fabela says

    5 stars
    I’ve been trying so many different sloppy joe recipes for my family and this one hit the mark! Will definitely be my go-to from now on!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      5 stars
      I’ve personally never been a huge sloppy joe fan (always the canned stuff when I was a kid), but this recipe is pretty good! Much better than what I remember growing up with lol. Also my picky-eater kids love this recipe every time I make it, so that’s a huge win for me!

  16. Christie Gagnon says

    5 stars
    I haven’t had a sloppy joe since I was a kid and am thinking I need to introduce my kids to them! I think I will substitute ground turkey though. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  17. Amy Chung says

    5 stars
    Don’t think I’m crazy but I’ve never had sloppy joes before! But I do love the idea of using leftover meatloaf to make them. Love being able to re-constitute leftovers to reduce food wastage. This is great and my daughter would be able to make this herself….so no cooking for me tonight! LOL

    Reply

    • Jess Jankowski says

      Oh my goodness Amy! It is time to have one! That’s such a good idea to use some leftover meat to make these. That makes it an even easier meal to make! Enjoy!

    • Jess Jankowski says

      Thank you Marta! We are strong believers of getting the kids involved, even if it does take a little longer and make a little bit more of a mess!

  23. Jordan says

    5 stars
    Yum! Sloppy Joe’s used to be one of my favorite meals as a kid but I haven’t had one in a long time. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  24. Gloria says

    5 stars
    I cannot remember the last time I had sloppy joes. It was always a hit with the family. I think I have everything I need to make this for dinner tonight.

    Reply

  25. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    5 stars
    Now you have got me craving Sloppy Joes – it is such a fab and delicious dinner that my family always enjoys. Will be giving yours a go for sure.

    Reply

  28. Rosemary says

    5 stars
    This was one of my favorite childhood recipes and thank you for the wonderful memories. I haven’t made sloppy joe’s in a while and now I will 🙂 I really like how you have detailed age-approriate steps for kids. I don’t have kids, but I’m sending this recipe to my sister. Cheers

    Reply

  29. Lois says

    PLEASE change the quantity listed for vegetable oil – of 8 cups under amounts needed for 50 sandwiches!!!! That would make this wonderful recipe a definite MESS!!!

    Reply

  30. Sarah says

    5 stars
    My husband has few food dislikes and mustard is one of them. I have never found a homemade sloppy joe recipe without mustard until I happened upon yours! We are in love. Our entire family, including 3 littles, inhaled this entree. We will definitely make it again, thanks so much!!

    Reply

  31. Kim says

    5 stars
    My husband & I really enjoyed this! I made it with Beyond Beef to make it vegetarian & since that’s only 1 lb I adjusted the spices & liquid ingred down a bit & it came out delicious. I did not have tomato puree so I looked up substitutes & used equal parts tomato paste & water. I was so happy to not use the canned Sloppy Joe sauce. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply

  33. Julie says

    what can I substitute for the Worcester sauce? I love sloppy Joe’s but I have heart problems and need to watch my salt intake

    this recipe sounds yummy

    Reply

    • Jess Jankowski says

      Hi we have not tested the recipe with anything other than Worcestershire sauce but you could try some BBQ sauce. Please note this will alter the overall taste of the Sloppy Joes.

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