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Homemade Sloppy Joes

Updated:   |   69 Comments

16.15
2.69
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This easy Sloppy Joes recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner. It’s savory, saucy, ready in under 30 minutes, and kid-approved.

a sloppy joe on a platter
sloppy joe on a plate with a bite taken out of it

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

One bite of this sloppy joes recipe and you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with the canned stuff. It’s just as quick as popping a lid, and a thousand times tastier. There’s just no comparison. 

This made-from-scratch version is hearty, saucy, full of bold flavor, and loaded with nostalgia. You’ll love how this recipe turns a simple dinner into pure comfort food that everyone loves. An easy meal never tasted so good.

Ingredients & Estimated Cost:

Recipe Cost: $16.15
Per Serving: $2.69

Here is everything you need to make this sloppy joes recipe, as well as a few substitution recommendations.

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ($0.08) – Canola, Olive oil, or avocado oil will all work as an alternative. 
  • 1 large yellow onion ($0.98) – Use a white chopped onion for a slightly less sweet flavor. 
  • ¾ teaspoon salt ($0.01) – Enhances the overall flavor of the dish. 
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder ($0.19) – Adds a savory taste. Use two fresh garlic cloves as a substitute. 
  • ¾ teaspoon chili powder ($0.03) – Gives a smoky depth to the sauce. Taco seasoning will also work. 
  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef ($9.38) – Use ground turkey for a lighter option. 
  • 1 ½ teaspoons light brown sugar ($0.11) – You can use dark brown sugar instead of light.
  • 10.75 oz canned tomato puree ($3.99) – Equal parts tomato paste and water will give a similar taste and texture to tomato puree. 
  • ½ cup ketchup ($0.24) – Adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the sauce. 
  • ⅓ cup water ($0) – Helps bring the sauce to the perfect consistency. 
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ($0.05) – Use soy sauce as an alternative. 
  • Black Pepper to taste ($0.01) – Gives a subtle heat to the dish. White pepper will also work. 
  • 6 hamburger buns ($1.08) – Any hardy bread, such as Brioche rolls, will work to hold the beef mixture. 

The recipe cost is calculated based on the amounts needed and will vary depending on fluctuating grocery costs.

How To Make Sloppy Joes

  1. Add oil and heat over medium-high heat. Once the oil is simmering, reduce the 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. Stir in garlic powder and chili powder and cook until fragrant.
  3. 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. Season mixture with pepper. Serve on hamburger buns. 
a collage of making sloppy joes by adding the seasonings, ketchup, water and thickening the sauce

Recipe Tips

Toast the buns to prevent sogginess. 

Sprinkle cheese right over the homemade sloppy joe sauce before spooning the meat mixture onto the buns for a delicious sloppy joe twist.  

Add bell peppers for some extra flavor. 

Stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes for some additional spice. 

Make the meat mixture ahead of time for busy nights and store it in the fridge for up to two days before you need it. Then reheat the mixture on the stove with a splash of water. 

      What sides go with Sloppy Joes 

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          Best Sloppy Joes Recipe

          Recipe Cost 16.15
          Serving Cost 2.69
          Author Jess Jankowski
          Course Main Course
          Cuisine American
          Easy, savory, and saucy, this sloppy joes recipe makes dinner a breeze. It is kid-approved and on the table in under 30 minutes.
          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 simmering, 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, about 20 seconds.
          • 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.
          • 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.

          Video

          Notes

          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.
          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. 

          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
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          2 sandwiches on a wooden board with potato chips.

          Ground Beef Sloppy Joes FAQs

          How can I keep sloppy joes from being too greasy?

          If you use 90% lean beef, you will have less excess fat. But you can also drain any excess fat after browning the meat to keep the sauce rich but not oily.

          How do you thicken up Sloppy Joes?

          If you need to thicken up the sauce, mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with one tablespoon of warm water in a small bowl. Use this ratio for every cup of sauce you need to thicken. Whisk the mixture slowly into the sloppy joe sauce until you reach the desired consistency.

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

          My recipe calls for 1 ½ pounds 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 ½ large yellow onions, chopped fine
          2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon salt 
          ⅓ cup garlic powder 
          2 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon chili powder 
          12 ½ pounds lean ground beef
          black pepper to taste 
          ¼ cup light brown sugar
          3 (29 oz) cans tomato puree
          4 cups + 2 Tablespoons ketchup
          2 ¾ cups water
          2 ¾ Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
          50 hamburger buns

          More Sloppy Joe Recipes

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          Reader Interactions

          Comments

          4. 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

          5. 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

          9. 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

          13. 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

          14. 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

          16. 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

            • 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.

              Reply

          18. 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!

              Reply

          20. 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
          5 from 24 votes

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