Name: Homemade Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 6 sandwiches
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound lean hamburger; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1/4 to 1/3 cup brown sugar; 3 tablespoons yellow mustard; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; Salt and pepper (to taste); 4 to 6 hamburger buns; Butter (at room temperature); Pickles for serving (optional (but not really optional))

TheseHomemade Sloppy Joesare quick, easy, and oh-so-good. No canned food of any kind is needed for this recipe!Sloppy Joes are such a fun treat and the easiest meal to make.

Lest you think I only eatcupcakesandoatmeal cream pies, here is something not so sweet. I have just recently fallen in love with Sloppy Joes. Theycome together in about 15 minutes with not a whole lot of ingredients, so I make them on nights I didn’t plan dinner out very well!

white plate containing sloppy joe on a bun with two pickles and potato chips.

I honestly make them just to have a reason to eatpickles, too. I love pickles. (Mom, if you’re reading this, did we eat sloppy Joes when I was a kid? I can’t remember eating a sloppy Joe until I was in college. Weird, huh?!) Also, don’t you dare get lazy and skip toasting the buns.Golden-brown toasted buns change everything.

a metal pan with ground beef a white bowl with mustard and ketchup white bowl with dark liquid smaller white bowl with brown sugar.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You will love having this Sloppy Joe recipe in your back pocketfor busy days when you need a hearty, warm mealthat comes together fast!
Theycome together in about 15 minutes with not a whole lot of ingredients
This recipe is sweet, salty, and sloppy. And thepicklescomplete the sandwich. They give thatperfect sour and acidic tang to complement the richness of the sweet meat.

Ingredient Notes

Ground Beef:Lean ground beef works wonderfully for this recipe, with rich flavor without a lot of grease.

Ketchup:Ketchup is used to form the sweet, tangy base of the sauce.

Brown Sugar:Adds a hint of molasses sweetness to perfectly balance out the acidity of the tomato elements.

Yellow Mustard:Provides the sharp, tangy contrast that cuts through the richness of the beef and sugar.

Worcestershire Sauce:Just a splash adds a savory, complex flavor to the sauce.

Onion Powder:This seasoning paired with garlic powder gives a wonderful aromatic flavor to the sauce.

Garlic Powder:When paired with the onion powder, the garlic powder adds a wonderful flavor to the sauce.

Salt and Pepper:Use to elevate and round out the flavor profile.

Hamburger Buns:Used to serve the sloppy joe sandwiches.

Butter:Added to make the bun a little bit crispy.

Pickles for Serving:TheseHomemade Picklesare perfect for topping the sloppy joes with.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

ground beef mixture in metal pan with white wooden spoon holding a scoop.

How to Make Sloppy Joes

Brown the hamburger meat and drain.
Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir to incorporate.
Butter the buns and put them in the oven, butter side down.
When the buns are golden, add the meat mixture and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

What sides go with Sloppy Joes?

More pickles, of course! Also, potato chips, roasted cauliflower, fries, or sweet potato hash are lovely, hearty options to complement this big-flavor sandwich.

How do you thicken up Sloppy Joes?

Be sure you drain any fat from the cooked ground beef before adding the other ingredients—this will ensure it doesn’t get runny or too sloppy. If it’s still thinner than you’d like, you can mix in a small amount of cornstarch or flour (a tablespoon or less at a time) until it reaches the desired consistency.

How did Sloppy Joes get their name?

A cook in Sioux City, Iowa, named Joe added tomato sauce to his popular ground beef sandwiches, which he previously called “loose meat” sandwiches, and the sloppy Joe was created.

Expert Tips

Uselean ground beef and drain off all the greaseto keep your sandwich meat from getting too runny.
If the meat seemsdry, add more ketchup. If itisn’t sweet enough, add a little more sugar.If it needs moresalt, add a little more mustard.
You cansubstitute other types of sweeteners, like coconut sugar, for the brown sugar. I have also had great luck using maple syrup.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

Oven French Fries

Homemade Coleslaw

Sweet Corn on the Cob

Crispy Green Salad

Storage and Reheating

Refrigerator

Store any leftover sloppy joe meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheating

Place leftovers in a small saucepan and reheat on medium-low heat on the stovetop. Alternatively, using a microwave-safe dish, heat in 30-second intervals until warm.

More Sandwich Recipes to Consider

Thishomemade sloppy joes recipeis a classic recipe for a busy weeknight. It uses pantry staples to transform a pound of ground beef into a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner in less than 30 minutes!

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