There’s nothing like Homemade Sloppy Joes for dinner! Almost as easy as opening the can, but this homemade version tastes so much better. An easy dinner recipe that everyone will love and it’s on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Why We Think Our Homemade Sloppy Joes Are The Best!
There’s quite a few versions of homemade sloppy joes on the internet, as I’m sure you all know. We love our homemade version because we’ve adjusted the spices and sauce to the exact way that we like it over the years.
Our version also has more peppers and onions in the mix because for one it adds tons of flavor and for two, why not get some more veg into dinner? If you’re looking for an even simpler version of sloppy joes, try these Cafeteria Sloppy Joes (no peppers!). OR if you’re looking for a tasty twist, these Italian Sloppy Joes are a family favorite!
Recipe Ingredients
Just a quick picture to show you the ingredients you’ll need. We’ve also got some helpful tips and notes in the bullet points below the picture. For the full recipe with amounts needed scroll down to the recipe card.
- Yellow onion: We like using sweet yellow onion, but you can also use red onion.
- Green pepper: Any color pepper will work, green is traditional in this recipe.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic will give the best flavor.
- Ground beef: We like using an 85% lean ground beef, you can use a little leaner if you like.
- Tomato paste: Helps to flavor and thicken the sauce.
- Chili powder: Use a mild or spicier chili powder, whatever you like best.
- Paprika: Sweet paprika is what we like, but you can also use a smoky paprika.
- Cayenne pepper: Just a pinch to balance out the sweet flavor from the ketchup and brown sugar.
- Beef broth: Or beef stock.
- Ketchup: You can use low sugar if you like, but we use regular.
- Dijon mustard: This is what adds the “tang” in out sauce, instead of using vinegar.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds that special beefy flavor!
- Brown sugar: For a bit of sweetness, if sugar is an issue you can use an alternative sweetener.
How To Make It
We’ll show you step by step photos here with instructions on how to make these sloppy joes. For complete instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Cook the vegetables and ground beef: Add diced green peppers and onions to a large skillet with olive oil. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in fresh garlic. Push to the side of the pan and add ground beef, chopping into crumbles as it cooks.
- Add seasonings: Add chili powder, salt, paprika, tomato paste and cayenne pepper and stir to combine.
- Make the sauce: Add ketchup, beef broth, dijon mustard and brown sugar to make the sauce for the sloppy joes. Stir and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer: Simmer the meat mixture for 15 minutes until the sauce is reduced and thickened. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
How To Serve
I’ll tell you, it’s hard to not sit at the stove and dig your spoon into the skillet over and over. These homemade sloppy joes are so good, they’re almost addicting. A slightly sweet and tangy sauce that’s way better than anything you’re going to get from a can.
Grab your favorite hamburger bun and spoon large portions of the meat onto the bottom bun, letting some spill over onto the plate. These are sloppy joes after all…serve as is or top with pickles if you like.
Can I Use Ground Turkey Instead?
Yes! You can use ground turkey instead of ground beef if you want to. Either way this easy dinner is going to cook up in less than 30 minutes and it’s going to be out of this world.
Ground chicken or ground pork will also work, or a combination of a couple. Although ground beef is traditional in this recipe, definitely use what you have on hand.
Tips For Best Results
- Seasonings: Taste and adjust the seasonings in this recipe as you go. You might like a little more spice, or a little more sweetness. ONLY add the seasonings after draining the grease from the pan, otherwise you’ll be draining out the seasonings, too!
- Make Ahead: If you can make these sloppy joes ahead of time, the flavor is even better and the sauce will get thicker.
- Good Quality Ground Beef: Since this is mostly a ground beef recipe, try the get the best quality beef that you can. We usually use an 85% lean ground beef for the best flavor.
More Easy Recipes To Make With Ground Beef
We’ve got tons of ground beef recipes for you to try, head over to the ingredients index and search “ground beef” to view them all. Here’s a few of our favorites!
- Loose Meat Sandwich (like these sloppy joes but without sauce)
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
- Stuffed Peppers
- BBQ Meatloaf Muffins
- Hot Dog Chili
Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeHomemade Sloppy Joes are so much better than the canned version! Almost as easy as opening a can, an easy dinner recipe that everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cup diced onion
- 3/4 cup diced green pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon kosher salt (start with 1/2 and then add more if needed)
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and green pepper, stir and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and stir.
- Push the vegetables to the side and add the ground beef to the skillet. Crumble and cook the beef until no pink remains and then drain the grease from the pan. Add the tomato paste, chili powder, paprika, salt and cayenne pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine with the ground beef and vegetables.
- Add the beef broth, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar to the pan. Stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce has reduced and thickened.
Recipe Notes
Storing: Store leftovers in a container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave until warmed through.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
looking forward to tryiing this recipe!
Let us know if you like it!