Homemade Sloppy Joes

Homemade Sloppy Joes are ready in less than 30 minutes, and so much better than pre-made! This recipe is perfect for picky kids!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword homemade sloppy joe recipe, homemade sloppy joes, sloppy joe sauce recipe, sloppy joes recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 173kcal

Wash the onion and pepper, and dice them into small, bite-sized pieces.
⅓ cup Green bell pepper, ⅓ cup Yellow onion
Place a large skillet over medium heat, then add in the ground beef, peppers, and onions. Don't break up the beef; let it cook in one large piece for 5 minutes.
1 lb Ground beef
Flip the ground beef once it's developed a nice browned crust on one side, then break it up into small pieces. Continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked and browned and the vegetables are softened, about 3-5 more minutes. Optional: Drain the fat.
Add in all remaining ingredients, and stir well until fully mixed. Cook another five minutes to let the flavors combine.
⅔ cup Ketchup, ⅓ cup Water, 2 Tablespoons Tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Yellow mustard, ¾ teaspoon Chili powder, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon Coarse salt, ¼ teaspoon Pepper, ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes
Remove the heat, pile on to your favorite buns, and enjoy! For slow cooker instructions, see the notes.

Slow Cooker Instructions

Place a large skillet over medium heat, then add in the ground beef, peppers, and onions. Don't break up the beef; let it cook in one large piece for 5 minutes.

Flip the ground beef once it's developed a nice browned crust on one side, then break it up into small pieces. Continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked and browned and the vegetables are softened, about 3-5 more minutes. Optional: Drain the fat.

Transfer the sauteed vegetables and meat to the crock pot, then add in the rest of the ingredients and mix. Place on the lid, then set to LOW and let cook for 6 hours.

Sloppy Joe Recipe Tips

- You can adjust the amount of vegetables to fit the tastes of your family! I like adding extra or even mixing in kidney beans or cabbage. It's a perfect way to get kids to eat their veggies!

- You can adjust the sweetness by adding an extra tablespoon of brown sugar, or add more spice with more red pepper flakes.

- You can drain the fat from the pan or leave it in. If you're using lean meat, it likely won't be necessary to drain the fat at all.

Easy Sloppy Joes Substitutions

- Ground Beef: Ground beef is the classic choice, but this dish can easily be made with ground chicken, pork, or turkey. You can even make it with shredded meat!

- Tomato Paste: In a pinch, swap the tomato paste out for tomato puree or more ketchup.

- Gluten-Free: Worcestershire sauce contains trace amounts of gluten. To make gluten free sloppy joes, swap it out for an equal amount of Tamari or leave it out entirely.