How to make sloppy joe sauce from scratch

This homemade Sloppy Joes recipe is easy, inexpensive, and ready in just 30 minutes. It’s a kid-favorite, and packed with flavor.

Looking for more 30-Minute Meals? Try my Air Fryer Pizza, Taco Salad, or Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas!

Why I love this recipe:

• Homemade Sauce: It has the perfect sauce/beef ratio that is packed with flavor.
• Adaptable: There are so many ways to vary this recipe (see below) by adding veggies, switching the meat, etc.
• Kid Friendly: My kids love this recipe (even when I add veggies) and it makes for a relaxing and fun family dinner.  Check out all my kid friendly recipes!

How to make Sloppy Joes:

Brown the Beef: Start by browning the ground beef in a large skillet.  Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is tender and translucent.

Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and stir to combine.

Simmer for 30 minutes. The simmering time is a crucial part of the recipe because it allows the flavors to blend together.

Serve: After letting the sloppy joe mixture simmer, serve it warm on a toasted hamburger bun as a sloppy joe sandwich.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: The sloppy joe meat filling can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, depending on the freshness of the beef. Store in the refrigerator and reheat and serve on toasted buns when ready to eat.

To Freeze: Allow the mixture to cool completely and store it in an air-tight, freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove.

Recipe Variations:

• Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or shredded carrot, can easily be added to this recipe and your kids won’t even notice a difference.
• Hawaiian Sloppy Joes: Substitute more BBQ sauce for the ketchup and add 8 oz., drained crushed pineapple.
• Asian Sloppy Joes: Add 1 tablespoon ground ginger and substitute 1 tablespoons hoisin sauce for the Worcestershire sauce. If desired mix in thinly sliced cucumber slices, chopped water chestnuts or shredded carrot.
• Turkey Sloppy Joes: Substitute ground turkey in place of ground beef and add chopped veggies.
• Low Carb Sloppy Joes: Serve in a lettuce leaf, or serve open-face on a low-carb bun, with a piece of cheese placed on top, and broiled in the oven for 2 minutes.

Serve Sloppy Joes with:

• Green Salad, Cucumber Onion Salad, or Fresh Corn Salad
• Cold Cut Veggies and dip, Roasted Vegetables or Corn on the Cob
• Baked Beans or Potato Salad
• Mac and Cheese or Macaroni Salad
• French Fries, Potato Wedges or Sweet Potato Fries
• Potato Chips

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Recipe

• ▢ 1 pound ground beef
• ▢ salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 1/2 cup yellow onion , chopped
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic , minced
• ▢ 8 ounces tomato sauce
• ▢ 1/3 cup ketchup , or more, to taste
• ▢ 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• ▢ 1 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauces
• ▢ 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 5 hamburger buns

• Add beef to a large pan over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, crumbling and stirring, until browned. Remove grease.

• Add onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients.

• Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Serve warm, inside a toasted hamburger bun.

Make Ahead Instructions: The sloppy joe meat filling can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, depending on the freshness of the beef. Store in the refrigerator and reheat and serve on toasted buns when ready to eat.

Freezing Instructions: Allow the mixture to cool completely and store it in an air-tight, freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove.

Variations:

• Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or shredded carrot, can easily be added to this recipe and your kids won’t even notice a difference.
• Hawaiian Sloppy Joes: Substitute more BBQ sauce for the ketchup and add 8 oz., drained crushed pineapple.
• Asian Sloppy Joes: Add 1 tablespoon ground ginger and substitute 1 tablespoons hoisin sauce for the Worcestershire sauce. If desired mix in thinly sliced cucumber slices, chopped water chestnuts or shredded carrot.
• Turkey Sloppy Joes: Substitute ground turkey in place of ground beef and add chopped veggies.
• Low Carb Sloppy Joes: Serve in a lettuce leaf, or serve open-face on a low-carb bun, with a piece of cheese placed on top, and broiled in the oven for 2 minutes.

Serve with:

• Green Salad, Cucumber Onion Salad, or Fresh Corn Salad
• Cold Cut Veggies and dip, Roasted Vegetables or Corn on the Cob
• Baked Beans or Potato Salad
• Mac and Cheese or Macaroni Salad
• French Fries, Potato Wedges or Sweet Potato Fries
• Potato Chips

Calories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 24gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 850mgPotassium: 640mgFiber: 2gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 315IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 4mg

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I originally shared this recipe January 2018. Updated March 2022.