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With all the classic slightly sweet and tangy flavors and saucy deliciousness you love, Homemade Sloppy Joes take just minutes to make. A budget-friendly family favorite, it is almost as quick as using the sauce from a can. Pile everything on rolls or try one of the other ideas given here!
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Like many homes, when I was growing up, ground beef was a dinner staple and continues to be in my family today. It’s affordable and versatile, and it’s the basis for so many classic all-time favorite meals, from tacos to chili and so much more.
I’ve taken to reinventing some of those childhood classics minus all the cans and boxes that were kind of a staple of the 80’s and 90’s. I’ve made my mom’s ground beef and potatoes skillet meal and even reinvented a creamy Chicken Rice Casserole without the cream of mushroom soup.
Now I’ve replaced the can of Manwich with a homemade sloppy joe sauce for an easy dinner that my kids just devour. Start with that frugal favorite, ground beef, and saute it with onion, pepper, and garlic. Ketchup, molasses, and a few seasonings and spices from your pantry give it that sweet and tangy flavor you love with just the slightest hint of spice. Pile it all on hamburger rolls and you have a kid-approved dinner that will have the entire family running to the table.
What is a Sloppy Joe
The Sloppy Joe is basically ground beef cooked in a tomato sauce and served on a bun. It has a bit of an unclear origin. Some say it started as “loose meat sandwiches” at a cafe in Iowa, while others attribute its beginnings to Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West, Florida.
Over time, the sandwich became synonymous with the name Manwich, which is the most well-known brand of canned Sloppy Joe sauce that was launched in 1969. Manwich continued to increase in popularity through the 70’s and 80’s as many people began to make this quick and easy dinner using the canned sauce.
In recent years, there has been a rise in homemade Sloppy Joes recipes and reinventions, adding ingredients like red wine or wild boar, serving it on brioche rolls, or turning it into Sloppy Joe Burritos.
Are sloppy joes healthy?
Sloppy joes can be healthy, depending on how you make them. When you make homemade sloppy joes, you have control over the ingredients versus just using the canned sauce. That is loaded with sugar, sodium, and preservatives.
You can choose lean ground beef. Or replace the beef with ground chicken or ground turkey, though it won’t have the same depth of flavor. Organic ketchup and low or no sugar varieties would reduce the amount of refined sugar. You can even make your own homemade ketchup. Molasses adds a hint of rich sweetness, but it can be omitted if needed. And you can always serve it on a whole wheat bun or try another serving option.
Are sloppy joes gluten free?
You can definitely make gluten free sloppy joes! All of the ingredients are naturally gluten free or have gluten free options available. Most brands of ketchup and mustard are gluten free. And since this uses individual spices, you will typically not have to be concerned about gluten-containing ingredients.
Please do read the labels on your Worcestershire sauce. At the time of writing this, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce is gluten free in the United States, but may not be in other countries.
Also, make sure to use a gluten free bun or try one of the other ideas for serving the sloppy joe sauce and meat mixture.
Ingredients
You’ll find most of these items are pantry staples!
- Ground beef – use your preference, but I tend to buy 90% lean.
- Onion – you’ll only need half so save the rest for another recipe. I like to use sweet onions, but any red, white, or yellow onion will be fine.
- Red bell pepper – you’ll only need half so save the rest for another recipe or to snack on. Another color pepper can be used. I prefer red due to their natural sweetness, as green peppers can be bitter.
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Ketchup – use your favorite. You can even use a sugar free version if you want to cut down on the carbs, or try my homemade ketchup.
- Molasses – this adds a bit of smoky sweetness, but you can leave it out if you need low carb. Brown sugar can be substituted in a pinch.
- Mustard – spicy brown mustard gives it a nice little kick, but use whatever you have one hand of you only have Dijon, yellow, or another mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Chili powder
- Paprika – I use regular paprika, but smoked or hot can be used depending on the flavors you prefer.
- Dry mustard powder
- Water – this can be adjusted up or down depending on how thick you like your sloppy joe sauce.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
It’s really almost as easy as opening a can of sloppy joe sauce!
Cook the meat and veggies. Place skillet over medium heat and add ground beef, onion, pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper. Break up meat while it cooks, and cook until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain excess grease.
Add the sauce ingredients. Return the skillet to the heat and add ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, paprika, dry mustard, and water. Stir until combined.
Simmer and serve. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through and thickened. Then serve on rolls or try one of the other serving suggestions below.
Serving suggestions
The classic way to serve a sloppy joe is on a hamburger bun or another type of soft roll. I recommend trying my homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Buns. However, sometimes you might want to change it up and get creative!
- Stuff the sloppy joe meat inside a baked potato. It’s especially good when you pop them in the oven to melt the cheese.
- Serve it over rice (try one of these 5 ways to make brown rice) or cauliflower rice to make rice bowls.
- Make loaded fries like these Shepherd’s Pie Loaded Fries.
- Scoop it onto Cheesy Mashed Potatoes or Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower for a hearty homestyle bowl meal.
Side dishes
Many times I will save my sanity by just making some frozen veggies and maybe even a box of mac and cheese. But these are some easy sides that are kid favorites!
- Buttered Peas and Carrots
- Cauliflower Hash Browns Casserole
- Zucchini Tater Tots
- Stovetop Gluten Free Mac and Cheese
- Cheesy Quinoa
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Broccoli Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftover sloppy joes can be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 3 or 4 days. You can reheat the meat mixture in the microwave until it is steaming hot (I recommend covering it with a paper towel to prevent spattering. Or warm it up in a skillet on the stove.
Can sloppy joes be frozen?
Yes, this mixture freezes well in a plastic zipper top freezer storage bag or airtight container. It will be best if you eat it within two months.
Just remove it from the freezer the night before you plan to eat it and thaw in the refrigerator. Heat it in a pan on the stove, adding more water if needed to achieve the desired consistency.
More easy ground beef recipes
- Individual Mini Shepherd’s Pies
- Homemade Beefaroni
- Ground Beef Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Air Fryer Hamburgers
- Easy Taco Skillet with Rice
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1-1 1/4 lbs ground beef
- half of an onion, chopped
- half of a red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- 1 Tablespoon spicy brown mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 6 hamburger rolls for serving (or see Note for other serving options)
Instructions
- Place the skillet over medium heat and add ground beef, onion, red pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Cook until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender, breaking up the meat as it cooks.
- Drain any excess grease and return to the heat.
- Add the ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, paprika, dry mustard powder, and water and stir until combined and evenly mixed.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until heated through and thickened to your desired consistency.
- Serve on rolls or as desired.
Notes
Did you make this?
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Looks very good and easy..
Would you have a gluten free recipe for pudding delight squares..has a shortbread crust then cream cheese w/ powdered sugar and cool whip and instant pudding on top of that w/ cool whip on. Top.
I don’t have that exactly, but I have these. Maybe it’s a good base recipe to make the changes you want – https://cupcakesandkalechips.com/gluten-free-no-bake-peach-cheesecake-bars/