Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

I grew up in a household that always had ground beef on hand for everything from tacos to chili. If the meal didn’t come out of a box or a can, it came out of the freezer! When I started remaking some of those classic childhood dinners from scratch, like my mom’s ground beef and potatoes, and her creamy chicken rice casserole without the cream of mushroom soup, Sloppy Joes were a must.

The Sloppy Joe is a messy sandwich with ground beef cooked in rich tomato sauce and served on a bun. It’s pretty synonymous with Manwich here in the U.S., a brand name for canned Sloppy Joe sauce you might recognize from the grocery store.

This homemade Sloppy Joe recipe replaces the can with an easy homemade sauce made from ketchup, molasses, and simple seasonings. It’s all the sweet-savory flavors you love, only better than anything you’ll make from a box or a can, and it’s almost as quick. Give it a try, you’ll see!

A Classic Sloppy Joe Recipe Made Easy

• No funny business. Making this homemade Sloppy Joe sauce gives me more control over the ingredients versus cracking open a can! I love knowing exactly what goes into this recipe, with fewer mystery additives. Plus, I know it’s 100% gluten-free.
• Rich, savory flavors. If you already love Sloppy Joes sandwiches, wait until you’ve tasted the homemade version. The sweet, savory, tangy richness in the sauce is second-to-none. And you need only a handful of pantry ingredients to make it.
• More than one meal. While it’s traditional to serve this on hamburger buns for a kid-approved dinner, there’s more than one way to enjoy Sloppy Joes. I include more of our favorite serving ideas below.

Ingredients for Sloppy Joes

• 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: Like the onion, you’ll only need half of a large bell pepper. I use red, but another color pepper can be used.
• Garlic: Freshly minced.
• Ketchup: Use your favorite brand. Look for organic or low-sugar options to cut down on refined sugar, or make your own homemade ketchup.
• Molasses: Adds rich, smoky sweetness, but it can be omitted if needed. Brown sugar can also be substituted in a pinch.
• Mustard: Spicy brown mustard adds a nice kick, but use whatever you have, including Dijon, yellow, or another mustard. You can also substitute every 1 tablespoon of prepared mustard with 1 teaspoon of mustard powder.
• Worcestershire sauce: Please 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. If you don’t have Worcestershire, soy sauce is a good substitute. Use gluten-free or tamari as needed.
• Spices: Chili powder, paprika. Regular, smoked, or hot paprika can be used depending on the flavors you prefer. I also like to add mustard powder in addition to the prepared mustard above (if needed, just add more prepared mustard or leave it out).

How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes

• Cook the meat and veggies. First, add the ground beef, onion, red pepper, and garlic to a skillet over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and break up the meat while it cooks, until the beef is browned and the veggies are tender. Drain any excess grease.

• Add the sauce ingredients. Next, stir the ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, paprika, dry mustard, and water into the beef mixture.
• 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.

Make It a Meal

Serve your Sloppy Joes spooned over gluten-free hamburger buns or soft bread rolls for an old-fashioned Sloppy Joes sandwich. I often make a side of frozen veggies, brown butter peas and carrots, or mac and cheese. These are some more easy, kid-favorite meal ideas:

• Veggies. Try a cauliflower hash browns casserole or crispy zucchini tater tots.
• Fries. Serve with a side of air fryer French fries or sweet potato fries.
• Salad. Add some green with crunchy broccoli apple slaw or an Italian chopped salad.

More Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

• Homemade Beefaroni
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Air Fryer Hamburgers
• Taco Skillet with Rice