It’s time to bring this classic sandwich back to its original glory. And make it better than ever!
We have enjoyed Sloppy Joe’s for years. My mom (Kris’s mom) makes a version called Juicy Burgers. Simple but so delicious. We’ve taken the original recipe and amped up the flavors a few notches and thrown in a few tricks to make this one of the most delicious sandwiches of all time. And is on the table in about 30 minutes!
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HOW TO MAKE SLAMMIN’ SLOPPY JOES
These sandwiches are very adaptable to what you have on hand in your refrigerator and pantry.
We love using ground beef, but you could also use ground chicken or turkey, too. By the way, ever wonder where the name for this iconic sandwich comes from? Learn all about that here!
THE INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED
As mentioned, this recipe is very adaptable to the ingredients you have on hand. Here are the ingredients we love to use, but we’ll include some substitutions, too:
-
- Ground beef – Substitute: Ground chicken, turkey, or pork
- Chopped onion – Substitute: Granulated onion or onion powder
- Chopped green bell pepper – Substitute: Any type of bell pepper, or jalapeno. Canned green chilies are great, too.
- Beef stock – Substitute: Chicken or Vegetable stock, or water
- Tomato sauce – Substitute: Increase the amount of ketchup to 1½ cups and add an additional ¼ cup of water of beef broth/stock
- Ketchup/Chili Sauce – Substitute: Sriracha ketchup, or just regular ketchup with a squirt of chili sauce or sriracha sauce, or chipotle adobo sauce (or just plain ketchup)
- Worcestershire sauce – Substitute: 1 teaspoon soy sauce, you may need to reduce salt in the recipe
- Dijon mustard – Substitute: Yellow mustard, or spicy brown mustard, or dry mustard (1 tsp)
- Apple cider vinegar – Substitute: Red or white wine vinegar, or 1 teaspoon of balsamic
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Substitute: Whatever cheese you have on hand, shredded or sliced!
- Sesame buns – Substitute: Any kind of sliced sandwich bread is awesome!
We start off by sautéing the onion and pepper in a large skillet with the oil over medium heat.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEAT
We love going with ground chuck beef for our Slammin’ Sloppy Joes.
85% lean is perfect because it’s not too fatty but still renders just enough to add a nice depth of flavor.
EXPERT TIP: After the meat has browned, tilt your skillet to the side so the grease will gather. Take a large spoon, remove most of the rendered grease into a small bowl, and then discard. Don’t get rid of all of it, though, leaving about 1 tablespoon is great and helps to flavor the meat. Draining the cooked meat through a colander into your sink will drain all the grease away, which we don’t recommend, but that’s up to you.
You can find Chili Sauce in the condiment section of most well-stocked supermarkets.
The chili sauce will add just a little zip to the meat mixture, but not overly spicy.
If you prefer no heat at all, simply use regular ketchup in place of the chile sauce.
SIMMER UNTIL REDUCED
Once all the ingredients have been added to the cooked meat, you’ll notice the mixture is a bit juicy.
This is completely normal.
As the Sloppy Joes simmer, the liquid will reduce down and deepen the flavor profile. This only takes about 20 minutes!
These Slammin’ Sloppy Joes are so delicious and such a treat for the kids AND adults (we recommend a nice cold beer for the grown-ups!).
We love to make a double batch and eat sloppy joes all week long!
Yum.
SLAMMIN’ SLOPPY JOES ARE FUN TO MAKE
We’ve taken the old-fashioned sloppy joes recipe and elevated it up a notch or two.
And it’s so easy to make, the kids have fun pitching in, too.
Another wonderful sandwich is our Grilled Honey Mustard Sandwich and our Rockin’ Black and Bleu Burger! But, seriously, take a look at this amazing Sloppy Joe sandwich!
Sloppy Joe’s got a bit of a bad rap over the years.
I think school cafeterias have some apologizing to do for this.
But, we’re here to save the day…one bite at a time!
Ready to make the best Sloppy Joe in town? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a picture, post it on Instagram, and tag @howtofeedaloon and hashtag #howtofeedaloon!
Slammin' Sloppy Joes
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup yellow onion chopped
- ½ cup green bell pepper cored, seeded, chopped
- 1½ lbs ground beef 85% lean, preferably
- ¼ cup beef stock
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar dark or light
- 1½ Kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper divided
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 6 sesame-seed sandwich buns split and lightly buttered
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add the beef and break up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 10 to 12 minutes. If desired, remove the excess grease by tilting the skillet to one side, and remove the grease with a large spoon into a small bowl. Leave about 1 to 2 tablespoon in the skillet.
- Add the beef stock, tomato sauce, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer, stirring to fully incorporate.
- Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes until most of the liquid has reduced down, stirring occasionally.
- Toast the buttered buns (a couple minutes under the broiler...but keep an eye on them!)
- On a baking sheet, add a mound of meat mixture for each sandwich you are preparing. Place a handful of cheese on top of each mound of meat. Place under the broiler until cheese has melted. Keep an eye on them, don't let them burn!
- Use a spatula to transfer the sloppy joe mounds topped with melted cheese onto the bun bottoms. Add the top bun and serve at once!
Notes
Nutrition
POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in April 2015, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe, new tips, new photography, and a fabulous new video in March 2020!
Michelle says
Not only were these sloppy joe slammin, they were very quick and easy to fix. The Griffen 100% approved! Thanks again for another hit recipe and video. I so enjoy cooking with you two.
Kris Longwell says
You rock!!!!!! xoxo
MaryClair Marada says
Oops disregard. I saw the note about it! Thank you! Love all your recipes!
Kris Longwell says
Woo hoo! No worries! Let us know if you make the sloppy joes and what you think!!!
MaryClair Marada says
What kind of chili sauce?
Jane C Johnson says
Absolutely delicious. My son was visiting and couldn’t get enough of this. He is really picky, but cleaned up with this sloppy Joe recipe. He loved it.!!!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Jane!! That is about the most awesome thing we’ve heard all day!! We are thrilled that you and especially your ‘picky’ son like our sloppy joes! We love ’em, too!! Thank you so much for letting us know and for the slammin’ review! That means the world to us!! All the very best, Kris & Wesley
Isaac says
Hi Loons,
Just finished up scarfing down a double batch of these delectable treats. I must agree they are some the best sloppy joes I’ve enjoyed. A guest remarked “you must send me this recipe!”
Thanks again,
Isaac
Kris Longwell says
Isaac!
YES!! That is so awesome! When we are in the mood for some old-school comfort food, these sloppy Joe’s are always what we turn to!! We are so happy you and your guests enjoyed them!! And thank you SO MUCH for letting us know!! That means the world to us!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Sandy says
Your Sloppy Joes are sooo good! I enjoy watching you two cook – you are so happy and you make me smile! Thanks for all the yummy recipes!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Sandy! You have no idea how happy you have made us! Thank you so much and we are thrilled you are enjoying our recipes and videos! And those sloppy joes are the bomb, right? All the best, Kris & Wesley
Nancy Droessler says
I made this for something a little bit different than my regular sloppy joes. This is fabulous! My
husband loved it and so did I. Thank you. You guys are the BEST!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Nancy! Woo hoo!! So glad you gave our sloppy Joe’s a try and we are so thrilled to hear you and your husband loved them. And thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and for the GREAT review! That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
LindY G Sherrod says
Had this for supper, it was soooo delicious. My kids loved it too. Thank y’all for sharing this and all your recipes. I give the Sloppy Joes Southern Approval.
Kris Longwell says
YES!!!! That’s what we LOVE to hear!! Pleasing the adults AND the kids is a major win!! We are so glad you had such success and THANK YOU SO MUCH for letting us know and the GREAT review!! Stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Jane says
These look sooooo good and I have everything except green pepper so mak in’ these tonight!! Thanks!
Kris Longwell says
Woo hoo!! Let us know how they turn out and what you think!!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Kristy Turner says
WOW!! I used 2 stalks celery (until told otherwise) added about 1 tspn siracha….goodness gracious!!! DEVINE!.
Thank you again for another amazing recipe! I have not been disappointed! 🙂
krislongwell says
Hi Kristy! You are RIGHT! Two stalks is perfect! And thanks for the heads up, updating the recipe now to correct that. We LOVE a good sloppy Joe recipe, and we just had to elevate it a bit. So glad you liked it!! xoxo
Kristy Turner says
hi guys! I’m making this right now and don’t see how much celery to add (even tho I was sure I saw celery in the pic)…I’ll just guessimate for now, but let me know when you can…excited to make these! I know they will be amazing as everything else has been that I have tried! Happy Memorial Day! 🙂