Sloppy Joes

If you're in need of a reliable, nostalgic, easy (and cheap) weeknight dinner, then I think there’s no debate: A sloppy Joes' night is in order. The perfect answer to, “How far can I stretch this package of ground beef?” sloppy Joes only require a handful of simple ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to create a classic family dinner. My tried-and-tested recipe uses the unstoppable sloppy Joes trio—ground beef, tomato, and onion—to create a flavor-packed meal that’s for way more than just sandwiches.

As you might expect, there's a lot of theories about the origin of the sloppy Joe, and some say it's about as messy as it is to eat one. Did it come from Cuba (made by a certain sloppy José) or did it come from a Midwestern diner? And did Ernest Hemingway really help coin the sandwich's name? While the jury is still out, a few things are true: The sloppy Joe is one of the best sandwiches of all time, and you're going to need to grab extra napkins.

What People Are Saying:
"AMAZING!!! It's so easy to make and tastes delicious. Using fresh veggies really makes a difference and I added some taco seasoning in with the beef..... tasty!!! I recommend." - GoldBoomerang

"Made this recipe with a handful of curly fries and a salad. My guys loved it! No more canned sloppy's at our house!" - OrangeGuitar

"LOVE this revamped version. It tastes like the sloppy joes of my childhood—but better." - childofthecorn5

How To Make Sloppy Joes

INGREDIENTS

• Onion: Veggies are the foundation of your sloppy Joe. A traditional yellow onion will work here, as their sweetness nicely complements the ground beef. White would be a good substitute, but try to avoid the bite of a red onion if possible.
• Bell Pepper: I called for red here for a pop of color, but green or whatever you had on hand works. They have a very mild taste but provide much needed texture to your sloppy Joes.
• Ground Beef: Ground beef is likely what you remember as the base of all those childhood sloppy Joes, but if you want to lighten things up, feel free to swap in a pound of ground turkey (like we did with our Italian sloppy Joes) or your favorite meat alternative (like Beyond or Impossible) for a meal that’s just as delicious.
• Sloppy Joe Sauce: For sloppy Joes, it’s all about the sauce. Our recipe uses ketchup, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, tomato sauce, and plenty of spices to create the perfect balance of flavors. When making your sauce, don’t skip taking the time to cook down your ketchup! Reducing until it becomes a thick paste makes the sugars caramelize, deepening the overall flavor of your sloppy Joe sauce.
• Hamburger Buns: While hamburger buns are what you might immediately pair with sloppy Joes (and we love them, don’t get us wrong), feel free to change things up. Something rich and eggy like a brioche bun would make these feel even more deluxe, or opt for good ol’ bread to make a sloppy Joe grilled cheese.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

The most iconic part of the sloppy Joe is arguably the sauce, so it's important not to skip out on building all those layers of flavor by first slowly sautéing the onion and bell pepper. First, you'll want to heat your oil large skillet over medium-high heat before adding the onion and bell pepper. Stir the mixture occasionally, until softened and slightly golden, which will take 10 to 15 minutes. Trust me, I know it sounds long, but you don't want to rush this step!

Once the mixture has started to brown, add the ketchup and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until color has darkened and ketchup is reduced to a thick paste, which will take another 7 to 10 minutes. Once reduced, you can add add the garlic and chili powder to the pan, stirring until fragrant for another minute more. Then it's time for the rest of your sauce ingredients. Add the vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Be sure to keep stirring frequently, until incorporated, for 1 minute more.

I promised you that all that time and stirring was going to pay off, and I stand by it! It's finally the ground beef's time to add that savory richness to this sweet-tangy sauce. First, increase the heat to high and then add the ground beef to your pan. Using a fork, break apart beef until separated and no big lumps remain. As you cook the beef, stir it frequently, until browned, which will take about 5 minutes. Then add the tomato sauce and bring to a boil, stirring to combine as you let it caramelize before turning off the heat to let the sloppy Joe filling cool slightly. Feel free to season with salt at this point, if needed.

Now it's finally time to get sloppy. Take a hearty scoop of the cooked beef mixture, dollop onto the buns, and serve (with plenty of napkins).

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

Our single most important sloppy Joe tip? Build a good foundation. The first steps of the recipe are crucial—don’t skip them. If you don't give the onions and bell peppers enough time to cook down and become soft, then your sloppy Joes will taste overly oniony and raw, which definitely is not what you’re going for.

Storage

This recipe is an easy weeknight staple for a reason: It’s so simple to make ahead of time and makes for great leftovers (your future self will LOVE you). Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze up to 2 months.