Go Back
+ servings
sloppy joes sandwich on a white plate with chips

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are a family favorite and bring many of us back to our childhood. These classic sloppy joes are so comforting with all the flavors of ground beef, onions, peppers and a sweet tomato-based sauce.
Give me a rating:)
Print Pin
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Jennifer Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small sweet onion diced
  • 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with green pepper and onions. Cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.
  • Add in ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Stir; then add in the brown sugar, salt, and garlic powder. Stir to combine well.
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking.
  • Serve on buns or your favorite way to enjoy them!

Notes

  • The best sloppy joes use 80/20 but if you use lean ground beef you can skip the step of draining the excess fat.
  • Want to really up the ante on your sloppy joe sandwich? Serve your sloppy joe meat mixture between 2 pieces of garlic bread or Texas toast. Delicious!
  • Like a little more spice? You can add a pinch of red pepper flakes, black pepper, chili powder or cayenne pepper. A splash of Worcestershire sauce is always good too.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
  • Sloppy Joes can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat as usual before serving.
  • This is a great prep ahead freezer meal. After preparing the sloppy joe filling, cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
  • Double your recipe and have one batch tonight and freeze a batch for an easy dinner later.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1044mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g