Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

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This homemade sloppy joe recipe is sweet, tangy, savory, and ready in under 30 minutes — the kind of easy weeknight dinner your family will request again and again.

There’s just something about classic sloppy joes that feels nostalgic and comforting. But once you make sloppy joes from scratch with simple pantry ingredients, you’ll never go back to store-bought sauce again.

This easy sloppy joe recipe uses seasoned ground beef, fresh onion and bell pepper, and a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy homemade sauce. It’s hearty, flavorful, and comes together quickly which makes it ideal for those busy weeknights.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium bell pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes From Scratch

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
2. Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Stir in ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and saucy.
5. Spoon the ground beef sloppy joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns and serve warm.

Tips for the Best Sloppy Joe Sauce

• Want it sweeter? Add an extra teaspoon of brown sugar.
• Prefer it tangier? Increase the apple cider vinegar slightly.
• Like a little heat? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• Toasting your buns makes a huge difference — it keeps them from getting soggy as quickly.

Side Dish Ideas

This weeknight dinner recipe pairs perfectly with:

• Classic potato chips
• Dill pickles
• Coleslaw
• Sweet potato fries
• Corn on the cob

You can also spoon the mixture over baked potatoes or use it as a filling for sliders for parties.

Be sure to pin this recipe for later and grab the printable recipe below.

Homemade Sloppy Joes

This homemade sloppy joe recipe is sweet, tangy, savory, and ready in under 30 minutes — the kind of easy weeknight dinner your family will request again and again.

Print Pin For Later

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dinner Ideas

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 medium bell pepper diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ½ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
• Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Stir in ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
• Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and saucy.
• Spoon the ground beef sloppy joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns and serve warm.

Notes

Side Dish Ideas

• Classic potato chips
• Dill pickles
• Coleslaw
• Sweet potato fries
• Corn on the cob

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