Sloppy Joes recipe is a simple classic ground beef dinner idea! Using condensed tomato soup and brown sugar makes this recipe slightly sweet. The classic flavors of onion, and deliciously browned beef with a hint of mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and brown sugar. The mild tomato flavored sauce makes these sloppy joes irresistible!

Sloppy Joes are a go-to hearty meal made with ground beef or any other type of ground meat. This easy ground beef recipe is a great dinner for busy days. With homeschooling my 6 children, sometimes the day just gets away on us. All of a sudden, I realize we need supper in under an hour. This recipe takes only 30 minutes to whip up. So, sloppy joes recipe has saved the day many a time. And bonus, it’s a favorite of everyone! 🥰

Tomato Soup in Sloppy Joes?

Some people in my family find tomato sauce acidic and too strong for Sloppy Joes so I invented this milder version of the classic tomatoey favorite. If you prefer more tomato flavor, just use tomato sauce instead of the tomato soup. This meal with ground beef is so versatile, there shouldn’t be any meat lovers complaining! If you don’t like the sweetness from the brown sugar, just add less or leave it out. You can also add other favorite veggies if you feel you need to get more vitamins in. A simple salad or cut up raw veggies are quick and easy sides to have with your Sloppy Joes.

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History of Sloppy Joes

Most everyone will agree that sloppy joes are a classic American recipe. The origins of this easy ground beef recipe are debated. With some saying that a cook named Joe invented this tasty beef recipe. In 1930, Joe took tomato sauce and added it to a loose meat sandwich. In another version, a bar owner by the name of Jose would serve a version of Ropa Vieja and his establishment was called Sloppy Joes because it was always so messy. Hmm, well, whichever version is the correct one, this simple ground beef recipe has been an American favorite since the 1800s. Whether you like just a basic sloppy joe or a more complex recipe, everyone has their own preferences and it’s pretty much impossible to mess up this simple sloppy joe recipe!

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions

Sloppy Joes can be made ahead! If you want to eat them on the weekend and are making them mid-week, just store the ground beef mixture in the refrigerator in a sealed container. If, on the other hand you want to prepare meals with ground beef months in advance, just place the sealed container with the sloppy joes in the freezer for up to 4 months. To use, thaw the meat for 24 hours in the refrigerator, then warm up in a large saucepan on low heat, stirring often. Toast the buns fresh whenever you are almost ready to serve.

Ingredients in Sloppy Joes Recipe

• Ground beef, if you use the leanest ground beef you can find, you won’t have to drain the fat.
• Onion, chopped and cooked with the ground beef.
• Flour, this will be used to thicken the sauce for the sloppy joes.
• Condensed tomato soup, and 1 can of water.
• Worcestershire sauce, this does actually add a slightly sweet and sour taste.
• Brown sugar, I use 1/4 cup for this recipe, you can adjust the amount according to how you like it.
• Garlic salt and pepper
• Prepared mustard, just a slight sour to counter the sweet of the brown sugar. For some reason, Sloppy joes just aren’t the same without it even though it’s a small amount.

How to Make Sloppy Joes Recipe

1.In a large saucepan, scramble fry the ground beef until browned nicely, then add the chopped onions. Continue cooking until the onions are translucent.

2.Sprinkle with flour and mix well.

3.Add the tomato soup, water, garlic salt, and pepper and stir often until it boils and thickens.

4.Add the Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and mustard and stir in. Taste and adjust the sweetness according to how you like it. The mustard amount can also be tweaked at this point.

5.Toast the hamburger buns by broiling, or buttering, and placing cut side down in a hot frying pan, or toast in the toaster on the bagel setting. Spoon the meat mixture over 2 bun halves on each plate.

Variations

There are so many other flavor variations of this popular and simple ground beef recipe. These variations are ones that don’t change the original taste very much. If you want a completely different flavor, google sloppy joes variations and you will be amazed at what some people have tried!

• A common addition is chopped bell peppers added when the onion is added.
• For a spicier version, add a bit of cayenne when adding the rest of the spices to the ground beef mixture.
• Chopped garlic will enhance the garlic flavor. Just add when adding the onions.
• A bit of smoked paprika or liquid smoke will make a more barbecue sauce like flavor.
• If you love pickles, chop some up and add them at the end of cooking the sloppy joes recipe!
• You can use any type of ground meat including ground chicken, turkey, bison, elk etc.
• Top with sliced cheese while hot!

What to Serve With Homemade Sloppy Joes

Simple Refrigerator Pickles

Sweet Garlic Dill Pickles

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Light and Fluffy Homemade Honey Buns

What Can I Do With Leftover Sloppy Joe Meat?

• Spoon some over fries.
• Add some tomato sauce and eat it with spaghetti.
• Put a little bit into your grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Make Sloppy Joe Dogs instead of chili dogs.
• Top a baked potato with leftovers and grated cheese.

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Sloppy Joes Recipe

Sloppy Joes are a go to hearty meal made with ground beef or any other type of ground meat. This easy ground beef recipe is a great dinner for busy days.

Author:RebekahCooking Method:Stove-topCuisine:AmericanCourses:Main CourseRecipe Keys:BeefHomemade

Print Recipe

Pin RecipeMain Course

Prep Time5 minsCook Time15 minsTotal Time20 minsDifficulty:BeginnerServings:4Calories:458Best Season:Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Servings

• 1 lb ground beef
• ¹⁄₂ cup onion (chopped)
• 1 can tomato soup (condensed)
• 1 can water
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¹⁄₂ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• ¹⁄₄ tsp pepper
• 2 tsp mustard

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, scramble fry the ground beef until browned nicely, then add the chopped onions. Continue cooking until the onions are translucent.

   

2. Sprinkle with flour and mix well.

   

3. Add the tomato soup, water, garlic salt, and pepper and stir often until it boils and thickens.

   

4. Add the Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and mustard and stir in. Taste and adjust the sweetness according to how you like it. The mustard amount can also be tweaked at this point.

   

5. Toast the hamburger buns by broiling, or buttering, and placing cut side down in a hot frying pan, or toast in the toaster on the bagel setting. Spoon the meat mixture over 2 bun halves on each plate.

   

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 458kcal

Calories from Fat 130kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 14.4g23%

Sodium 748mg32%

Potassium 663mg19%

Total Carbohydrate 45g15%

Dietary Fiber 1.7g7%

Sugars 20g

Protein 35.5g71%

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Vitamin C 9 mg

Calcium 11 mg

Iron 30 mg

Thiamin 33 mg

Riboflavin 29 mg

Niacin 61 mg

Vitamin B6 37 mg

Folate 23 mcg

Vitamin B12 121 mcg

Pantothenic Acid 19 mg

Phosphorus 41 mg

Magnesium 14 mmol

Zinc 101 mcg

Selenium 68 mg

Copper 21 mg

Manganese 20 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.