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Perfect for quick dinner, these family-favorite homemade sloppy joes are ready in 30 minutes or less!  The silky rich sauce is ultra flavorful with a zesty kick! #sloppyjoes #weeknight
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4.94 from 1369 votes

The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes

Step away from the canned sauce and give these homemade sloppy joes a try! They're truly the best version of a childhood favorite!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sloppy joe recipe
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 266kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1/3 green bell pepper, minced
  • 1/2 large yellow onion, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or less, if you prefer)
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 3/4 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • dash of hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat butter and oil in large skillet over MED/MED-HIGH heat.  Add beef and brown, breaking apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to colander to drain.
  • Add onion and bell pepper to same skillet and cook 2-3 minutes, until soft.  Add garlic and cook 30 seconds or so, until fragrant.  Add beef back to the skillet and add tomato paste.  Stir well.
  • Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper.  Stir well to combine.
  • Cook over MED heat for 10-15 minutes, until mixture has thickened to your liking.  Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.

Video

Notes

Sloppy Joe meat mixture can be frozen!
  1. Cool the mixture completely, then add to freezer containers and freeze for up to 4 months.
  2. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 547mg | Potassium: 357mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 385IU | Vitamin C: 8.4mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.7mg