Homemade Sloppy Joes

homemade sloppy joe on a homemade hamburger bun on a white plate, a skillet of additional sloppy joes mix in the background

When it comes to classic comfort food, there's nothing like a good Sloppy Joe Recipe! Instead of using canned sauce, this recipe for homemade sloppy joes uses whole foods like ground beef, onions, peppers, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard for the base! Ready in 30 minutes, this recipe will be a new family favorite!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Homemade Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joe Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings sandwiches

Calories 165kcal

Cost $10

Ingredients

1 small onion finely chopped
1/2 small bell pepper seeded and finely diced
1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
1 Tbsp brown sugar
16 oz ketchup*
1 lb lean ground beef
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 tsp ground black pepper or to taste
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1/3 cup water
8 hamburger buns (try these homemade hamburger buns)

Instructions

Finely dice the onion and bell pepper.
In a skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add vegetables and cook until soft and tender. Remove vegetables from the skillet.
TIP: If you have picky eaters, you can blend the sauteed vegetables into a smooth sauce by adding them with all the sauce ingredients to a blender while the meat is browning! That way they get all those great veggies without realizing it!
Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up into smaller pieces as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic.
Pour in the remaining ingredients and add the vegetables back in. Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce comes to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, add more salt and pepper if needed.
Spoon the finished Sloppy Joe mix onto buns and serve right away!

Notes

NOTE: Buns not included in nutritional information

*Ketchup - We use our homemade ketchup, but you can use whatever you have on hand. If you prefer to use tomato sauce, that works as well. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar if using tomato sauce instead of ketchup.

Make Ahead & Bulk Cooking Info

Storing – Let the Sloppy Joe mix cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Freezing – Once the mixture is completely cooled, add to freeze-safe containers or plastic bags and freeze for up to 3-4 months. The night before you want to serve it, place the container in the fridge and allow it to thaw overnight.
Re-heating – It's typically best to reheat a recipe the same way it was cooked. In this case, warm the Sloppy Joe mix on the stovetop in a skillet or saucepan until hot. You can microwave, but use a microwave shield to keep the splatter to a minimum!

Nutrition