Sloppy joes

Sloppy joes are saucy, sweet-savory, and the kind of dinner that disappears fast. ♡

This is the weeknight classic that hits every time: messy sandwiches, toasted buns, and that cozy simmered sauce that tastes like it’s been cooking all day (it hasn’t). The secret is building flavor in layers—brown the beef well, cook the tomato paste for a minute, then let the sauce simmer just long enough to turn thick and glossy.

I keep mine balanced: tangy from vinegar and mustard, a little sweet, and not overly ketchup-y. And if you want to sneak in veggies, this is the place.

Let’s make it together.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, if using lean beef)

• 1 medium onion, finely diced

• 1 green bell pepper, finely diced (optional but classic)

• 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 is best) or ground turkey

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 3/4 cup ketchup

• 1/2 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard (or Dijon)

• 1 to 2 tablespoons brown sugar (to taste)

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 to 4 tablespoons water or broth, as needed to loosen

For serving

• 6 burger buns (potato buns are amazing), toasted

• sliced pickles (optional)

• sliced cheddar or American cheese (optional)

Tips

• Brown the meat well. Let it sit and develop color before stirring—this adds big flavor.

• Cook the tomato paste for 1 minute. It takes away the raw taste and deepens the sauce.

• Simmer to thicken. Sloppy joes should be saucy, not soupy—give it 8–10 minutes.

• Taste at the end. Adjust sweetness (brown sugar) and tang (vinegar/mustard) to your preference.

• Toast the buns. It helps them hold up to the filling and keeps things less… tragic.

Variations

• Make it spicy: add diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne/red pepper flakes.

• Add veggies: finely diced carrots, mushrooms, or zucchini melt right into the meat.

• BBQ-style: swap ketchup for your favorite BBQ sauce and reduce sugar.

• Lighter: use ground turkey and add an extra splash of Worcestershire for depth.

• Meal prep: serve over baked potatoes, rice, or in lettuce wraps.

FAQ

Sloppy Joes

Classic sloppy joes with a thick, tangy-sweet sauce—quick, cozy, and perfect on toasted buns.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 1 green bell pepper, finely diced (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1 to 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 to 4 tbsp water or broth, as needed
• 6 buns, toasted

Method

 

1. Sauté veggies. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
2. Brown the meat. Add ground beef. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Cook tomato paste. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
4. Make the sauce. Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, paprika, salt, and pepper.
5. Simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy. Add a splash of water or broth if it gets too thick.
6. Serve. Spoon onto toasted buns. Add pickles or cheese if you want, and serve immediately.

Notes

• If you like a thicker sloppy joe, simmer a few extra minutes. For a looser sauce, add a splash of broth.
• Ground turkey works great—use a bit of olive oil and don’t skip Worcestershire.
• Leftovers are amazing over fries, baked potatoes, or rice.

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