Sloppy Joes (Classic Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe)
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This old-fashioned sloppy joe recipe comes straight from my mother-in-law, and it’s the one my husband requests by name. The secret is Heinz chili sauce instead of ketchup, and it makes the sauce taste so much better without any extra work. Brown some beef, simmer everything together, and dinner is on the table in about 30 minutes.
Why We Love This Classic Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Easy To Make – Sloppy joes are pretty easy to make, if you can cook ground beef you can make sloppy joes. Plus this old fashioned recipe is easy to customize to your own flavor preferences.
- Cozy Comfort Food – Sloppy joes are perfect on a cold day and remind me of chili in the way they warm you up. Just as good for a summer cookout or party too!
- Kid Friendly And Crowd Friendly – Kids love the messy sandwich factor, and this recipe is easy to scale up for a crowd. Make a double batch and keep it warm in the slow cooker when you’re having people over!
This is my mother-in-law’s classic old-fashioned sloppy joe recipe. She always made it with Heinz chili sauce, and my husband’s whole face lit up the first time I made it for him. I do sometimes make sloppy joes with ketchup like in my sloppy joe sliders or my sloppy joe tater tot casserole, but this is the version he loves most.
Ingredients For Homemade Sloppy Joes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.
- ground beef – I prefer lean ground beef. If you use 80/20 or a blend with more fat I recommend draining the meat really well so it’s not oily
- onion diced
- bell pepper diced, I prefer yellow or orange. You can use red or green bell pepper also.
- salt
- pepper
- minced garlic – Jarred minced garlic works great here. If you have fresh garlic you’ll need about two cloves. You can also swap in garlic powder.
- diced tomatoes in juice canned. Tomatoes and juice both are used in this recipe, don’t drain the can!
- Heinz chili sauce – Found near the ketchup at most grocery stores. It’s similar to ketchup but less sweet and more flavorful, which is what makes this recipe special. Many stores carry a store brand version too, like Kroger.
- apple cider vinegar – You can use white vinegar here in a pinch, but it may have a little more tangy flavor. The apple cider vinegar balances a little better I find, and is what my mother in law would use.
- large buns rolls, hamburger buns or toasted bread also work
Some recipes also include a little bit of brown sugar, which can balance the tomatoes a little bit. I find using the chili sauce instead of ketchup that brown sugar isn’t needed.
How To Make Sloppy Joes
- Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook the ground beef until brown all the way through, about 6-9 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the meat and place on paper towels to drain if needed.
- Add diced onion and bell pepper to the same pan. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Allow the vegetables to soften for 2-3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Place ground beef back in the pan on top of the vegetables. Pour diced tomatoes, chili sauce, and apple cider vinegar into the pan and stir.
- Once the mixture is bubbling, let it simmer for five minutes. Spoon generously onto buns and enjoy every messy bite!
What Do I Serve With Sloppy Joes?
Try serving sloppy joe meat with a baked potato, roasted potato wedges, creamy mashed potatoes or even with mashed sweet potatoes.
Sloppy Joes also go great with some crunchy potato chips, tater tots, or creamy mac and cheese.
Many people like coleslaw and some pickles with a sloppy joe sandwich, and my quick and easy 10 minute coleslaw is always a win. Add some loaded baked potato salad and you have a party!
You can also try other veggies on the side like the broccoli cheese stuffed potatoes or honey roasted baby carrots.
How Can I use Use Leftover Sloppy Joe Meat?
The sloppy joe meat mixture is pretty flexible! Try it on top of tater tots, french fries, garlic bread, Texas toast, or even over noodles or rice.
We love making sloppy joe sliders for game day, and a sloppy joe wrapped up like a burrito is delicious too.
The meat is also great taco salad style on top of greens with corn, black beans, tomatoes, and crushed corn chips.
Can I Use Ground Turkey Or Ground Chicken?
Yes, ground turkey or ground chicken both work great in this recipe. Just keep in mind they can be a little leaner than beef, so watch the cook time and don’t overcook them so they don’t dry out.
How Do I Thicken The Sloppy Joe Sauce?
If your sloppy joe sauce is too runny, it’s an easy fix. Mix two teaspoons of cornstarch with four teaspoons of water, then stir it into the sloppy joe mixture. Let everything bubble for 2-3 minutes and it will thicken right up.
Do I Add Cheese To My Sloppy Joe Sandwich?
Some people like adding cheese to their sloppy joe sandwich and it’s a great call! Cheddar, colby jack, or American cheese all work great. Just pick something melty for the best results..
How Long Will These Easy Sloppy Joes Last?
Leftover sloppy joe meat will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Just store the meat separately from the buns so they don’t get soggy!
Can You Freeze Classic Sloppy Joes?
The sloppy joe meat mixture freezes beautifully in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, making it a great make-ahead meal for busy weeks. Just skip freezing the buns and add the meat to a fresh bun after reheating.
Easy Ground Beef Dinners
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Cheeseburger Sliders
Cheesy Homemade Hamburger Helper
Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ medium onion diced
- ½ medium bell pepper diced, I prefer yellow or orange
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes in juice canned, tomatoes and juice
- 12 ounces Heinz chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 large buns rolls or toasted bread also work
Instructions
- Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook the ground beef until brown all the way through, about 6-9 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the meat and place on paper towels to drain if needed.1 pound ground beef
- Add diced onion and bell pepper to the same pan. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Allow the vegetables to soften for 2-3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.½ medium onion, ½ medium bell pepper , ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Place ground beef back in the pan on top of the vegetables. Pour diced tomatoes, chili sauce, and apple cider vinegar into the pan and stir.14.5 ounces diced tomatoes in juice, 12 ounces Heinz chili sauce, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Once the mixture is bubbling, let it simmer for five minutes. Spoon generously onto buns and enjoy every messy bite!4 large buns
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
Thought it was very good. Didn’t mention when to add the apple cider vinegar so I added it at the end. 🙂