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This Classic Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes is made with a homemade sauce that comes together quick and easy in 30 minutes! This family-friendly meal is hearty and messy, made with tender ground beef, onion, bell pepper and a rich flavorful sauce made with tomato sauce.
Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes (Better Than the Can!)
Sloppy Joes take me straight back to childhood—the kind of meal that showed up on the dinner table when my mom needed something quick, hearty, and guaranteed to keep everyone full. Saucy, messy, and piled high on a soft bun, it was the ultimate comfort food. And now, as a mom myself, I get it. Some nights just call for a simple, no-fuss meal that everyone will eat without complaints.
This version skips the store-bought sauce and ditches the ketchup, using a homemade blend of tomato sauce, tomato paste, and seasonings you probably already have in your pantry.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
✔Budget-Friendly: A hearty, family-friendly meal that won’t break the bank! Made with simple pantry staples, these classic sloppy joes come together with an easy homemade sauce.
✔ Kid-Approved: Messy, saucy, and packed with flavor—this is a meal the whole family will devour! Serve it on soft buns or even over baked potatoes for a fun twist.
✔ Make-Ahead Friendly: The sauce tastes even better the next day! Prep it in advance and reheat for an effortless meal.
✔ Freezer-Friendly: Cook a double batch and freeze half for an easy future dinner—just thaw and reheat!
✔ Customizable: Keep it classic or spice it up with jalapeños, add Worcestershire for depth, or sneak in extra veggies like shredded carrots or zucchini.
✔ One-Pan Meal: Everything cooks in a single skillet, making cleanup a breeze.
✔ Perfect for Gatherings: A great option for potlucks, game days, or casual get-togethers—serve with slider buns for easy entertaining!
Ingredients Needed:
- Tomato Paste: A small amount for richness and thickness.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami depth—Lea & Perrins is my favorite brand.
- Ground Mustard: Dry mustard from the spice aisle; can swap with yellow or Dijon mustard.
- Molasses: Adds depth and sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A touch of tang to balance the sauce.
- Chili Powder: A bit of spice—Gebhardt’s is my favorite. If you are concerned about the spice level, you can leave this out or start with a smaller amount.
- Smoked Paprika: A mild smoky-sweet flavor.
- Ground Beef: Classic choice, or swap for ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
I find this a great recipe to sneak in some veggies for the kids. Chop up whatever you have on hand and add it in!
How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes
Find the complete recipe card below with measurements and full instructions.
- Sauté the vegetables (pepper and onion). Add the garlic and cook briefly. Add in the ground beef and break it up as it cooks until completely browned. Once the meat is browned and the onion and peppers are tender, add in the garlic. Cook an additional 30 seconds.
- Then, add in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, ground mustard, molasses, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the meat.
- Bring to a low simmer, allow the meat to cook in the sauce, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes until the sauce reduces and mixture is thick.
- Allow the meat sauce to cook on a low simmer uncovered until nice and thick and the sauce has reduced slightly. During this time prepare the hamburger buns by spreading a little butter on the insides and toasting in a skillet.
Always use sturdy buns and toast them briefly to help prevent them from getting soggy. The best breads to serve these classic sloppy joes on are hamburger buns, other options would include brioche, white bread, hoagie rolls, Hawaiian rolls (for sliders), thick sliced Texas toast.
Serving Ideas
We love serving our Sloppy Joes on a toasted bun. However, if you want to switch things up, here are some fun ideas:
- Classic: Pile the saucy filling onto soft hamburger buns or brioche rolls. Don’t forget to toast them for extra sturdiness!
- Cheesy Twist: Melt a slice of cheddar, pepper jack, or provolone on top for extra richness.
- Low-Carb Options: Serve over roasted sweet potatoes, in lettuce wraps, or spooned into halved bell peppers.
- Sloppy Joe Sliders: Perfect for parties! Use Hawaiian rolls or mini buns for bite-sized sandwiches.
- Over-the-Top: Top with pickles, crispy fried onions, or a fried egg for a fun upgrade.
- Creative Leftovers: Use the filling in quesadillas, stuffed bell peppers, over nachos, or even as a baked potato topping.
Storage Information
- Refrigerate: Store leftover sloppy joe filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Freeze: Let the filling cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Make-Ahead Tip: This sauce tastes even better the next day! Double the batch and freeze half for an easy meal down the road. Perfect for quick lunches, baked potatoes, or even a sloppy joe-inspired quesadilla!
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes FAQs
There are stories that attribute the name to a chef named Joe in Sioux City, Iowa who added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwich.
Manwich is a brand name, they sell canned sloppy Joe sauce that can be found in most markets. Sloppy Joes refers to the actual meal of the loose meat sandwich coated in a tomato based sauce served on buns.
Everyone has their own “secret” ingredient or method to make the best sloppy joe. This particular recipe relies on the combination of the apple cider vinegar, molasses, and the Worcestershire sauce to provide a hearty, deeply flavorful, tangy bite to the meat sauce.
Favorite Side Dishes
Need some ideas to serve on the side? Here’s some of our personal favorites. Other options would be some potato chips, grilled veggies, or a simple side salad.
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Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard or can use dijon
- 1 tablespoon molasses can sub with brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add in the bell pepper and onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add in the ground beef. Continue cooking over medium heat. Breaking up the meat while it cooks. Cook until the meat is completely browned, approximately 5 minutes.
- Once the meat is browned and the onion and peppers are tender, add in the garlic. Cook an additional 30 seconds.
- Add in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, ground mustard, molasses, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the meat.
- Bring to a low simmer, allow the meat to cook in the sauce, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes until the sauce reduces and mixture is thick.
- During this time prepare the hamburger buns by spreading a little butter on the insides and toasting in a skillet.
- Serve the sloppy joes warm.
Video
Notes
- Prepare the recipe as instructed, store the meat sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: heat the meat sauce over medium low heat on the stovetop for 10-12 minutes until heated through.
- Prepare the meat sauce as instructed, allow to cool to room temperature. Store in a sealed freezer safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Remove to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium low heat heat until warmed through, about 10-12 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Family Favorite Recipes
Recipe first published September 6, 2019. Updated January 4, 2023 with new images and information. Recipe is unchanged.
Photography by the talented @KJandCompany.co
Made this last night and it was excellent. Good, budget friendly dinner that is also family friendly. Next time I will double the recipe so we have more left over. We ate most of it last night between 2 adults and a toddler. I might also try preparing it and then throwing it into the slow cooker so the veggies really melt into the meat mixture. This is the second recipe I’ve made from this site and both have been winners.
great recipe for sloopy joes, love that I love that it’s from scratch, last time I made them I used a flavor pouch or whatever it’s called, thank you, and definitely a classic!