Homemade Sloppy Joes

Homemade Sloppy Joes are easy to make and an instant family favorite with a tangy, sweet, and saucy ground beef filling on a bun with a little messiness in each bite that will take you back to your childhood.

Homemade Sloppy Joes

Step away from the canned sauce and make these homemade sloppy joes instead! They are worth every ounce of extra effort, which isn't much at all! You can have homemade sloppy joes on the table in under 30 minutes for quick, easy, affordable weeknight family dinner.

These are truly the best version of a childhood favorite, with ground beef in a tangy and sweet homemade sauce that's even better than the nostalgic one you remember!

These hearty, messy, delicious classic homemade sloppy joes are the perfect weeknight dinner recipe your family will love, all ready in less than 30 minutes!

What is a Sloppy Joe?

A sloppy joe is a sandwich with a saucy, tangy ground beef filling served on a bun. It is usually a little messy to eat with the saucy filling.

What is Sloppy Joe Sauce Made of?

Sloppy joe sauce is a little sweet and a little tangy with a tomato base. This recipe gets its tomato base from tomato sauce, ketchup, and barbecue. The sauce's distinctive flavor can also be attributed to bell pepper and onion.

In this sloppy joe sauce recipe, we also have brown sugar for sweetness and mustard and apple cider vinegar for tanginess.

What is the Difference Between Manwich and a Sloppy Joe?

Manwich is a brand of canned sloppy joe sauce, whereas a sloppy joe is the sandwich with filling on a bun, itself.

Can I Make Sloppy Joes in a Crock Pot

Yes, you sure can! Get the directions for Crockpot Sloppy Joes here, and you can get the directions for Instant Pot Sloppy Joes here!

How to Make Sloppy Joes for a Crowd

Homemade sloppy joes are great for feeding a crowd of any size because they're easy to make and make ahead, affordable, easy to serve, and loved by all. While I do like the crockpot version a bit better when making these for a crowd, the amount you need is the same!

The rule of thumb for sloppy joes is that you need about 3 ounces of raw ground meat per person. That means each pound will make 5-6 sloppy joes!

Follow the chart below for feeding a bigger crowd:

• 10 people = 2 pounds
• 20 people = 3.5 - 4 pounds
• 50 people = 9.5 pounds
• 100 people = 18.5 - 19 pounds

Just multiply the number of people by 3 ounces. Then divide it by 16 to get pounds (because there's 16 ounces in a pound).

To make for a crowd, simply follow the recipe instructions, increasing the amount for the number of people. The recipe below has a slider bar where you can increase the number of servings, if you're not a math person! You may need a large stockpot or multiple pots.

When the sloppy joes are cooked, you can transfer it to a slow cooker (or more than one, if necessary!) set to warm to keep it warm while serving.

Homemade Sloppy Joe Variations

• Ground Beef - Any ground meat can be used instead of ground beef in this recipe, such as ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
• Beans - Beans can make the meal more filling and add some extra fiber. Rinse the beans before adding.
• Spice - Add a chopped jalapeno, red pepper flakes, or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to up the heat level.
• Veggies - This saucy dish is a great way to sneak in veggies or get rid of veggies you need to use up! Try adding mushrooms, shredded carrots, zucchini, and more!
• Cheese - Mix some shredded cheese straight into the filling for an extra rich, ooey gooey dish.
• Buns - Get creative with the buns! You can serve it on brioche, potato, or sesame seed buns, or serve it on something even more unique like garlic bread or in a lettuce wrap!

How to Serve Homemade Sloppy Joes

Homemade sloppy joes are usually served on a bun. You can add toppings such as coleslaw (as shown in the video), pickle slices, a slice of cheese, or sauerkraut.

Serve sloppy joes with something simple like a green salad or steamed veggies and french fries, tater tots, or baby potatoes.

You can also serve it with classic picnic side dishes such as potato salad, coleslaw, mac and cheese, or pasta salad.

What to Do with Leftover Sloppy Joes

• Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese - Add sloppy joe filling to mac and cheese for a super comfort food, cheesy, sloppy meal.
• Baked Potatoes - Top baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes with leftover homemade sloppy joe filling and other toppings such as corn, peas, cheese, pickles, and more!
• Nachos - Use leftover filling as the meat for nachos. Sprinkle with cheese and bake, then add all of your other favorite toppings such as sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.
• Quesadilla- Add the filling and cheese to a quesadilla, then quickly brown in a little oil on both sides to melt the cheese and warm through.
• Grilled Cheese - Leftover sloppy joe on a grilled cheese sandwich promises to be the ultimate comfort food.
• Hot Dogs - Instead of chili, leftovers make a tangy-sweet option as a hot dog topping.
• Dip - Mix into a block of softened cream cheese or stir into some queso for a creamy, cheesy, dip.

Make Ahead, Storage, and Freezer Instructions

Make ahead your homemade sloppy joes up to 3 days in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat. If you're serving at a party, you can then transfer it to the slow cooker turned to warm for serving.

To store leftovers, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat leftovers in individual servings in the microwave or in larger portions on the stovetop.

After cooking your sloppy joes fully according to the recipe instructions, allow to cool completely, and then transfer to an airtight freezer bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl or in a large pot or skillet over medium heat.

More Easy Ground Beef Recipes You'll Love

• Crockpot Taco Meat - super easy and flavorful TexMex style taco meat, cooked right in the slow cooker, no pre-browning necessary!
• Instant Pot Salisbury Steak - Juicy ground beef patties in a rich onion gravy that takes a nostalgic classic to a whole new level.
• Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes - A twist on this family favorite dinner with ground beef, peppers, and onions in a creamy, cheesy sauce, served on a bun with cheese!
• Doritos Taco Salad - A great use for leftover taco meat or for stretching your meat for a meal! This taco salad is healthy and fun and perfect for weeknight dinners.
• Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole - Our own personal family favorite! This casserole is super easy to make and a guaranteed hit! Cheesy ground beef with corn and crispy tater tots.
• American Goulash - Ground beef and noodles in a tomato sauce that's super flavorful and easy to make in just one pot!

Homemade Sloppy Joes Video