This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These delicious homemade Sloppy Joes are saucy, savory, and full of classic flavor without being overly sweet. This easy 30-minute meal is made with ground beef, bell pepper, onion, and a tangy tomato-based sauce, making it a great dinner recipe for busy weeknights.
This easy Sloppy Joe recipe has a delicious balance of savory, tangy, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors, without relying on a lot of added brown sugar.
Why You’ll Love These Sloppy Joes
- They’re easy and delicious!
- You can easily adjust the sweetness to your taste.
- Everything cooks in one skillet.
- Ready in about 30 minutes, making them an easy weeknight dinner.
- The filling can be made ahead and reheats well.
- Easily double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd.
Sloppy Joe Ingredients
Simple pantry staples with lots of flavor make this recipe such a classic!
Ground Beef, Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Garlic, Ketchup, Barbecue Sauce, Yellow Mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, Salt, Black Pepper, Water, Brown Sugar (optional), Hamburger Buns, Provolone Cheese (optional)
About the Sweetness
These Sloppy Joes aren’t overly sweet, and the sweetness is easy to adjust.
I usually skip the brown sugar when using barbecue sauce since it already adds sweetness. Taste the filling after it simmers, then add a little brown sugar if you want it sweeter.
Variations & Substitutions
- No barbecue sauce: Use 1 cup ketchup instead, then add brown sugar to taste if you want it sweeter.
- Ground turkey: Substitute it for the beef and add a little oil if needed.
- Bell pepper: Use green, red, yellow, or orange.
- Cheese: Try Provolone, Cheddar, American, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack.
- Spicy: Add cayenne, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
This easy one-skillet recipe makes 6 delicious Sloppy Joe sandwiches in about 30 minutes!
Brown the ground beef and onion. Drain. Add green bell pepper and cook until softened.
Add the garlic, then stir in the remaining sauce ingredients, except the brown sugar. Simmer, taste, and add brown sugar only if you want the mixture sweeter.
Tips for the Best Sloppy Joes
- Taste before adding sugar – Barbecue sauces and ketchup vary quite a bit in sweetness, so tasting the finished sauce first gives you much better control.
- Adjust the consistency with water – Start with ¼ cup. You can always add more if you’d like the filling saucier.
- Toast the buns – Toasting helps keep the buns from becoming soggy and adds a little extra flavor and texture.
- Let it simmer – Even a short simmer gives the sauce time to blend with the beef and vegetables.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are great with potato chips, French fries, tater tots, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, corn on the cob, or a simple green salad.
Storage & Reheating
- Store leftover Sloppy Joe filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in a skillet or microwave, adding a splash of water if needed.
- Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Classic Meatloaf Recipe
Unstuffed Pepper Skillet
Easy Beef Enchilada Skillet
Ground Beef Cabbage Skillet
If you make this delicious Sloppy Joe recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment and a star rating below! 😊
Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
Sloppy Joe Mixture
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 1 small Yellow Onion chopped
- 1 small Green Bell Pepper chopped
- 2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
- ¾ cup Ketchup (or 1 cup if you do not use barbecue sauce)
- ¼ cup Barbecue Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Yellow Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper or to taste
- ¼ to ½ cup Water
- 2 teaspoons Brown Sugar (only if you don’t use bbq sauce)
To Serve
- 6 Hamburger Buns
- 6 slices Provolone Cheese optional
Instructions
Cook the Meat Mixture
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground beef and onion until the beef is cooked through. Drain most of the fat, keeping about 2 teaspoons.
- Add the green bell pepper and cook until it has softened, about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally (you can place a lid on the skillet to speed this up).
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
- Stir in the ketchup, barbecue sauce, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and 1/4 cup of water. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add another 1/4 cup of water if you like the mixture looser.
- Taste the mixture before you add any brown sugar. If you want your Sloppy Joes sweeter, add the brown sugar (I don’t use brown sugar if I am using bbq sauce as it usually sweetens the mixture). Also, adjust salt, if needed.
Serve
- Divide the Sloppy Joe mixture evenly between the 6 hamburger buns (toast them, if desired) and top with a slice of Provolone, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
