Need a quick and easy meal idea? These sloppy joes are simple, cheap, and filling. Ground beef is mixed with onions, garlic, and bell pepper, all smothered in a simple sauce made of ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and spices. Scoop it on toasted hamburger buns for the perfect meal!
For more cheap meal ideas using ground beef, try our six best meatloaf recipes, one pot spaghetti, and hamburger casserole.
Sloppy Joes
Need a quick and easy dinner recipe? These sloppy joes are the perfect solution. Whether you’re looking for a fast weeknight option, feeding a hungry crowd, or an easy camping meal, sloppy joes are always a good recipe to have in your back pocket.
- INEXPENSIVE – Ground beef and a handful of veggies and a few sauces you already have in your fridge are all you need to make this flavorful recipe.
- FAMILY-FRIENDLY – Sloppy joes are traditionally a family favorite that kids and adults both enjoy.
What Do Sloppy Joes Taste Like?
Crunchy onions and bell pepper complement the ground beef nicely to create a great texture. Everything is mixed in a sweet sauce made of ketchup, mustard, garlic and brown sugar. If you want this recipe to be less sweet, then you can swap out ketchup for tomato sauce.
Add this sloppy joe recipe to crispy toasted hamburger buns (we like to toast ours in the oven on a baking sheet) and you’ve got yourself a delicious easy meal!
Recipe Ingredients
These sloppy joes use easy ingredients, here’s an overview of what you’ll need with the full details in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- LEAN GROUND BEEF – 1 lb of lean ground beef or a ground beef/ground pork blend will work for this recipe. Medium ground beef will also work but will have a higher fat content.
- ONION – 1 cup of diced onion (chop it really small) works great here. Yellow onion will work best for this recipe, but if you have a different onion on hand (like I did with red onion) then use that one.
- GREEN BELL PEPPER – 1 medium bell pepper seeded and chopped small is used for added veggies. Any color of bell pepper will work here.
- SAUCE – The sauce uses a combination of sauces that are already available in most kitchens. You’ll need ¾ cup of ketchup or tomato sauce, depending on how sweet you want this recipe. You’ll also need 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp of brown sugar (this is optional), and 2 tsp of yellow mustard.
- SPICES – This recipe uses ½ tsp of chili powder and ¼ tsp of red pepper flakes for a bit of spiciness. Feel free to skip them if your family doesn’t like spice for flavor.
- BUNS – You will need some kind of bun for the sloppy joes to be served on. I used hamburger buns that were toasted in the oven on a baking sheet just before serving.
Helpful Tip: Use ground beef and ground pork blend for a cheaper option! This combo is usually available right beside the ground beef in the meat section of the grocery store. I love this because it helps to save money on my grocery bill. Nobody will even notice the difference in taste!
How To Make Sloppy Joes
This is a simple, easy, no fuss kind of recipe that doesn’t require a lot of work. It’s perfect for those days when you want a lazy meal. Here’s how to make the recipe. If you want to see the recipe card, that’s at the bottom of this post, just keep scrolling down.
- BROWN BEEF – Heat a large frying pan or pot over medium-high heat with cooking oil (vegetable oil, canola, coconut, or olive oil will work). Add the ground beef and break it apart into chunks with the tip of a wood or silicone spatula. Continue to crumble and brown the ground beef until it is fully cooked. Scoop it onto a plate and drain any excess grease with a paper towel swished around with a spatula.
- SAUTE VEGGIES – Add a bit more cooking oil and the chopped onion, minced garlic and. green bell pepper to the pan. Continue to cook over medium-high heat until all of the vegetables have softened. Test the bell pepper by poking it with a fork. This will take the longest to cook. The smaller you chop it, the faster it will cook.
- MIX TOGETHER – Add back the ground beef and the ketchup (or tomato sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir together and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until it reached a consistency that you’re happy with.
- TOAST – While the sloppy joe mixture is cooking you can toast hamburger buns. I like to brush hamburger buns with a bit of olive oil and bake them at 400F for a few minutes until toasted. You can also broil them, just be sure to keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
Recipe Tips
- Use lean ground beef or a beef/pork blend for less grease.
- Use the tip of a wooden spatula or firm silicone spatula to break apart the ground beef while cooking.
- Chop the green bell pepper small, it will cook faster.
- Swap ketchup for a can of plain tomato sauce for a less sweet option.
- Toast a big batch of hamburger buns all at once in the oven at 400F or on the broil setting. Brush the bread with a bit of oil to help it crispen up.
How To Store Leftovers
Leftover sloppy joe mixture should be stored separately from any bread or hamburger buns. This will ensure they stay fresh and not soggy. Here’s how to store leftovers:
- REFRIGERATE – Leftover sloppy joe ground beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Let the mixture cool completely before adding it to a container to store.
- FREEZER – Consider making a double batch and freezing half for later! The sloppy joe ground beef mixture will freeze easily. First, let it cool completely then add it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible as this is what causes freezer burn. You can freeze for up to 6 months. To defrost, place the bag in the fridge overnight in a shallow bowl of cold water.
- TO REHEAT – Sloppy joes can be reheated in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish with a paper towel on top to prevent spills. Reheat for 1-2 minutes, stirring the mixture halfway through. This can also be added back to the frying pan to reheat.
Helpful Tip: Double the recipe and freeze half for an upcoming meal. Only freeze the ground beef mixture (not with the hamburger buns) for the best freshness.
Sloppy Joes are a quick and easy recipe using ground beef! A simple sauce of ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and red pepper flakes covers ground beef, onions, and bell pepper. Add these to toasted hamburger buns for the easiest filling meal.
More Recipes
For more easy dinner ideas using ground beef, try these ideas:
- One Pot Ground Pork with Noodles
- Ground Beef Sweet Potato Skillet
- Ground Beef Spaghetti Sauce
- Sheet Pan Nachos with Ground Beef
- Homemade Mushroom Beef Burgers
Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 cup yellow onion - diced small small
- 2 cups chopped green bell pepper - about 1 medium bell pepper
- ¾ cup ketchup - or tomato sauce for a less sweet option
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar - optional
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 4-6 hamburger buns - to serve with
Instructions
- Heat a frying pan or large pot with a bit of cooking oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and break apart with a spatula. Cook until ground beef has browned. Add to a plate and set aside. Use a paper towel and spatula to swish around and absorb excess grease from the pan.
- Add the chopped onion, minced garlic and celery to the pan with 1 Tbsp more of cooking oil. Cook until the vegetables have softened.
- Add back in the cooked ground beef along with ketchup (or tomato sauce), brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. Cook for 5-10 minutes, until the mixture has thickened.
- Serve with toasted hamburger buns (see notes) and enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
- Use lean ground beef or a beef/pork blend for less grease.
- Use the tip of a wooden spatula or firm silicone spatula to break apart the ground beef while cooking.
- Chop the green bell pepper small, it will cook faster.
- Swap ketchup for a can of plain tomato sauce for a less sweet option.
- Toast a big batch of hamburger buns all at once in the oven at 400F or on the broil setting. Brush the bread with a bit of oil to help it crispen up.