Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

Why you’ll love it

It’s really easy to make Sloppy Joes from scratch! You might be tempted to buy canned sauce, but making it in your own kitchen tastes so much better, and you know exactly what’s going in it: simple, wholesome ingredients that you probably have on hand already. Just picture that first bite of the soft bun and tender ground beef smothered in a rich sauce. It’s a whole lot of messy, and we’re here for it.

Let’s talk about the flavor of these Sloppy Joes. It’s savory, tangy, a little sweet, and downright delicious. We’re using smoked paprika as our not-so-ingredient to take it over the top. These homemade Sloppy Joes are super saucy, and your family will enjoy these for an inexpensive and filling meal. They’ll give you all that childhood nostalgia of eating them around the campfire!

I think you’ll also like my Sloppy Joe Casserole for a fun twist.

Ingredients you will need

• Ground beef – I like at least 90% lean so you don’t need to drain a lot of excess fat, and it’s a nice balance between leanness and taste
• Onion – any variety is fine, but sweet (Vidalia) is our go-to
• Bell pepper – usually green is used, but whatever color is great
• Ketchup – for a bit of sweetness, but not too sweet.
• Mustard – yellow mustard amps up the flavor even more. Don’t leave it out!
• Garlic powder – I love infusing it with garlicky goodness for depth of flavor
• Smoked paprika – my special twist
• Red pepper flakes – to give it a gentle warmth without making it spicy
• Worcestershire sauce – this is a staple in my pantry to add another savory layer to all kinds of sauces
• Vinegar – either white or apple cider works. It adds a touch of tang
• Beef broth – to make it that much richer and add moisture

How to make Sloppy Joes

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Brown the beef and get a nice crust on it, then add in the onions and green bell pepper and continue cooking until they’ve softened.

Add in the sauce ingredients, and simmer for 5 minutes or so until the sauce has reduced to your liking. Season with salt & pepper, and serve in toasted buns. That’s it!

Substitutions and variations

• This recipe is kid-friendly as written, but if you’re concerned about the crushed red pepper flakes, simply omit them. They don’t make the dish spicy, but they do add a little bit of kick.
• If you do like spice, double them for more heat, or even add a couple dashes of hot sauce or some cayenne pepper!
• You can sub ground turkey if you prefer. It’ll be a bit more dry and less flavorful than beef, so be sure to add a tablespoon or so of olive oil when you’re cooking the meat in the first step.