The Best Classic Sloppy Joes – Easy dinner recipe made in minutes. Ground beef in a sweet & tangy homemade Sloppy Joe sauce.
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes don’t have to be made with that can of pre-made sauce. Â It’s so easy to make your own using common ingredients you probably already have on hand.
This is a loose meat ground beef sandwich with a tomato based sauce with brown sugar for sweetness and vinegar for tartness.
This is a busy weeknight family favorite recipe because everyone, including the kids, love this quick cooking recipe.
Try these other great Ground Beef Recipes.
How To Make Sloppy Joes
*Note: Â The full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post.
- Heat some olive oil in a skillet.
- Add diced onion and bell pepper.
- Add extra lean ground beef and break it apart.
- Cook until the beef is browned.
Make The Sloppy Joe Sauce
- Add tomato sauce to the beef mixture.
- Add brown sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Stir well.
- Let the beef simmer in the sauce for 10 minutes.
- Spoon the meat mixture onto hamburger buns.
- Optional: Â Add toppings like sliced cheese, pickles, etc.
Isn’t that easy! Â It all comes together in under 30 minutes.
What Sides Go With This Sandwich
Here are some of my favorite things to serve along side this simple messy sandwich.
- Corn on the cob
- Side salad
- Sweet potato fries
- Coleslaw
- Potato Salad
What To Do With Leftovers
The meat mixture can easily be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Â Do not try to store pre-made sandwiches, though. Â The bread will get soggy. Â Store the buns separately from the meat.
Refrigerator: Â If you plan on eating the leftovers within 3 days, store the meat in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Â Reheat the meat in the microwave or in a sauce pot on the stove top.
Freezer: Â Store the meat in a sealed container in the freezer. Â Transfer the container to the refrigerator to thaw the day before you want to use it. Â Then, heat in the microwave or in a sauce pot on the stove top.
Try these other great Sloppy Joe Recipes:
- BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Taco Sloppy Joes from Five Heart Home
- Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Watch The Recipe Video For The Best Classic Sloppy Joes Below.
Find more of my recipes on TikTok
The Best Classic Sloppy Joes Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 hamburger buns
- Optional: sliced cheese, sliced pickles, etc.
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, onion, and bell pepper. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is cooked through.
- Add the tomato sauce, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering (low to medium-low). Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from the heat. Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm on hamburger buns.
It’s good
Great recipe and thanks to this, I can ditch the can! My hubby and I have sloppy joes at least once every 4 – 5 weeks and I really like the fact that I know what’s going into the sauce by making it myself. So thank you, it’s a great recipe as well!