Sloppy Joes Recipe

By
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/2/19
Andrea Gomez/Photolibrary/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
350 Calories
13g Fat
23g Carbs
34g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 350
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 5g 26%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 971mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Protein 34g
Calcium 82mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The secret to a great Sloppy Joe sandwich is slowly simmering the beef and sauce down into a rich, tender paste. You should always serve Sloppy Joes with a fork, but you should never need to use it.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 green bell pepper (diced)
  • 2 cups water (divided)
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: cayenne to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Place the ground beef and onions into a cold, large skillet and put over medium heat.

  2. Cook stirring until the beef begins to brown. As it cooks, break the meat into very small pieces with a spatula. The smaller the better.

  3. Add the garlic and green pepper; cook stirring for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of water.

  4. Bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan with a spatula to dissolve any browned bits.

  5. Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and last cup of water.

  6. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been evaporated, and the meat mixture is thick, rich and tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

  7. Serve hot on soft rolls.