Homemade Sloppy Joes
on Nov 21, 2021, Updated Aug 29, 2025
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This sloppy Joe recipe from the Mom 100 Cookbook features a richly flavored homemade sauce that elevates the classic sandwich to new heights. Ground beef cooked with onions and garlic is simmered in a tangy, sweet sauce of ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and brown sugar. It's a family-friendly, quick comfort meal ready in about 30 minutes. Perfect for a casual dinner or game day gathering.
Sloppy Joe’s are the ultimate messy, comforting sandwich—sweet, tangy, and so satisfying. This recipe cuts out the canned sauce and builds a fast, homemade version packed with rich flavors: sautéed onions and garlic, tangy ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and a little brown sugar to bring it all together. It’s quick enough for weeknights and fun enough for weekend game days.
Sloppy Joes and a few sides are a great way to serve a crowd! Serve them with Cherry Tomato Antipasti Salad, No-Mayo Potato Salad, or Herb Orzo Salad.
What's In This Post?
Sloppy Joes: The slightly sweet and tangy sauce, the soft buns, the glorious messiness of it—what’s not to love?
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Why Is It Called a Sloppy Joe?
Sloppy Joes were (as the story goes) invented by a man named Joe, who was a cook at a restaurant called Angell’s Cafe in Sioux City, Iowa. Loose meat sandwiches were already popular during the American Great Depression in the 30s as a way to stretch a small amount of ground beef into a meal that could feed a family. Joe Floyd, however, apparently was the guy who decided to add tomato sauce to the beef, and thus the Sloppy Joe was born.
In other parts of the country, this sandwich may go by different names. In Wisconsin, it is called a Spanish Hamburger (for some reason), in other places it is known as a Tavern, or a Hot Tamale, and elsewhere simply a loose meat sandwich (though the sauce may not be the same).
Cafeteria Food, but So Much Better
I’ve always thought that meatloaf didn’t get the respect it deserves, but I harbored a secret disdain for sloppy joes, even though my boys reported loving them at school. So, I set about unraveling the mystery appeal of this cafeteria classic, and now I fully understand. The slightly sweet and tangy sauce, the soft buns, the glorious messiness of it — what’s not to love? And what took me so long to get on board?
Ingredients
- Ground beef – I prefer to use lean ground beef.
- Olive oil
- Onions and garlic
- Ketchup
- Tomato paste
- Dijon mustard
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Chili powder
- Worcestershire sauce – Balanced flavors of sweet, tangy, and savory.
- Cider vinegar – For some acidity.
- Hamburger buns
Sloppy Joe Toppings
Many people feel a Sloppy Joe needs no toppings. I spent a good amount of time discussing it with others, and there are a lot of intriguing options. One bacchanalian individual suggested kielbasa, which I cannot in good conscience recommend. But I can recommend:
- Pickles (try homemade Refrigerator Pickles!)
- Onions: raw, sautéed, pickled, or fried
- Sliced or grated cheese, such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Cheddar
- Coleslaw, such as Spicy Cole Slaw
- Potato chips
- Fried egg (truly! This is sometimes called a Sloppy Joseph, which is awesome)
How to Make Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Cook the ground meat: In a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat brown the beef, using a spoon to break it up into crumbles. Drain in a colander.
- Make the sauce: Heat olive oil over medium heat, add the onions and garlic, and cook until the onions are tender. Add the ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper, and stir until well combined. Add the water, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and beef. Simmer until the liquid has thickened.
- Assemble the sandwiches: Scoop some of the beef filling onto a bun and add your desired toppings.
Make Ahead and Storage
The filling is, in fact, even better when you make it a day or two ahead and reheat it; heat the buns right before you serve. This is a good recipe to remember if you are going to have an onslaught of teenagers coming over. The filling also freezes well for up to 3 months, well sealed.
FAQs
The sauce blends ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, and a touch of cider vinegar, creating a perfect balance of tangy, savory flavors without relying on pre-made sauce.
Yes! Ground turkey is a great alternative. The flavorful sauce means the meat choice won’t compromise on taste.
The recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, making it fast enough for weeknight dinners.
Yes, you can prepare the Sloppy Joe filling in advance and store it in the fridge for up to four days or the freezer for up to four months.
Soft buns like brioche or sesame seed buns are great for holding the saucy filling while adding a bit of sweetness.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
More Hot Sandwich Recipes:
- Meatball Sub Sandwich
- Breakfast Bagel Sandwich
- The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- The World’s Best Tuna Melt
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Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or mustard powder
- 1 tablespoon light or dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (see Note)
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 8 hamburger buns (white or whole wheat; toasted, if desired)
For the Toppings (Optional):
- Pickles
- Onions (raw, sautéed, pickled, or fried)
- Sliced or grated cheese (such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Cheddar)
- Coleslaw (such as Spicy Cole Slaw)
- Potato chips
- Fried egg
Instructions
- Spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the beef, and cook, using a spoon to stir and break up the meat into crumbles, until it is browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain the beef in a colander.
- Wipe out the skillet and return it to the burner. Add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are tender, 4 minutes. Add the ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper and stir until well combined. Add the water, Worcestershire sauce, and cider vinegar, then return the beef to the pan. Bring to a simmer, adjust the heat if necessary, and simmer uncovered until the liquid has reduced and thickened into a sauce, about 5 minutes.
- Place an open bun on each plate, and using a large spoon, scoop some of the beef filling onto the bottom half of each bun. Add toppings, if desired, top with the other half of the bun, and dig in.
