Homemade Sloppy Joes
on Nov 21, 2021, Updated Jan 18, 2025
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The slightly sweet and tangy sauce, the soft buns, the glorious messiness of it—what’s not to love?
Every once in a while one or the other of my kids would mention having eaten a sloppy joe for lunch in school, and I was somewhat skeptical about the whole concept: “Really? Did you like it?” The reply? A resounding “YES!”
I’ve always thought that meatloaf didn’t get the respect it deserves, but I harbored a secret disdain for sloppy joes. 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?
Table of Contents
Sloppy Joes: The slightly sweet and tangy sauce, the soft buns, the glorious messiness of it—what’s not to love?
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 in the American Great Depression 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 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 in some places simply a loose meat sandwich (though the sauce may not be the same).
What Is In a Sloppy Joe?
Sloppy joes are usually cooked ground beef mixed with onions, ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings. This recipe also includes some tomato paste for depth, a bit of brown sugar for sweetness, and mustard and a splash of vinegar for tanginess. The seasonings are a blend of chili powder and minced garlic. My family can’t get enough of these.
Sloppy Joe Toppings
I asked my husband what he topped a sloppy joe with when he was a kid, and he said, fairly mulishly, “Nothing.” My kids agree. I did spend a good amount of time thinking about this and discussing it with others, and there are a lot of intriguing options. One bacchanalian individual suggested kielbasa, which I cannot in good conscience recommend.
How to Top a Sloppy Joe
Pick and choose your favorite toppings!
- 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
Make Ahead Sloppy Joe Filling
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.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes:
Sloppy Joes and a few sides are a great way to serve a crowd!
- Cherry Tomato Antipasti Salad
- No-Mayo Potato Salad
- Herb Orzo Salad
- Kale Crunch Salad
- Macaroni and Cheese
Other 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.
