The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

sloppy joe sandwich resting on a wood cutting board

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

You won't believe how unbelievably fast, easy, and tasty this sloppy joe recipe is! My recipe is 100% from-scratch (no ketchup!) for the best sloppy joes you've ever had. Makes a great weeknight dinner!

Recipe includes a how-to video!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 271kcal

Author Sam Merritt

Equipment

Large Saucepan

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion about ½ a medium onion
½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 lb ground beef I like to use 90%
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground mustard or 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup (121 g) tomato paste 4 oz
3-4 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce (may substitute coconut aminos)
½ cup (118 ml) chicken broth beef broth, or water
Burger buns for serving

Instructions

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Add onion and pepper and cook until softened.
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion, ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
Add ground beef and cook until browned, crumbling as you cook. Drain off excess grease if needed.
1 lb ground beef
Add spices (smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder (or mustard), salt and pepper) and stir into the beef.
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground mustard , 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Add tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and worcestershire and stir until well-combined.
½ cup (121 g) tomato paste, 3-4 Tablespoons light brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
Drizzle in broth or water.
½ cup (118 ml) chicken broth
Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
Serve warm on buns.
Burger buns

Video

Notes

Beef

You may substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the ground beef.

Sugar

This may seem like a lot of sugar, but keep in mind most sloppy joe recipes add ketchup, which contains quite a bit of sugar, in addition to also typically adding more sugar on top of that. I typically use all 4 tablespoons called for, but you can start with just 3 Tablespoons and then taste-test after step 6 and add the last tablespoon if desired.

Broth/water

Beef broth will yield the richest flavor, chicken stock works well, and water is my least favorite (least flavor) but will absolutely work and yield tasty results if you have neither beef or chicken broth.

Nutrition