Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

Sloppy Joes are a family favorite. The only problem with Sloppy Joes is that the canned sauce is loaded with tons of salt and sugar. Learn about a delicious family recipe for Sloppy Joes here.

What I learned in making these old fashioned sloppy joes is that they’re basically the same as a Maid Rite but you add 2 simple ingredients! Maid Rites are the Iowa version of a loose-meat sandwich. Sloppy Joes are a loose-meat sandwich with a thick tomato sauce with that unique tangy flavor. 

Homemade Sloppy Joes Ingredients

For this sloppy joe recipe, you’ll start with the basics of hamburger & onion – add a few ingredients more and you’ve got Slop-Sloppy Joes! Here’s what you’ll need: 

• ground beef
• yellow onion, diced
• salt & black pepper to taste
• apple cider vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce
• brown sugar
• yellow mustard
• ketchup
• sesame seed hamburger buns

The mustard & ketchup are the only changes from my Maid Rite recipe – who knew?! 

How do you make Sloppy Joes from scratch?

These Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes sandwiches are so easy to make! And you’ll be eating in about 15 minutes – bonus! (You can even make a Sloppy Joe Casserole with the meat too!)

• In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef and onions. Break up the ground beef and cook until pink is nearly gone about 4 minutes.
• Drain grease from ground beef and season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper while browning
• Stir ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire, brown sugar and mustard into the meat mixture. 
• Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken, stirring frequently.
• When the sloppy joe mixture has thickened, remove the skillet from heat
• Serve on sesame seed buns with sliced pickles – if you’re feeling fancy you could toast the buns in your air fryer for 1 minute at 325 degrees. 

Are sloppy joe and Manwich the same thing?

Yeah – Manwich is just a branded sloppy joe sauce – it’s a “Manly-Sandwich” – get it – MANwich! 

What is Sloppy Joe sauce made of?

As you see up in the ingredients – hamburger, onions, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, ketchup & mustard. It’s the same as a Maid Rite with the addition of ketchup & mustard.

How can you jazz up sloppy joes? 

If you like spicy sloppy joes – you can add canned diced jalapenos to your mixture with the onions. If you like more veggies, add diced bell peppers to the ground beef. If you want it a little healthier, substitute ground turkey for the ground beef.

Can you make sloppy joes in the slow cooker? 

Definitely! Once you brown your ground beef and onions – throw it all in the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 4 hours. 

How do you store & reheat leftovers?

This makes enough for 6-8 sloppy joes but you can double or halve it to make as much as you need. That said – make a big batch and you might have leftovers! Store in airtight glass containers and refrigerate up to a week – or freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

What to serve with Sloppy Joes?

Sure you can throw some potato chips or tater tots on the plate but you might want more than that – here are my favorite side dishes to go with sloppy joes: 

• Ranch Dill Pickles – Ranch Pickles take Dill Pickles to the next level! The ranch seasoning adds a creaminess to your pickles you never knew you needed! 
• Air Fryer Jalapeno Fries – Air Fryer Jalapeno Fries are going to be your families new favorite!!! These are my new favorite! I ate 3 peppers in one sitting!!!
• Copycat KFC Cole Slaw – KFC Coleslaw has always been my favorite! It’s creamy and a little sweet and very simple and you can make it in minutes!
• 30+ recipes to serve with Sloppy Joes!

More Ground Beef Recipes

• Old El Paso Beef Enchiladas
• Maid Rite Biscuit Bites
• Copycat Cincinnati Chili