My darling middle child loves sloppy joes. She’s just a tiny little thing, she’s not a big eater, but there are some meals she loves. Sloppy joes are one of them. The other night she requested them, and Momma forgot to make them. Not to worry though, I got it covered, I made them and she just loved them.
Watch this Recipe Cooked Step-by-Step
Easy Sloppy Joes
All you need is ground beef, and three other ingredients make up this easy recipe. You know, beside the buns of course.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 a medium onion, diced (optional)
How to make these Easy Sloppy Joes:
Grab your large skillet and get to work. I also used onion, but I add onion to my ground beef whenever I brown ground beef.
Once you have browned your ground beef thoroughly, add the three ingredients – ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar – and mix well.
Turn the heat down so it just simmers. Let it simmer for at least 15 minutes.
It’s going to smell amazing. Get your burger buns ready as well as any toppings you might like, such as Parmesan cheese, for your sloppy joes.
These are delicious! Delicious and so simple that you can make these after a busy day of homeschooling and running errands.
Easy Sloppy Joes
Who doesn't love a good sloppy joe?
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 a medium onion, diced (optional)
Instructions
- Brown your ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces. Add in the onion as your browning your ground beef if you wish to use it.
- Once the ground beef is completely cooked, add in remaining ingredients. Mix well.
- Turn the heat down to a simmer. Let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep from burning.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving:Unsaturated Fat: 0g
The beauty of sloppy joes is that you can pair it with almost anything. It is like a BBQ food, goes with everything. We often do home fries – regular potatoes or sweet potatoes, and fresh veggies like carrots or cucumbers. But it also is perfect with salad of any kind on the side.
Sloppy joes are a fun food to make for your family.
More Ways to Customize & Serve Easy Sloppy Joes
Recipe Variations
If you want to mix things up, try one or more of these tweaks:
- Swap the meat: Use ground turkey, chicken, pork, or even a plant-based crumbles alternative.
- Change up the sweetener: Instead of brown sugar, try maple syrup, honey, molasses, or even a splash of apple cider.
- Add heat: Stir in a little chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, or chopped jalapeños or chipotle peppers.
- Make it smoky: Use smoked paprika or add a dash of liquid smoke. Or cook with a little bacon (crumbled) for extra flavor.
- Vegetables boost: Add finely diced bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, or celery when you brown the meat.
- Tangy note: Add Worcestershire sauce, a bit of mustard powder, or even a splash of vinegar (apple cider or balsamic) to cut the sweetness.
- Cheesy sloppy joes: Stir in shredded cheddar or pepper jack just before serving; melt under a broiler for a minute for a cheesy crust.
- Sweet & savory twist: Mix in diced pineapple, or serve with pineapple rings on the bun.
Suggested Pairings & Sides
Here are sides and pairings that go great with sloppy joes, to make a fuller meal:
- Classic sides: home fries (regular or sweet potatoes), roasted potatoes, baked beans.
- Fresh vegetables: carrot sticks, cucumber slices, a simple tossed salad, coleslaw.
- Something crunchy: potato chips, tortilla chips, or even corn chips.
- On the lighter side: steamed broccoli or green beans.
- In summer: corn on the cob or grilled vegetables.
- For bread: besides buns, you can serve on toasted rolls or even over open-face on thick slices of bread.
Tips for Best Results
- When browning the meat, break it up really well so there are no large chunks. It gives better texture in the final sandwich.
- Simmer longer if you want a thicker sauce; if it gets too thick, stir in a little water or beef broth.
- Taste midway through simmering to adjust seasoning — sometimes you’ll want more salt, more tang, more sweetness.
- If you use extra vegetables, cook them with the meat so flavors meld.
Serving Ideas & Meals
Here are meal ideas or menus using sloppy joes:
- Family dinner: Sloppy joes, sweet potato fries, crisp green salad.
- Game day or casual get-together: Sloppy joes sliders or mini buns, chips, vegetable platter for dipping.
- Kid-friendly lunch: Pair with fruit slices and celery sticks with peanut butter or ranch.
- Meal prep twist: Make a big batch, then freeze leftovers in portions; reheat for quick meals.