Sloppy Joe Sandwiches (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)
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You’ll want to use a fork — they’re called “sloppy” for a reason — so you don’t miss a single, tasty bite of these nostalgic Sloppy Joe Sandwiches! Perfect for family dinners or even game day, this kid-approved recipe can be made ahead in the slow cooker or whipped up on the stovetop in just 30 minutes.
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot for Sloppy Joes
The savory beef, tangy sauces, and hint of sweet spices in Sloppy Joes create a flavor combo that always feels like home!
Back in the 1930s, “loose meat” sandwiches didn’t include sauce — just minced meat on a bun. That is until a Sioux City, Iowa short-order cook named Joe added tomato sauce and served up a “sloppy” sandwich at his cafe.
Not only was the Sloppy Joe name coined, the sandwiches quickly gained popularity across the country. By the 1960s, food companies started packaging a Sloppy Joe sauce and the rest, as they say, is history.
Sloppy Joes were a childhood staple for me, and making them now always brings back memories of home. I love topping them with a little shredded cheddar and a few dill pickle slices, served alongside crispy French fries — the ultimate comfort meal.
Ingredient Notes for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Ground beef | Ground beef is the hearty, savory base for the Sloppy Joes, providing a rich and filling meal.
- Bell peppers and onion | Add a bit of crunch and fresh flavor. In my opinion, onion complements so many ingredients.
- Garlic | Minced garlic provides a fragrant kick and adds depth to the overall savory flavor of the sauce.
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste | Tomato sauce creates the liquid base of the sauce, while tomato paste thickens the sauce and intensifies the tomato flavor, giving the dish a deeper, more concentrated taste.
- Ketchup | You can leave it out if you like, but just a bit of ketchup adds a tangy sweetness to the sauce.
- BBQ sauce | Barbecue sauce introduces a smoky, tangy element, enhancing the overall flavor. Try my much-loved homemade barbecue sauce recipe!
- Brown sugar | Light brown sugar adds a sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomatoes and the tanginess of the sauces.
- Seasoning | Paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and of course salt and pepper, season the dish and add warm, savory flavor.
- Buns | Sesame seed buns hold the sloppy mixture together, but you’ll still probably need a fork!
Variations and Substitutions
- Ground Beef Substitutes. For a leaner alternative to ground beef, try ground turkey or ground chicken. Or, to keep some of the savory flavor of the ground beef, use a combination of two or three of these options.
- Other Sandwich Buns. If you’re not a fan of sesame buns, serve your Sloppy Joes on toasted hamburger buns, soft brioche rolls, or even hearty sandwich rolls for extra structure.
- Skip the Bun! For a low-carb option, try serving them on lettuce wraps or inside hollowed-out bell peppers for a fresh and crunchy base.
- If you like a little heat in your Sloppy Joes, add a splash of hot sauce or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper.
How to Make Sloppy Joes on Stovetop or Slow Cooker
Either method you choose, stovetop or slow cooker, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and those hectic weekends!
PREP THE VEGGIES. Start either method by chopping all the vegetables and grating the garlic.
Stovetop
COOK MEAT MIXTURE. First, crumble ground beef into a skillet along with the peppers, onions, and garlic. Next, sauté them over medium heat for 4 to 7 minutes or until the juices run clear.
ADD SAUCE INGREDIENTS. Then, reduce the heat to medium and add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and spices, stirring until well combined.
SIMMER AND SERVE. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the Sloppy Joes are the desired thickness. All that’s left to do is serve the saucy mixture on toasty buns and dig in!
Slow Cooker
COOK BEEF MIXTURE. Start by crumbling ground beef into a skillet along with the peppers, onions, and garlic. Then, sauté the ingredients over medium heat for 4 to 7 minutes or until the juices run clear.
ADD ALL TO SLOW COOKER. Next, transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker, adding the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and spices. Stir until well combined.
COOK AND ENJOY. Lastly, cover the pot with a lid and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours. When ready, serve hot on buns.
More Recipe Success Tips
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Leftover cooked Sloppy Joe sandwich meat keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
- Frozen leftovers are good for up to 3 months. To freeze any leftover Sloppy joe cooked meat, let it cool completely in the refrigerator before storing in a freezer safe resealable bag or container.
- To reheat, add about a quarter cup of water to leftover Sloppy Joe sandwich meat and warm it up over low heat on the stove or covered in the microwave until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
You definitely should drain off MOST of the grease once you’ve cooked the ground beef, but it’s okay to leave a little for flavor. After draining off the grease, I add the chopped vegetables and garlic, then continue cooking until all the veggies are tender.
A Sloppy Joe is typically made with ground beef, while a Sloppy Jane uses ground turkey or chicken as the protein. The flavor profile is similar, but the meat swap provides a lighter, leaner alternative.
A loose meat sandwich consists of seasoned ground meat served without a thick sauce, making it drier and more straightforward, whereas a Sloppy Joe is cooked with a rich, saucy mixture, creating a messier and more flavorful sandwich.
Looking for more Saucy, Meaty Sandwiches?
Any sandwich fan loves a classic Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. You can choose between healthier chicken with just as much flavor or the traditional thinly sliced steak. Speaking of steak, this Steak Sandwich Recipe with Homemade Horseradish Aioli is a must-try!
Another crowd-pleaser is the crispy and gooey Cuban Sandwich – YUM!
What to Serve With Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
As with any sandwich, a side of potato chips is always a tasty, easy choice, but I have recently become obsessed with cooking frozen shoestring fries and tater tots in my air fryer. So easy, and so crispy!
These other side dishes also go really well with Sloppy Joe Sandwiches:
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Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup bell pepper finely chopped (red, yellow, or green)
- ¼ cup onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 sesame seed buns
Instructions
Slow Cooker
- Crumble ground beef into a skillet along with the peppers, onions, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat for 4 to 7 minutes or until the juices run clear.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchuo, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and spices. Stir until well combined.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low for 4 hours, or on high for 2 hours. Serve hot on buns.
Stovetop
- Crumble ground beef into a skillet along with the peppers, onions, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat for 4 to 7 minutes or until the juices run clear.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and spices. Stir until well combined.
- Simmer for 5 minutes or until Sloppy Joes are the desired thickness. Serve on buns.
Notes
Leftovers
Cooked Sloppy Joe sandwich meat keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days. Frozen leftovers are good for up to 3 months. To freeze any leftover Sloppy joe cooked meat, let it cool completely in the refrigerator before storing in a freezer safe resealable bag or container.Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for, a Sloppy Joe recipe without all the brown sugar. The barbecue sauce I use will definitely limit the sugar and sweetness. I’m all about savory. Looks really delicious, thank you.