The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe
Saucy, beefy and so satisfying. We’re convinced this is the BEST recipe for a homemade Sloppy Joe. Ground beef in a hearty tomato sauce served on toasted hamburger buns is a great idea for lunch or dinner.
There’s no match for a warm homemade sandwich, from Grilled Cheese to our famous Philly Cheesesteak. This Sloppy Joe Recipe is definitely at the top of our list.
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This delicious sloppy joe recipe is such a simple recipe and so inexpensive to make, a budget-friendly family dinner. The tender and juicy ground beef are sauteed with green peppers and onion then cooked in a hearty tomato sauce.
Having some go-to ground beef recipes like Cheeseburger Sliders, Taco Salad, or Sloppy Joes will make dinner time a breeze. If you have some ground beef in the freezer and need an easy meal idea, this is a must-try.
Sloppy Joe Ingredients
- Ground Beef – use lean ground beef (85-90% lean). If using a higher fat content, you will need to skim off the extra fat once the beef is cooked.
- Bell pepper – we used green, but you can substitute a different color in a pinch.
- Onion & Garlic – these aromatics add great flavor and disappear into the sauce so picky eaters won’t complain.
- Homemade Sauce – just a few simple pantry ingredients will make a sauce that’s better than any store-bought sauce. The combination of tomato sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire hits all the right flavor notes; sweet, savory, and tangy.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
- Chop veggies – Finely chop the onion and green bell pepper.
- Make sauce – In a bowl, combine worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, water, brown sugar, and tomato sauce.
- Saute beef – In a deep skillet, heat oil over med/high heat. Add the ground beef and break up as it is being cooked. Season with salt and pepper and add in the finely chopped onion and green pepper. Cook until vegetables are tender.
- Add sauce – Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant. Pour in the sauce and cook over medium high heat until the sauce comes to a soft boil.
- Simmer – Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve – spoon the saucy beef mixture on toasted buns and serve as sandwiches.
Pro Tip: If you prefer a spicy Sloppy Joes, add some hot sauce or sriracha to the sauce.
To Serve
There are so many different ways to enjoy a sloppy joe. You’ll make to try them all:
- Classic – Serve this with toasted hamburger buns for the classic sloppy joe recipe.
- Grilled Cheese – Add the meat mixture when making a Grilled Cheese for a hearty sandwich.
- Pizza – Add on homemade pizza dough and top with cheese for a delicious sloppy joe pizza recipe.
- Loaded fries– There is nothing better than loaded fries, top your fries with some cheese and sloppy joe filling.
- Chili dogs – Add the meat sauce to your hot dogs.
- Baked potato – Take loaded baked potato to the next level by topping with this meat sauce.
Common Questions
For this recipe, you want to use 85% or 90% lean ground beef.
These EASY sloppy joes are GREAT to make in the crockpot. Once the meat is browned on a skillet, just add it along with all the other ingredients into the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
This sloppy joe recipe is homemade and made from scratch. Manwich is a pre-made store-bought sauce used to make sloppy joes.
If you like spicy foods, add some jalapenos along with the green peppers.
Make-Ahead
- Refrigerating – Let the meat sauce cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezing – Once the mixture is cooled, add to freeze-friendly containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2-3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheating – A general rule of thumb is that it’s best to reheat a recipe the same way it was cooked. Warm the meat sauce on the stovetop in a skillet or saucepan until hot. You can microwave, but use a microwave shield to catch messy splatter.
Love Ground Beef Recipes? Try these:
- Slow Cooker Beef Chili
- Meatloaf with the Best Glaze
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Bolognese Sauce
- Stuffed Bell peppers
The BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe
The BEST recipe for a homemade Sloppy Joe! Ground beef in a hearty tomato sauce on toasted hamburger buns. The perfect recipe for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 small green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef, 85%-90% lean
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired
Instructions
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Finely chop the onion. Seed and finely dice the green pepper.
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In a bowl, combine the Worcestershire sauce, mustard, water, brown sugar, and tomato sauce.
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Place a large skillet or dutch oven over medium/high heat. Add olive oil and ground beef. Saute the beef for about 5 minutes until cooked through and longer pink, breaking it up with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper and add in the diced peppers and onion. Cook another 5 minutes until the veggies are tender and beef is browned.
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Add the minced garlic and saute 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add in the sauce and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve on toasted buns for Sloppy Joe Sandwiches.
Valentina Ablaev
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Absolutely delicious! So yummy. Made no changes.I’d never made them by scratch before. Scratch is the BEST. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to making this on a regular basis. Love, love your recipes
You are so welcome! Great to hear that you loved our sloppy joe recipe!
Made no changes. Absolutely delicious! So yummy. I’d never made them by scratch before. Scratch is the BEST. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to making this on a regular basis. Love, love your recipes
Thank you, Darla. We appreciate your good comments and feedback!
Appreciate this recipe, we usually add a scoop of vegetable stock and some extra vegetables and serve it over potatoes or rice. So good!
Sound like a delicious combo! Thank you for the review, Ashley. 🙂
It’s a good base recipe.
I cooked it exactly as it came. Tried a bite, and decided it needed a bit more seasoning.
I added some onion and garlic powder, basil, paprika, ground mustard, salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne. It’s delicious! Our family likes our herbs and spices. I don’t use a lot, maybe 1/4 tsp each, and 1/2 tsp of the onion powder and salt.
Overall, it’s a sound recipe on it’s own, and easy to put a bit of your own spin on and make your own.
Thank you for the great recipe!
Thank you for the feedback, Summer!
I made this however I left out the green pepper because I didn’t have any available and added another tbsp of brown sugar because I like mine a little sweeter. Great quick recipe and tastes great. Definitely will keep.
Hi Bren, that sounds good. We’re glad that you enjoyed this recipe!
Made this tonight, Since the motto in my kitchen There is no such thing as too much garlic, I added a few more cloves. It is a very tasty recipe. Better than opening that can and almost as quick,
Hi Debra, that’s a good motto and always feel free to adjust the garlic in each recipe that you will try!
Very easy to make. Taste great. My only thought is to leave out some of the sugar next time and have chips and coke on hand. :0)
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Just finished making these!! I used my 12″ skillet and it was too thin for my liking after 10 min simmer time. I just added 20 more min and it thickened up beautifully!! I didn’t read comments until it was simmering longer and was afraid these were going to be bland. Not the case at all!! Delicious!!
Good to know that it worked, Julie!
I just made it and definitely was not my favorite-so disappointed!
Sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy it. Can you share what you specifically didn’t like about the recipe?
I made the recipe exactly as written, except I did drain my hamburger grease, and I did not care for it. It tasted bland, or just “off” to me. I couldn’t figure out what it needed, so I added in some garlic powder and ketchup. That made it better, but still not great. I will not be using this recipe again.
I followed the recipe to the letter…. It was bland, I added salt and pepper. I will not try this again.
This was fabulous!!! I’ve never made sloppy joes from scratch. Never again will I buy a can of manwich!!
So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! It really is so much better made from scratch! 🙂
I’ve made this many times and my family loves it!! (I even love it and I don’t like Sloppy Joes!!). They’re asking for a bit more spice. What would you suggest I add? Thanks!!
Hi Tracey! I’m so glad your family loves this recipe. Red pepper flakes would work, or some hot sauce. 🙂
Will the flavor change a lot if I don’t add the brown sugar?
We usually love this recipe with brown sugar, you can try without it first and see if you still like it!
Awesome recipe!!! Only question I have is how would you thicken this up? I think me not draining the hamburger made it to runny.
Cheers
Hi! I don’t have a problem with this being too runny but I suppose you could try a cornstarch or flour slurry.
I agree. It’s really watery if you don’t drain the liquid off the beef. It got a considerably better when I used ground chuck instead of hamburger and drained it.
Drain the lean Ground Beef (I use Ground Chuck) before adding the other ingredients.
I just made this sloppy Joe recipe and it is so good. Way better than from the can. 👍 I will be sharing this with my friends.
I’m so glad this was a hit, Linda! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I simply don’t understand the few negative comments. When something (especially Natasha’s recipes) don’t turn out I reread the recipe or rewatch the video to see what I did wrong. I have a sloppy joe recipe that my grandkids love which is very similar; however this one is going to get a try. Mine uses ketchup instead of tomato sauce and the sauce contains apple cider vinegar. I am in my late 70s and I got my recipe from a neighbor. I have yet to use a recipe of yours We did not like. My family always asks if the recipe is Natasha’s. Thank you for many delicious meals.
Did not like at all. The taste was not like a normal sloppy joe, which by the way is my favorite type of sandwich. I will not be making this recipe ever again and will be throwing the stuff away.
Hello, I haven’t tried this yet, but am looking forward to it.
Does the recipe call for *prepared* yellow mustard (wet mustard from a bottle), or do you use dried, powdered mustard, please?
I’m hoping to make this in half an hour, hoping someone might be able to give me a quick answer 🙂
But would appreciate an answer when anyone sees this.
Thank you!
Also, due to limited pantry space, for wet, bottled mustards, I only buy brown mustard and Dijon. I also keep dry mustard powder on the spice rack.
I’m hoping to either be able to use the mustard powder or the brown wet mustard, and would appreciate some direction so it will taste great. Thanks!
Brown mustard would work, as would dijon, or a tsp of powdered and 1/2 tsp of vinegar. Less is more, put a little in, taste, you can always add more at the end when it’s ingredients that don’t need to cook.
Hi Alice! I used yellow mustard from a bottle. I hope you get a chance to try this recipe and love it! 🙂
It’s always a waste to toss out. Be creative and make it into something else.
What did you not like about it?
Now if you really want outstanding sloppy joes, and a much simpler recipe look no further. 1 1/2 # ground beef, onion, green pepper, 14 oz Heinz ketchup, 12 oz Heinz chili sauce. That’s it, and they are wonderful. Give it a try, you will be hooked.
No lie… the Heinz Chili Sauce is actually the key ingredient for little bit extra kick of flavor.
Pretty good but way too much liquid. Also, a bit too much one none tomato sauce. I added a bit more mustard, Worcestershire sauce and even a little oregano to make it more flavorful.
Thanks for your comments and feedback, Michael. I hope you enjoyed it!
I’ve never posted a response before on a recipe I’ve tried, but this one was so surprisingly delicious, I just had to say thank you! My family agrees that this the best sloppy joes we’ve ever had. And this will become a permanent part of our meal rotation. So yummy!😊
So glad to hear that, Sonia! Thank you for sharing!
I, usually, make my sloppy Joes totally different from this. I found your recipe and it’s getting made for dinner. It looks delicious and love the happy reviews! Yum
I hope you love this recipe as well, Lisa. 🙂
Authentic Sloppy Joe’s!!! Just like my mom used to make in the 1950’s and 60’s. I’d completely forgotten about Sloppy Joe’s until I came across this recipe. I don’t understand how anyone could choose canned “Manwich” over this
yummy goodness.
I’m so glad you loved it, Mary! THank you for your wonderful review!
Yum! This is my new Sloppy Joe recipe. Love it. The only changes I made were to omit the green peppers because my family doesn’t like them, and to use Chili Sauce in place of tomato sauce. Just adds a little zip I think.
Sounds great, thanks for sharing Sandy! 🙂
WOW! THIS is how Sloppy Joe’s are supposd to taste! Not only is this The BEST ever Sloppy Joe’s recipe I have tried…. it even tastes fabulous when you replace the ground beef with TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein a vegan meat substitute you can get at the health food store). I couldn’t believe it! The secret is this sauce, y’all! This is a treat everyone can enjoy. Thanks, Natasha! This made its way onto my 21 meal 3 week rotation plan!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Jaylyn!
I love your recipe. The only thing I do differently is drain the fat. It’s always a winner. Very simple, and extremely tasty. Thank you.😋👌
Yes, that’s way healthier too! I’m happy to know that you liked this recipe.
Hi Natasha! I LOVE your recipes but never comment – sorry! Can I substitute Ground turkey? Thank you so much!!!
Hi Suzanne! Yes, that would be fine.
This is a pretty good recipe. I added a bit of liquid smoke. And doubled up on the spices. After letting the sauce cook down, we ate. Not one complaint. Probably some of the best sloppy Joe’s we have had.
That’s great to hear! Thank you, Derek. So glad you enjoyed this recipe.
About to try this recipe because the website is clear and informative! However, my head is spinning over all of the changes and personal preference comments. It’s amusing though, as that is life! I’m happy Google directed me to this recipe page. Thanks Natasha, for not giving up on your dreams and creating this website!
I’m happy you found us too! I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try, Lori.
Made this for the first time and it was delicious – sooo much better than anything store-bought!
Homemade is best! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This was a pretty good recipe… I definitely had to add more seasonings though ! A lot more of pretty much everything besides the onion and pepper.. And I also added onion powder
Thank you for the feedback, Dominique.
This is the first of Natasha’s recipes I would tweak next time. I would not add as much brown sugar and I would add some tomato paste to it. I used Contadina sauce and did not need to add any water.
I thought the same thing about sugar. Tomato paste is a good idea.
Delicious, my husband loved it. I tried others but this one was just right.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Cheryl!
These were the best sloppy Joes that I have ever had! I used a teaspoon of honey instead of brown sugar.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Added 1/4 cup brown sugar and can of tomato paste. Delicious ❤️❤️❤️
Nice, thank a lot for sharing!
I kept adding ingredients because was definitely unimpressive. I guess my tastebuds are different than yours I should’ve bought a can of manwhich.
Absolutely. I wasn’t impressed either. I used 2 lbs. of ground beef, and it was still way to watery and bland.
I’ve been making sloppy joes for years, but this was my first time using this recipe. Absolutely delicious, big hit with my husband and daughter! I did add a bit more brown sugar but that’s just personal preference. Thanks for my new go-to recipe for sloppy joes!
Hello Cathy, thank you for the nice feedback and I’m glad you tried this recipe and loved it!
Hello Natasha!
So, my father in law is a retired chef from Hershey PA. This can be very intimidating since we have him over for dinner quite often-
This Sloppy-joe recipe was a hit! for him and ME! LOL
Wow! That’s so great! I’m so glad it was a hit, Dawn!
I will be honest that I LOVE a lot of flavour, like spice and tang, so that is to say that not everyone does. So when I tried this recipe, because everything I have made from Natasha’s kitchen has been delicious, I didn’t realize how important the tomato sauce you use is.
Mine was straight tomato and no additives, so I tasted everything as I was cooking and thought, if I had went with a different tomato sauce it would have oomphed it up. All I added was more mustard, (there is my tang ! ) some herbs and a sprinkle of beef base, since I didn’t have any Worcestershire sauce.
My kids had three full helpings of this and regardless of the small things I changed, I think this recipe as a base and add to each own individual preference, is perfect. Thanks again for a meal I think I will be demanded to make often !
Hi Sara! That is great to hear. So glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for the excellent review.
Too thin and not flavorful. Too much garlic, as well. I had to doctor the sauce a lot, and it was still disappointing overall. I will not use this recipe again.
Sorry to hear that you didn’t like the recipe. We’ve always used the same exact recipe and we’ve always had great results.
I think how much garlic you use is a personal preference and if you don’t like much garlic, you should not add as much. My family loves garlic and the amount is great for us. We could have added even more and it would have still been perfect. Season to your taste. Also, the longer it cooks, the more it will thicken up. This recipe was great. There is no need to leave rude negative reviews especially if the problem is that someone is trying to cook that has no idea how to cook to their own preference. Sorry to put this in here Natasha. I am not trying to argue with people in the reviews but I felt that it needed to be said becauseit is common sense and that was extremely rude. This is an excellent recipe Natasha. It was a big hit with everyone in my house and my 14 year old daughter who loves to cook was even able to follow the directions and make us dinner last night! Thanks so much! for this recipe.
Thank you for that, Colleen. The reality is that we really cannot please everyone but I do appreciate your good comments and thank you so much for thinking of me.
My 5th time making and I love this recipe. I adjust taste for my liking.
Isn’t that’s what all recipes are for!!
Thank you for this recipe, it’s great!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Rodger!
Love all the natural ingredients. This will be my go to family recipe.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Monique!
When browning the ground beef and onion also add a nice splash of vinegar (apple). It really adds nice flavor,
Thank you for sharing with us, Patty.
Truly delicious! I added some locally made pineapple hot sauce. Served in buttered oven toasted buns. Not a fan of Sloppy Joes in the past but I am now. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for the review. I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Absolutely delicious. I used yellow bell peppers instead of green and a little less garlic. I h ave to admit I usually buy Manwich but no more! So, so much better.
So much better! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for the review.
So good and easy. I added 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and served on toasted buns.
Sounds delicious! Thank you for shariing.
Great recipe. Everyone loved it! I will use this recipe again.
Thank you! I’m glad to hear that.
This really is the best! It was so easy and so much better tasting than the store bought canned stuff. I will not buy the canned sloppy joe sauce again.
I’m so happy to hear this was hit, Brooke! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
The ingredients are spot on! Delicious like your many other recipes I have tried.
Thank you Eddie!
Family, including 24 & 22 year old sons loved it! Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Served with fries.
Great to hear that they loved this recipe, Becky!
Not sure what everyone is raving about with this recipe. I found it very bland. Had to add BBQ sauce, horseradish and finally some Peri Peri sauce to get things going. If you like very bland food this is probably for you.
I just made this myself and there is no taste/flavor. I followed the instructions perfectly as it’s very easy. I’m not sure my husband will like it. Needs something else but I can’t put my finger on it.
Same thing with us. Everyone in my family was pretty disappointed with it. It didn’t taste bad, it just didn’t have any taste at all, not sure where everyone is getting a ton a flavor from. Haven’t done sloppy joes in forever though this would be a nice change, sadly it was not. We’re having Manwich next time.
Correction, the review is now posted again with a reply. My apologies😑
No worries. 🙂
Great basic sloppy joe recipe. For whatever reason, the tomato sauce? The beef?, it needed a little something. Remedied it with tomato paste, a splash of vinegar and a little more brown sugar. 👍🏻
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I freeze the sloppy Joe mixture in muffin pans than I take them out and put in a freezer bag. This way I can have a quick sandwich.
That’s a good idea, Sue! Glad you always make it ahead.
Looks so yummy. I will try it. My husband loves Sloppy Joe’s.
I hope you both love it, Pam!
This is not recioe I’ve used for years with 2 exceptions ….. for one I use 1 cup catsup instead of tomato sauce …. I also use 2 tbsp mustard and worsteshire sauce and at the very end I add 2 to 3 tbsp of white vinegar ☺️
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Lynn! I hope you love our version!
This is my new favorite sloppy joe! Made a lot of different ons and happy I found this one. Thanks!
Wonderful! I am happy you have found a new favorite. Thank you for sharing.
Natasha’s Kitchen is my “go to” for simple and delicious recipes and this Sloppy Joe recipe is no exception! Was able to find all organic ingredients, including the buns. I toped these babies off with my homemade cole slaw and that took it up a notch. Toasting the buns are a must. My husband is already asking me to make this again!
Hello Angela, thank you so much for your trust. I hope you and your family will love all the recipes that you will try.
This is the best sloppy joe recipe I have made. Delicious. Thank so much
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Elsa! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
My husband likes the canned stuff. Me? I can live without it. I decided to make this for him tonight. Easy, since every ingredient is always in our house. He asked me to write it down and put it in the recipe box, so that he could make it too. That is a ringing endorsement right there.I cut the recipe in half, since there are only two of us. Tasty!
I’m so glad it was a hit, Linda! That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is so easy, and so delicious. I actually ate three and I’m sleeping it off. You have to try these.
She’s right. This stuff kicks ass. Apparently this comment was too short, so it really, Really REALLY kicks ass. Really.
Made this tonight and it was delicious! I did add some jarred spaghetti sauce and a little more brown sugar and it was perfect! Not watery at all, perfect consistency!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Pamela!
Based on the ingredients, I can’t understand why the sodium levels are so high.
Does this really contain 1197 mg sodium/serving?
If so, is there any way to drastically reduce that?
Hi Bruce, we will look into the accuracy of that. My suggestion is that you look for no salt added or low sodium tomato sauce and reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce to help reduce the amount of sodium in this recipe.
This was the perfect meal for a snow day! It was simple, inexpensive and delicious. Plus, you can control the salt intake rather than buy the sauce from a jar or can.
Thank you!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Gloria!
If I double this recipe, should I change the amount of the ingredients? Thank you. I am looking forward to making this for my grandchildren.
Hi Alma, you may go to the recipe card and click servings to adjust the ingredients too.
I made “The Best Sloppy Joe” recipe tonight. Although I have tried many different Sloppy Joe recipes, this one is the best, my husband loved it! Thank you!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Patricia!
Brioche hamburger buns knock any sloppy Joe out of the park !
That sounds like a great choice! yum!
This sounds really good. Do I need to drain the grease from the meat?
Hi Michele, it really depends on your preference but for a healthier version you can drain the grease.
I wanted to find a recipe that I could make ahead and leave in the crockpot the next day. I grew up with a mother who made this from scratch and was so happy to find a similar recipe. It tastes like home! 🙂 This can be used over fries, spaghetti, potatoes… I could have it on anything. It’s delicious!!! Thanks for sharing, Natasha.
Aww, I love that this tastes like home! That’s so great, Brittany! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
About once a year, I get a craving for sloppy Joes. A few weeks ago, I tried this recipe. It was so good that I made it again today. I even made extra so l could freeze some for the next time my family wants some. It is a most excellent recipe!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
It would be nice if I didn’t have to read through 4 paragraphs trying to find the measurements of everything. And then once you finally get through all the bs there isn’t even a guide. Just add tomato sauce and garlic okay but how much? Where is this information???
This should lower your credit score.
Hi Mia, each recipe has a recipe card. We have a handy red icon at the top of the page: “Jump to recipe.” Click on that to get to another recipe card. We share tips on substitutions, storing, etc., in the paragraphs above. I hope you love this recipe!
Mia I hope you run across something that makes you smile today!
She tells you how much you need in the ingredient list. Is this the first recipe that you’ve looked up online? They’ve been posted this way for years.
We love these Sloppy Joes! I follow the recipe to the letter and let it cook down for 10+ minutes and its perfect!
Love it! Thanks so much for your comments, McNessa.
I followed the recipe with two exceptions. Instead of one cup of tomato sauce, I used 1/2 cup of chili sauce and 1/4 cup of hot tomato sauce. Delicious!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This makes a very good, basic sloppy Joe. By basic, I mean that it is safe to serve when you have family that has a member who cannot stand spicy food. It does not have the heat of Tabasco or peppers, but one can easily see that by reading the recipe. Just add some heat if that’s what you want. But if you are feeding a group who’s tastes range from very mild to very spicy, this is the perfect starting spot. Just scoop some out and spice it up, or put a bottle of Tabasco on the table and let them do their own spicing.
Hello Deanna, thank you so much for your detailed feedback. It is helpful for others who want to try this recipe. We appreciate the review!
Tried this the other date and it was great, added some red pepper flakes for some heat. however I left out the water. As I’seen posted before, it didn’t seem needed. maybe if you used tomato paste instead of sauce. Still loved it with a little kick!
Tried this the other date and it was great, added some red pepper flakes for some heat. however I left out the water, as I’ve seen posted before, it didn’t seem needed. Maybe if you used tomato paste instead of sauce. I didn’t try with paste. Much better than any canned sauce.
I didn’t have green peppers on hand and only an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce, so I added a drained 14.5 oz. can of Rotel Tomatoes – with green chilies with the 8 oz. can of tomato sauce and it gave it the perfect kick. I also added a slice of Colby Jack and the toasted bun just brought my Sloppy Joes to a gourmet level. So good! Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Gwen! I’m glad you loved that!
Made this today for my brothers lunch. It turned out great and they love it. Taste so much better than the can stuff 😋
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Annette!
I just add a little extra brown sugar and a few shakes of hot sauce. And I used dry onion and garlic in place of fresh. Oh and a orange pepper because I’m making it the night before Thanksgiving and I’m not going back to the store for a green pepper.
lol. Thanks for sharing, it turned out great.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, M! Happy Thanksgiving!
I agree. One tablespoon of brown sugar isn’t enough for my taste. And adding heat is always a matter of personal preference.
I’m glad I saw other comments about it being too watery because mine was too and I followed the recipe verbatim. I almost didn’t add the water because it actually already looked too soupy before that. BUT, the flavor was good. I did use chicken instead of beef and wonder if that might have made the difference.
Hi Susan, that could have made a difference using chicken instead of beef, especially if the amount was different. Also, make sure to use a large skillet since a smaller saucepan doesn’t have as much surface area to evaporate liquid the same way which could cause it to be watery. I’m not sure what else it would be. I haven’t had this turn out watery before.
Besides omitting the bell pepper, I did not change any other ingredient. All I could taste was mustard. My family thought it tasted weird. That’s WAY too much mustard. Let me know if you know a way to counteract this terrible flavor.
Hi Audrey, 1 tsp of mustard should not be overpowering. Did you possibly add 1 Tablespoon by mistake? Also, did you make sure to add everything else as stated which helps to balance the flavors?
Recipe is too bland tasting like tomato and water (go figure)It is a good base but I found myself adding more seasoning plus ketchup and more brown sugar. I’ve always enjoyed a little more sweetness. What exact brand of tomato sauce are you using?
Hi Ruben this works with a variety of brands of tomato sauce, just make sure to use tomato sauce and not marinara which is thinner and less concentrated.
Agree that it is bland and definitely watery. Too much liquid and a recipe with ketchup is for sure the way to go.
Hi, normally this should not be watery. Did you use a smaller saucepan versus a skillet? A skillet has a larger surface area to simmer off any excess liquid. Or were any substitutions or changes made in ingredients or the process?
Bland and watery (and I didn’t even add the water called for).
Hi Paula, I’m not sure why it would be watery unless a different type of tomato product was substituted with a higher liquid content?
This was so easy to make and so delicious! I will definitely be using this as my go to recipe!
I’m happy to hear that, Monica. I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try!
I just made this. It was really goid. I added basil, chili powder, and paparika. Yummy. Everyone loved it.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Cheri!
Another hit Natasha….thanks for sharing. This will be a keeper recipe in our home. I always trust your recipes
I appreciate your trust and support, Dawn. Thanks a lot!
Faulty recipe. You indicated to mix the diced onions a green pepper to the sauce. The you instructed to add vegs to cooked meet. Confusing
Hi Sara, the only mention of “vegetables” in this recipe is when we say: “Cook until vegetables are tender.” Do you recall what step you see that in?
I love sloppy joe’s and this recipe was spot on!! I added a red pepper to it “so it wasn’t wasted ” gave half to my Sister and her grandchildren devoured it.. I’m gonna try it on hotdogs for lunch
Sounds great! Thanks for sharing your experience trying out this recipe, Ron.
This is very close to a sloppy joe recipe I found some years ago, and reminds me of my childhood – much better than Manwich! In my recipe, ketchup is used instead of tomato sauce, and no water is added. That might be helpful for those complaining about lack of flavor or being too watery. Also, I like to let it simmer in an open pan for at least a half hr, sometimes more. I try to resist stirring it for a bit, as that adds a nice carmelized flavor – I found this out when I forgot to stir it once. I might try it with the tomato sauce one of these times, since it would be cheaper and healthier. Thanks, Natasha!
What a great suggestion, Cheryl. Thank you for sharing that with us, I’m sure that will be helpful to a lot of people here. We appreciate your input!
Sauce was super bland. I had to really do a lot to give it some zip. Not sure how this had 5 stars.
Hi Matt, I’m sorry to hear it didn’t meet your standards. Did you possibly change any of the ingredients or make any substitutions?
It was delicious. Perfect sweetness and tangy-ness. Brought to a dinner and everyone loved it.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Vivian!
Couldn’t find the recipe I normally use so I thought I’d try this one. I followed the exact recipe and it tasted like plain tomato sauce. Very bland.
Hi Staci, This is normally rich in flavor, but this is a very simple recipe so every ingredient is important for the best taste. Make sure not to omit any of the ingredients and be sure to season to taste at the end to make sure there is enough salt.
I used to use the canned/jarred sloppy joe sauce but just couldn’t bring myself to eat it anymore. I longed for a great recipe for homemade. I can’t wait to try this! I take dinner to our son’s house every Sunday during football season. Today it’s your Shrimp Fajitas (a HUGE favorite in my household!). Next week it will be this recipe for Sloppy Joe. Can’t wait to give it a try!! Thanks, Natasha!
Sounds like a good plan, Tracy. I hope it becomes a hit!
Tastes fine, but in desperate need of thickening. Had to find a can of tomato paste for that.
Can confirm, best sloppy joe recipe! Made a 3x batch ahead of time then brought on a camping trip to share with friends and it was a hit. Cook time to simmer off the water was waay more than 10 min in my case so I’d add less next time, but was well worth it and came out great!
Hello Tim, wonderful to see your good comments and feedback. I’m happy that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing that with us.
Made this today with plant based burger. My family loved it! Thank you.
You are welcome, Melissa. Happy to know that your family enjoyed it!
I failed to plan for dinner today and went looking for a sloppy joe recipe since I had half a package of buns that needed to be used. When I saw Natasha’s Kitchen I knew it was the one I’d try. I have used your Dutch Oven beef stew and meatloaf recipes to rave reviews from my family. And here’s another keeper.
Thank you so much for the awesome review, I’m so glad you and your family loved it!
I have tried a couple of sloppy joe recipes in the past but to be honest have always preferred and gone back to the canned version because I love it, it’s easy & it reminds me of my childhood. But when I went to make dinner tonight I realized I was out & I found your recipe through a Google search. O-M-G was it ever delicious!! I will finally be ditching the canned stuff…this recipe blew it out of the water. Thank you so much and I look forward to trying some of your other recipes in the future.
You are very welcome, Janie. I’m happy to know that you loved this recipe, you finally found your new go-to-recipe!
When we eat our Sloppy Joe’s we always put a scoop on the bun and top with potato chips and then the top of the bun. Also some chips on the side to scoop up the sloppy joe that falls out of the bun. Yum!
Oh wow that sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing!
The all time worst sloppy Joe recipe I’ve found so far. Way to soupy ( definitely skip adding the water), and not much flavor beyond the burger.
Hi Zane, as you can see in the photos, it should not be soupy or water. Make sure your sauce is at a simmer for the full 10 minutes. Also, if you use a smaller or narrower/taller pot, it will require a longer simmering time since there is less surface area. I hope that helps for next time.
Thanks to you, Natasha, we enjoyed your Sloppy Joe recipe on a rainy Florida evening! We haven’t ate this sandwich in years so it was it was like taking a step back in time. And…it even tasted better the next day for lunch. Thanks so much for posting this great recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Connir!
I must try this!
Please let us know how it goes.
Just made this today. Was so quick, easy, and delicious. I love using your recipes because they are simple and not too complicated. I have yet to find a recipe of yours that I do not like. Hoping to make your chicken scampi recipe tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll taste amazing.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! The Shrimp Scampi is so good, and I hope you love it!
I use ketchup instead of tomato sauce. I don’t use worcestershire but instead a tablespoon of horseradish. Gives it a little kick!
Nice, thanks for sharing that with us, Wendy.
This was much better than the canned variety. I always add noodles and corn to sloppy Joe leftovers top with mashed potatoes and cheese then bake, makeshift Shepherd’s Pie.
That’s a great idea!! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
The homemade sauce is a game changer. A new family favorite in our house!
It really is the best!!
Hi Natasha Kravchuk
I enjoy your recipes so much,I like your frosting and more I always watch on youtube to see many more…Have a bless day.
Thank you for that wonderful compliment, Nicolette! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my videos!
My kids would love these!! SO GOOD!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
We love sloppy joe’s!! Thank you for this easy & delicious recipe!! It’s great any night of the week & all year long!
You’re welcome, Natalie! Thank you for your great review!
I just made this sloppy joe and is delicious with brioche burger buns. Thank you.
Lat week , I did your apple pie and my husband said that this is the best pie he has ever ate.
Thank you again.
Thats so awesome thank you so much!