I’m excited to share a reliable, flavorful recipe for The Best Sloppy Joes. It’s simple to prepare, packed with taste, and includes a slow cooker option. Combining ground beef or turkey with ground pork sausage creates a hearty base that’s full of savory depth.
This all-time favorite is an American classic that works for weeknight dinners, casual meals, or easy leftovers.
Thanks to my friend and neighbor Charis for this version of the recipe.
Serve Sloppy Joes alongside potato salad, mac and cheese, or baked sweet potato fries — they pair well with many sides and adapt easily to what you have on hand.
The method is straightforward: brown the meat, add the sauce ingredients, simmer until thick and flavorful, and serve on toasted buns. It takes about an hour from start to finish.
Making The Best Sloppy Joes
Start with a large Dutch oven or heavy pot. Brown the ground beef or turkey together with the ground pork sausage, chopped onion, and chopped green bell pepper over medium-high heat.
Use a spatula to break the meat into small pieces while it cooks. Continue until there is no visible pink, about 8–10 minutes, then drain any excess fat.
Finish on the stovetop
After draining, return the meat to the pot and add the tomato sauce, ketchup, packed brown sugar, cider vinegar, yellow mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Stir to combine.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then cover and reduce to low. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, so the flavors meld and the sauce thickens.
Slow cooker option
For the slow cooker method, brown the meats, onion, and pepper first and drain well. Transfer the cooked meat to the slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients plus 1/4 cup all-purpose flour to help thicken the sauce. Stir, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
Serving
Traditionally served on toasted hamburger buns, Sloppy Joes are also fine on toasted sliced bread or sturdy hot dog buns. They can be messy to eat — hence the name — so plan for napkins and a fork.
To minimize mess, hold the sandwich with both hands and gently press the bun together on the side closest to you, tipping the far side slightly upward to keep the filling inside. Keep a tight grip on the bottom to prevent spills.
More side dishes to accompany your Sloppy Joes
- Tex-Mex Pesto Pasta
- Easy Cheesy Baked Zucchini
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Mom’s Cucumber Noodle Salad
The Best Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef or ground turkey
- 16 oz. ground pork sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 8 oz. tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Instructions
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In a large Dutch oven, brown the ground beef or turkey with the pork sausage, chopped onion, and chopped green bell pepper over medium-high heat. Break the meat into small pieces with a spatula and cook about 10 minutes, until there is no pink. Drain well.
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Return the drained meat to the pot and add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Stir, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve on toasted hamburger buns.
Notes
Nutrition
The Best Sloppy Joes
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In the meantime, may your Joes be sloppy and your meals delightful.
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