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Sloppy Joes Recipe

Use lean ground beef or turkey for these one-pan sloppy joes. Your family will devour these saucy, flavorful, and easy sloppy joes. Perfect for parties and meal prep alike.

sloppy joes on bun with cheese and pickles
This Sloppy Joes recipe is perfect for weekly meal prep and gatherings alike

Our Favorite Sloppy Joes

Ever encounter crazy weekdays that call for simple yet fool-proof meals your family will happily run to the dinner table for?  Say hello to the sloppy joes we keep going back to again and again.

Why you’ll love these sloppy joes:

  • You only need simple pantry ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand.
  • Both lean ground beef and ground turkey work amazingly well in this recipe.
  • It can be made in advance for weekly meal prep.
  • It’s ideal for gatherings and parties, as you can easily double the recipe to feed a crowd.
  • This sloppy joe recipe is a one-pan deal. SO easy and minimal effort.

Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe

sloppy joes cooking in skillet
Use either lean ground beef or turkey for these sloppy joes

meal prep and Freezer Friendly

These tasty sloppy joes are destined to be a go-to recipe for busy weeknights. You can meal prep this recipe in 2 easy ways:

  • Fully prepare and cook sloppy joes according to instructions below, except for shredded cheese and buns. Divide into freezer-friendly containers and defrost as needed throughout the week.
  • Or, prep the ingredients for sloppy joes the night before, up until the point of cooking. Place entire pan of combined ingredients in fridge and place it on the stovetop to cook when you’re ready.  
  • For the Freezer: cooked sloppy joes, minus the buns, can be frozen in airtight freezer containers for several weeks. Thaw in fridge overnight and use either microwave or stovetop to reheat.
sloppy joes in bun with cheese and pickles
Serve sloppy joes on soft buns with shredded cheese and pickle chips

More to cook and eat



commonly asked questions

Are sloppy joes and Manwiches the same thing?

They’re sometimes referred to interchangeably, but Manwhich is simply a brand name for the canned, store-bought version of sloppy joes. Of course, homemade sloppy joes are much better than canned versions.

Are sloppy joes healthy?

Sloppy joes are definitely much healthier when homemade! In our recipe, we use lean ground turkey or beef, plenty of chopped veggies/herbs, and less sugar than other versions. Use whole grain buns to up the nutritional value.

Can sloppy joes be frozen?

Yes. We suggest dividing cooked sloppy joes into freezer-friendly containers (minus the cheese and buns.) Just defrost as needed throughout the week.

What can I serve with sloppy joes?

We suggest garlic herb roasted potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes on the side, as well as a crispy green salad such as Broccoli Apple Salad that can also be made in advance.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

You can absolutely use ground turkey for sloppy joes, with great results.

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

sloppy joes in bun with cheese and pickles

Sloppy Joes Recipe

5 from 8 ratings
Use lean ground beef or turkey for these one-pan sloppy joes. Your family will devour these saucy, flavorful, and easy sloppy joes. Perfect for parties and meal prep alike.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • In a large pan, brown meat with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1 tsp pepper over medium heat. Drain if needed. Set aside.
  • In same pan over medium heat, heat olive oil until hot. Add onion, garlic, green pepper, and 1 tsp kosher salt. Stir until veggies are soft; 2-3 minutes.  Drain liquids if needed. Add back the browned meat to pan.
  • Stir in ketchup, tomato paste, and brown sugar, and mustard.  Stir to incorporate well.  Cover and bring to simmer.  Let simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Serve warm over hamburger buns. Garnish options include shredded cheddar cheese and pickles. 

Notes

  • If you’d like your sloppy joes extra saucy, add a bit of water until mixture reaches desired consistency. If you want it thicker, simmer longer.
  • See original article for suggestions on meal prep.
  • Nutrition facts are for sloppy joe mixture only.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you! 

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.1g | Protein: 21.4g | Fat: 5.7g | Saturated Fat: 1.8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 54.2mg | Sodium: 849.6mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 17.5g
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Method: Stovetop

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Recipe Rating




12 comments

    • milp
    • 5 stars

    Great!

    • Donna
    • 5 stars

    This was the perfect weeknight meal, kids loved it and came back for seconds!

      • Amy Dong

      So happy they loved it!

    • Jamie
    • 5 stars

    The filling was so flavorful and delicious!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, Jamie!

    • Emily
    • 5 stars

    These one-pan sloppy joes were fantastic with brioche buns. These are going to be on regular rotation!

      • Amy Dong

      So happy they all liked this, Emily

    • Alexandra
    • 5 stars

    Such a tasty, comforting meal!

      • Amy Dong

      Thank you!

    • Emily
    • 5 stars

    These were delicious!

    • Lisa

    Very tasty and easy. Thanks!

      • chewoutloud

      Thanks, Lisa! 🙂

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