Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (2024)

This Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe is miles away from ordinary, with a special ingredient to really kick this simple Sloppy Joe recipe with ketchup up a notch. In just 15 minutes, this hearty meal can be on your table any night of the week!

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (1)

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

I had a hankering for some good ol’ fashioned Sloppy Joe’s one day — but not a lot of time to prepare dinner.

So I put a quick and easy spin on my crockpot Joes and came up with this sensational Sloppy Joe recipe with ketchup, balsamic vinegar, and simple seasonings.

The inspiration… My favorite meatloaf! It has a sweet ketchup topping that is out of this world!

I add balsamic vinegar for a little zip and it adds just the right touch of sweet/tangy and a hint of smokiness.

Combining those flavors in this easy Sloppy Joe sauce recipe really takes the whole dish to the next level.

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (2)

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Ground Beef – A lean blend works best for this old fashioned Sloppy Joes recipe, since there won’t be a ton of grease to drain from the pan.
  • Ketchup and Tomato Paste – Use your favorite brand of ketchup, since it will give you a familiar taste.

    The tomato paste simply ups the savory flavor and helps to thicken the sauce.

  • Balsamic Vinegar – This adds plenty of tang and a subtle sweetness to homemade Sloppy Joe sauce with ketchup. A little goes a long way!
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (3)

Tips and Tricks to Make Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce with Ketchup

  • Start with the original measurements.

This easy Sloppy Joe sauce recipe has been tested and tested again, so stick to the amount of ingredients listed at first.

It’s enough for 1 pound of ground beef, so if you decide to make more, then you’ll need to scale up the sauce as well.

Once everything has simmered for a bit, it’s time to…

  • Taste, taste, taste.

You should be doing this with all of your food, but it’s especially important with this old fashioned Sloppy Joes recipe!

Since the meat mixture is the only thing on the sandwich, the flavors are really important.

Grab a spoon and sample some of the sauce with meat, then make adjustments until it tastes just right.

  • Adjust the tang and sweetness.

If you need a bit more of both, simply add more balsamic vinegar — or balsamic glaze if you have it!

For more sweetness alone, sprinkle in a little white or brown sugar.

And if it’s not savory enough for you, add more of the garlic and onion powder or hit it with a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Prep Ahead

  • Cook ground beef
  • Measure out all ingredients
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Serving Suggestions

First, build your sandwich! I like to butter the buns and toast them in the oven or air fryer — it adds great texture and flavor.

Keep this Sloppy Joe recipe simple and spoon the meat mixture right onto the buns before serving. Or, add a slice of cheese first to up to gooey factor!

As far as sides go, there’s no shortage of options. Crispy fries or potato chips, tangy and crunchy cole slaw, or even some comforting mac and cheese — it all depends on your cravings and how much time you have!

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

  • Wide Skillet – Allows plenty of space for the meat to cook evenly.
  • Potato Masher – Thanks to watching the Rachael Ray show, my new favorite way to break up ground meat is a potato masher. It’s so much easier than using a wooden spoon.
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Storing and Reheating Sloppy Joe Recipe Simple Leftovers

Allow the meat mixture to cool, then transfer to an airtight container. Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, or up to 3 months in the freezer.

The best way to reheat Sloppy Joe’s is on the stove. Simmer the meat over low heat until warmed through, then pile onto freshly toasted buns!

On that note, always store the Sloppy Joe meat and buns separately. Assembled sandwiches will get soggy if you try to save them for later.

Sloppy Joe Recipe with Ketchup FAQ

Can I use any ground meat for Sloppy Joes?

Yes, just about any ground meat will work — which is just one reason this Sloppy Joe recipe is simple!

Combine ground chicken, turkey, or even plant-based crumbles with my easy Sloppy Joe sauce recipe.

Sausage will be too greasy and intense, but you could combine it with another type of meat if you’d like!

Is there a substitute for ketchup in Sloppy Joes?

To mimic the sweetness and tanginess of homemade Sloppy Joe sauce with ketchup, combine tomato sauce or tomato paste with a little bit of sugar and vinegar.

Since paste is thicker than sauce, and will continue to thicken as it cooks, you may want to use a mixture of both for the right consistency.

Can I make this old fashioned Sloppy Joes recipe ahead of time?

You bet! In fact, the meat mixture tastes even better when the flavors have had time to meld together.

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Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (12)

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

Donna Elick

This Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe is miles away from ordinary! Have this hearty meal ready and on the table is just 15 minutes.

5 stars from 1 review

Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Method Stovetop

Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 1/4 cups ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 6 hamburger buns

Instructions

  • Cook ground beef, in a 10″ skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any excess liquid. Add remaining ingredients. Add 1/4 cup water. Stir until combined. Cover and reduce temperature to simmer, for 5 minutes. Remove cover and stir.

  • Serve sloppy Joe mixture on hamburger buns and enjoy!

Video

Donna’s Notes

I like to butter the buns and toast them in the oven. It adds great texture and flavor to the sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 282cal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 738mg | Sugar: 15g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 4mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (13)

Originally published October 2015, updated and republished January 2024

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Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (14)

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Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make sloppy joes better? ›

Try serving your sloppy joes with their own toppings such as slaw, melty cheese, grilled pineapple, or Hatch green chile. Even just adding a pickle gives extra flavor and crunch, transforming it from a bland sandwich into something great, like the recipe below!

What is the ingredient in sloppy joe? ›

It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling. What's a good side dish with sloppy joes?

What's the difference between a maid rite sandwich and a sloppy joe? ›

While both are made with seasoned ground beef, Sloppy Joes feature a rich tomato-based sauce. The meat mixture is slightly sweet and often enjoyed without additional toppings. Loose meat sandwiches like Maid Rites, on the other hand, have no sauce at all.

What's the difference between Manwich and sloppy joe mix? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

What's the difference between Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

Unlike traditional can Sloppy Joes, which are often loaded with unhealthy additives and preservatives, Sloppy Janes are made with lean meat, low-fat ingredients, and a variety of fresh vegetables. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients.

Should I drain hamburger meat for Sloppy Joes? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

What is the fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

How many people will 1 lb of sloppy joes feed? ›

In general, we call for 1 pound of ground beef to make 6 sandwiches in our sloppy joes recipes. That works out to 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich. Depending on the size of your bun and how meaty you like your sandwich, you can increase or decrease that amount an ounce or two either way.

What is the New Jersey version of Sloppy Joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

What do people in Wisconsin call sloppy Joes? ›

How "hot tamale" became the name for sloppy Joes in these Wisconsin communities is so far a mystery. The name was solidified through decades of Sheboygan and Manitowoc school lunch menus, though "sloppy Joe" has come into use now. And the fight isn't restricted to hot tamales vs. sloppy Joes.

What is a cold Sloppy Joe? ›

In this part of the country, where I grew up, a sloppy joe is something else entirely. It's a triple decker sandwich—cold deli meat and cheese on dense rye bread—glued together with coleslaw and Russian dressing.

What is a substitute for tomato paste in sloppy joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

What is bold Sloppy Joe? ›

Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe Sauce kicks up the tangy taste of everyone's deliciously messy favorite. Made with a tomato base and bold seasonings, not only is Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe Sauce perfect for your next sloppy joe sandwich, but it's also great with tacos, meatloaf and party dips.

Are you supposed to drain sloppy joes? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain.

What can you put on top of sloppy joes? ›

Proper "Sloppy Joe" is a mixture of ground beef, a touch of pork, tomato sauce, spices, a bit of Romano cheese and served over a plate of #9 spaghett. Sharp cheddar is probably the way to go, but I have on a few occasions topped sloppy joe's with blue cheese crumbles or Swiss cheese.

How do you make sloppy joes less runny? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

What if I forgot the tomato paste in the sloppy joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

What is Sloppy Joe supposed to taste like? ›

Once you've gathered the ingredients, it's basically like making Bolognese. And the flavour is somewhat reminiscent of it too, except Sloppy Joes taste a bit more like BBQ Sauce. The one big difference is that the sauce is cooked right down so it's really thick and not saucy at all.

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