Sloppy Joes Sandwiches (2024)

Sloppy joes are an all-American classic. They’re a favorite kid-friendly food, and making them from scratch is the best way to know exactly what goes into the mix. You can easily prepare this crowd-pleasing sloppy joe recipe for your family or just yourself.

Why are sloppy joes called sloppy joes?

There are many origin stories of the sloppy joe recipe. One is that it was born in 1918 at a bar in Havana, Cuba, owned by José Abeal y Otero. He changed the name of his establishment after his American friends gave him the nickname “Sloppy Joe.” He had sandwiches on his menu, but they weren’t much like the sloppy joes we enjoy today.

Another story goes that a second Sloppy Joe’s Bar was christened in 1933 in Key West, Florida. Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was a regular at the bar, and suggested that the owner rename it after the popular bar in Cuba. This is where the sandwich was crafted into the more recognizable version we know today.

Most people, however, believe that sloppy joes appeared first in the ’20s from a cook at Ye Old Tavern in Sioux City, Iowa, by the name of Joe. He combined tomato sauce with seasoned ground beef in a loose meat sandwich, and the first recipe for how to make sloppy joes was created.

While the master chef behind this beloved sandwich is still up for debate, the most important fact remains—they are so good to eat.

Sloppy Joe Ingredients

  • Ground beef
  • Ketchup
  • Water
  • Brown sugar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Prepared mustard
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Salt
  • Hamburger buns

Directions

Step 1: Cook and drain beef

In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until nicely browned, and then drain.

Step 2: Add ingredients

Return the meat to the pan over medium heat and add in the remaining ingredients; stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to a low simmer.

Step 3: Simmer and serve

Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, then serve them up on sliced buns—pickle chips optional.

Sloppy Joe Variations

There are endless varieties of sloppy joes. This recipe is perfect if you prefer the classic flavor. But you could jazz it up by turning it intoSloppy Joe Pastaor evenSloppy Joe Pizza!

Sloppy Joe Tips

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.

How do you thicken sloppy joes?

If your meat mixture seems too thin after simmering for 15 to 20 minutes, cook, uncovered, until it reaches the desired consistency, stirring frequently. You could also try making athickening agentby combining 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Stir into the filling towards the end of cooking time and simmer until thickened.

What can I add to sloppy joes?

Sloppy joes are excellent for sparking your creativity! Stir in chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions, green chilies or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. You can even top the filling with pickles or a slice of melted cheese. To really ramp up your sloppy joe game, check out theseunique sloppy joe recipesor any of thesequick sloppy joe recipes.

Watch how to Make Sloppy Joes Sandwiches

Test Kitchen Approved

Sloppy Joes Sandwiches

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Prep Time30 min

Yield4 servings.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 hamburger buns, split
Text Ingredients

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve on buns.

Nutrition Facts

1 sandwich: 439 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 1360mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein.

Author

April Preisler

April is a food and travel lover, wine enthusiast, ice cream aficionado and the vision behind the blog, Food n' Focus. She also develops recipes for Taste of Home. Her favorite cuisine is Italian and she loves to cook international recipes.

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Sloppy Joes Sandwiches (1)

Sloppy Joes Sandwiches (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to sloppy joes to make them taste better? ›

Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or shredded carrot, can easily be added to this recipe and your kids won't even notice a difference. Hawaiian Sloppy Joes: Substitute more BBQ sauce for the ketchup and add 8 oz., drained crushed pineapple.

What does Sloppy Joe mean in slang? ›

a man or youth whose appearance is habitually slovenly.

What is the original Sloppy Joe sandwich? ›

The Sloppy Joe's history, however, is a bit more complex. Some attribute the original Sloppy Joe to a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, where, many years ago, in 1930 a cook named Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. Voila: a new between-the-bread offering, and the sandwich's official name.

What is the difference between Sloppy Joe and Manwich? ›

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

How do you doctor up sloppy joes? ›

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's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.

What is a fancy name for a Sloppy Joe? ›

Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.

What does Manwich stand for? ›

Manwich, a portmanteau of man and sandwich, is the brand name of a canned sloppy joe sauce produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's, introduced in 1969. The can contains seasoned tomato sauce that is added to ground beef cooked in a skillet.

What do Americans call Sloppy Joes? ›

A 1975 Dictionary of American Slang defines sloppy joe as any cheap restaurant or lunch counter serving cheap food quickly.

What goes well on a sloppy joe sandwich? ›

To serve, I suggest toasting buttery brioche buns and pairing the sandwiches with either my sweet and tangy citrus slaw or classic coleslaw, crispy potato chips, and some refrigerator pickles on the side.

Are Sloppy Joes a southern thing? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.

What is the Manwich controversy? ›

One recent ad campaign from Manwich was fairly controversial

The ad campaign featured men being slapped for exhibiting traits perceived to be more "effeminate," including caring about your hair, loving musicals, or liking shoes, according to Queerty.

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.

Are you supposed to drain the grease from sloppy joes? ›

While it's fine to get rid of some excess grease, you always want to keep some of it in the pan. If you rinse away all the grease, you're literally rinsing away flavor, and your beef will end up dry.

How do you make bland sauce taste better? ›

After the regular herbs and spices, I find carefully adding some lemon juice or vinegar and a little sugar and salt can help “wake up” a bland tomato sauce. For an Alfredo style cream sauce, extra nutmeg, salt, grated parmesean and garlic can help. How do you make a jar of pasta sauce taste better?

How do I make my sloppy joes less sweet? ›

Cooking Tips for Homemade Sloppy Joes

If you like Sloppy Joes a little less sweet, you can reduce the brown sugar to 1 teaspoon. If you keep the mustard at 2 teaspoons, the result will be a tangier Sloppy Joe. Add a piece of sliced American cheese for over-the-top comfort food creaminess.

What is a sloppy joe supposed to taste like? ›

A Sloppy Joe is a beloved American sandwich made from ground beef cooked in a tangy and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce and served on a hamburger bun. The name “sloppy” aptly describes the sandwich's messy nature, as the filling tends to spill out of the bun.

Is mayo good on a sloppy joe? ›

Spread Mayo or Miracle Whip over toasted hamburger buns top with sloppy joe mix, sliced pickles and sliced cheese.

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