This easy sloppy joe recipe is a family favorite that comes together quickly and can be made with either ground beef or ground turkey for a lighter option. The secret to its rich flavor starts with sautéing onions, garlic, and spices until fragrant, then browning the meat and combining it with fire-roasted tomatoes and your choice of barbecue sauce. The chili powder adds a subtle kick but can be adjusted to your family’s taste. Be sure to simmer and thicken the sauce to your desired texture—the longer you cook, the richer and thicker it gets. Perfect for a kid-friendly weeknight meal, this recipe can easily be doubled for bigger crowds or leftovers!
Cooking the onions, garlic, and spices
Place the onions, butter, garlic, and spices in a large skillet over a medium heat. Cook the onions until translucent. Make sure to keep an eye on the garlic so it does not burn. This should only take about 10 minutes.
The ground beef for the sloppy joe
Cook the ground beef with the onion mixture until browned. Drain all the liquid except for about 2 tablespoons. Next add the tomatoes and the barbecue sauce. Keep cooking until you reach your desired thickness. The liquid will evaporate as you continue to cook the sloppy Joe.
This recipe is a very easy recipe to make. However, it is vital that you keep your eye on it to get the texture you would like. There is a lot of simmering and thickening. The texture that you want to get can come up on you quickly!
The fire roasted tomatoes, chili powder, and barbecue sauce, really add tons of flavor to this Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe. The chili powder is optional but my family is big fans of it. It is a kid friendly recipe! We use chipotle chili powder and it has replaced our standard chili powder. I hope you make this easy sloppy Joe recipe your own and share it with your loved ones!
Try my low carb turkey chili or my 2 ingredient turkey burger for more family meals!
FAQ
Yes! Ground turkey works great for a lighter, leaner version of sloppy joes.
Simmer the sauce and stir frequently, letting the liquid evaporate until it reaches your desired consistency.
Yes, sloppy joes taste even better the next day after the flavors meld. Store in the fridge and reheat gently.
You can use your favorite BBQ sauce, but smoky or Memphis-style sauces complement the flavors really well.
Absolutely! The flavors are mild enough for kids, and you can adjust the chili powder to make it spicier or milder.
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Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of crushed black pepper
- 1 medium chopped onion
- 2 diced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 – 14.5 oz can of drained fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 3/4 cup of barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Place chopped onion, diced garlic cloves, and spices with butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until somewhat translucent. About 10-12 minutes
- Brown ground beef with onion and garlic mixture Drain all but roughly 2 tablespoons of liquid from the pan and place browned ground beef mixture in a dish and set aside.
- Next add tomatoes and barbecue sauce to skillet and reduce over medium heat. About 10-12 minutes.
- Add browned ground beef and simmer on medium low for 10-12 minutes stirring occasionally. Serve when the mixture achieves desired thickness.
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