Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

Short on time but craving a comforting meal? This easy sloppy joe recipe is a family favorite that comes together in just 45 minutes. It is a simple dinner solution that uses pantry staples to get a hearty meal on the table fast.

Why You Will Love the Best Sloppy Joe

• Saves Money Uses budget-friendly ground beef or turkey alongside simple pantry staples to keep grocery bills low.
• Saves Time Goes from skillet to table in 45 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
• Big Flavor Fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle chili powder provide a smoky depth that upgrades the standard sweet profile.
• Kid Approved The mild sweetness of the barbecue sauce combined with a tender texture makes it a hit for younger eaters.
• Versitile Works beautifully with ground beef, turkey, or chicken, allowing you to use whatever you have on hand.

Ingredients for the Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe

• Ground Beef or Ground Turkey The protein base that makes this dish hearty and filling. Lean options are recommended so the sauce does not get greasy.
• Butter Used to gently sauté the aromatics, building a rich flavor foundation right from the start.
• Onion and Garlic Fresh aromatics that add essential savory depth and texture to the meat mixture.
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper Basic seasonings that balance the sweetness of the sauce.
• Chipotle Chili Powder Adds a subtle, smoky warmth that sets this version apart from standard recipes without making it overly spicy.
• Fire-Roasted Tomatoes Drained and diced, these tomatoes introduce a smoky acidity that cuts through the rich meat.
• Barbecue Sauce The shortcut ingredient that delivers sweetness, tang, and thickness all at once.

How to Make The Sloppy Joe Recipe

1. Cook the Aromatics Melt the butter in your large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced garlic, sea salt, black pepper, and chipotle chili powder. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent. Watch the heat to ensure the garlic does not burn.
2. Brown the Meat Add the ground beef or ground turkey to the skillet with the onion mixture. Break the meat apart with a spoon and cook until it is completely browned.
3. Drain Excess Liquid Carefully drain the liquid from the skillet, leaving roughly 2 tablespoons of pan juices behind for flavor.
4. Build the Sauce Pour the drained fire-roasted tomatoes and the barbecue sauce directly into the skillet with the meat. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
5. Simmer and Thicken Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the mixture for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will evaporate and thicken up quickly, so stay close to the stove until it reaches your recommended consistency. Serve warm on toasted buns.

Tips on Making the Kid Friendly Sloppy Joe

• Toast the Buns Take two minutes to brush your hamburger buns with a little butter and toast them in a separate pan. This creates a barrier so the juices do not make the bread soggy.
• Control the Heat If your family prefers zero spice, swap the chipotle chili powder for standard mild chili powder or smoked paprika.
• Watch the Simmer The sugar content in barbecue sauce can burn easily if the heat is too high. Keep the stove on medium-low once the sauce is added.

Troubleshooting the Sloppy Joe Recipe

• The sauce is too runny If your mixture is too wet, continue to simmer on medium-low heat without a lid. Stir frequently to help the liquid evaporate faster.
• The mixture is too dry If the sauce reduces too much, stir in a splash of beef broth, tomato sauce, or even a little water, one tablespoon at a time, to loosen it up.
• The garlic burned If the garlic turns dark brown or black during the first step, it will taste bitter. It is best to wipe the pan clean and start over with fresh butter, onions, and garlic.
• My homemade sloppy joes are soggy Soggy sloppy joes happen when the meat is not drained properly after browning, or if the tomatoes contain too much liquid. Make sure to drain your canned tomatoes well before adding them to the pan.
• How do I make the sloppy Joe sauce thicker To thicken the mixture, let it simmer uncovered over low heat so the excess moisture can evaporate naturally. Stirring regularly prevents the sauce from sticking to the bottom of your skillet.

Try my low carb turkey chili or my 2 ingredient turkey burger for more family meals. Try the sloppy Joe sandwiches on Cuban bread.

FAQ

Recipe

Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe | Cleveland Cooking

Author: Dan Harper

393kcal

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Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 35 minutes mins

Total 45 minutes mins

This is an easy sloppy Joe recipe that is sure to please! You can even use turkey instead of beef! Your family will love it!

Servings 6 servings

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 ½ pounds of ground beef
• ▢ ½ teaspoon of sea salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder
• ▢ ½ 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
• ▢ ¾ cup of barbecue sauce

Method

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1. 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
2. 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.
3. Next add tomatoes and barbecue sauce to skillet and reduce over medium heat. About 10-12 minutes.
4. Add browned ground beef and simmer on medium low for 10-12 minutes stirring occasionally. Serve when the mixture achieves desired thickness.

Nutrition

Serving6 servingsCalories393kcalCarbohydrates20gProtein21gFat25gSaturated Fat10gPolyunsaturated Fat1gMonounsaturated Fat10gTrans Fat1gCholesterol86mgSodium768mgPotassium424mgFiber1gSugar14gVitamin A457IUVitamin C3mgCalcium62mgIron3mg

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