The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

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I am a huge fan of easy meals to prepare. Bonus points if they freeze and reheat well! This homemade sloppy joes recipe satisfies all three of those points. This recipe will soon be a staple to keep in our freezer or recipe book for those busy nights that you need a quick meal. With just a few ingredients (most of which you probably already have in your kitchen), you can make a delicious and filling meal that is sure to satisfy a crowd!

Why make homemade?

While there is a large company that produces a canned version of a sloppy joe sauce, there are some questionable ingredients in that can. By making your own homemade sauce, not only will your meal contain healthier ingredients but the flavor of this homemade sauce is SO much better than what you can buy in the store.

Another great reason to make your own sloppy joe sauce is in the event you, a family member or friend has any food allergies or sensitivities. Making your own sauce will ensure any needed dietary needs are met with just small changes to the recipe.

Freezing Homemade Sloppy Joes

This Sloppy Joes recipe is a great option to make as a freezer meal!! When you make this recipe for a weeknight dinner, it takes just a few minutes longer to double the recipe. After everything is done cooking, all you have to do is place half into a freezer safe container and freeze for a later meal. 

When making this to store in the freezer, be sure to store it with some buns or a loaf of bread to serve it with. Doing so at the time of freezing will make serving this meal much easier when you need it!

Looking for more kitchen inspiration? You might also enjoy this recipe for Homemade Italian Meatballs without Breadcrumbs or this recipe for Bone Marrow Tomato Soup!

Sides for Serving Sloppy Joes

The best sides for homemade sloppy joes tend to be the same sides you might find at a summer barbeque. These sides include coleslaw, potato salad, broccoli salad (like this one with chopped bacon and dried cranberries!!) & potato chips. 

Substitutions in Homemade Sloppy Joes

Homemade sloppy Joes is a great recipe that can handle quite a few substitutions and still have the same or very similar experience. For example, you can certainly change the meat to whatever you have on hand. While a dark or other red ground meat would be best, you could definitely use ground turkey or chicken if that’s what you have on hand. 

If you don’t have tomato sauce, you could use tomato paste or some simmered down diced tomatoes and blend them to be as smooth as you would like. Similarly, if you don’t have a yellow onion, any other colored onion will work just the same.

If you don’t have ketchup, you can just add a bit more tomato sauce (or other tomato product) and add a bit of sweetener along with some more vinegar and salt. 

Ingredients

1 lb Ground beef

1 medium onion finely chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

½ cup ketchup

1 tsp dried mustard

1 Tbsp white vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Buns (4-6)

Optional sides: coleslaw, potato salad & potato chips

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion and green bell pepper.

2. While ground beef, onion, and green bell pepper are browning, combine remaining ingredients to make the sloppy joe sauce

3. Once the ground beef is cooked through, pour in remaining ingredients.

4. Heat thoroughly and serve on buns and desired sides. 

To Freeze:

If you are making this ahead as a freezer meal, you can add the sauce and remove from the heat immediately. Allow the mixture to cool before storing in plastic freezer bags or freezer safe glass containers. 

To Reheat:

Remove sloppy joes from the freezer one or two nights before use to defrost in the fridge. Remove contents from your storage container and heat thoroughly. Serve on buns of your choosing.

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FAQ:

Why make homemade Sloppy Joes?

While there is a large company that produces a canned version of a sloppy joe sauce, there are some questionable ingredients in that can. By making your own homemade sauce, not only will your meal contain healthier ingredients but the flavor of this homemade sauce is SO much better than what you can buy in the store.

Another great reason to make your own sloppy joe sauce is in the event you, a family member or friend has any food allergies or sensitivities. Making your own sauce will ensure any needed dietary needs are met with just small changes to the recipe.

Can You Freeze Homemade Sloppy Joes?

This Sloppy Joe recipe is a great option to make as a freezer meal!! When you make this recipe for a weeknight dinner, it takes just a few minutes longer to double the recipe. After everything is done cooking, all you have to do is place half into a freezer safe container and freeze for a later meal. 

When making this to store in the freezer, be sure to store it with some buns or a loaf of bread to serve it with. Doing so at the time of freezing will make serving this meal much easier when you need it!

What Sides Are Good To Serve with Homemade Sloppy Joes?

The best sides for homemade sloppy joes tend to be the same sides you might find at a summer barbeque. These sides include coleslaw, potato salad, broccoli salad (like this one with chopped bacon and dried cranberries!!) & potato chips. 

Substitutions in Homemade Sloppy Joes

Can I substitute ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken?

You can certainly change the meat to whatever you have on hand! While a dark or other red ground meat would be best, you could definitely use ground turkey or chicken if that’s what you have on hand. 

What Can I Use in place of Tomato Sauce in Homemade Sloppy Joes?

If you don’t have tomato sauce, you could use tomato paste or some simmered down diced tomatoes and blend them to be as smooth as you would like. Similarly, if you don’t have a yellow onion, any other colored onion will work just the same.

What Can I Use in place of Ketchup in Homemade Sloppy Joes?

If you don’t have ketchup, you can just add a bit more tomato sauce (or other tomato product) and add a bit of sweetener along with some more vinegar and salt. 

Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.