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Cooking adventures in a small, closet sized, kitchen. - I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.

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Sloppy Joe’s

[heart_this] · Dec 5, 2019 · 66 Comments

Sloppy Joes

Quick and easy sandwiches filled with a super tasty ground beef sauce! Sloppy, but oh so good!

The “>sloppy joe sandwich is a sandwich filled with a ground beef mixture in a tomato sauce seasoned with various things including Worcestershire sauce. They are easy to make, family friendly and quick enough to make even on a busy week night. I like to start out with bacon which is cooked before the beef and then added back into the sauce later! The main part of the sauce is ground beef along with onions, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, cider and a hit of sriracha! This tasty sauce has it all from the salty bacon to the sweet sugar to the sour vinegar and the spicy heat of sriracha chili sauce, your taste buds with be dancing! I like to finish off sloppy joe sandwiches with things like cheese, and/or, pickled onions, mustard, pickles, etc.
The only real question about your sloppy joes is: Do you like them with beans in or without?

Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes
With beans or without?

Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes with Beans
Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4

Quick and easy sandwiches filled with a super tasty ground beef sauce! Sloppy, but oh so good!

ingredients
  • 6 strips bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth (or water)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha*
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 buns (gluten-free for gluten-free)
directions
  1. Cook the bacon in a large pan, set aside and drain off most of the grease.
  2. Add the beef and onions and cook until the beef is cooked though, breaking it up as it cooks with a spoon, before draining off any excess grease.
  3. Add the garlic, paprika, and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
  4. Add the mixture of the beef broth and cornstarch, followed by the bacon, ketchup, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sriracha, salt and pepper, bring to a boils and simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
  5. Assemble the sandwiches as desired and enjoy!
Option: Add finely diced veggies like one or more of: carrots, celery, bell peppers! (To hide the, process them in a food processor until they are small bits!)
Option: Feel free to omit the sriracha or replace it with another chili sauce, or chili powder, or cayenne, or chopped chipotle chilies in adobo, or gochujang, etc., adding enough to get the heat to the desired level.
Option: Add a few drops of liquid smoke!
Option: Add your favourite sandwich fillings like cheese, pickles, mustard, onions, etc.!
Option: Add a can of drained and rinsed red kidney beans or black beans!
Nutrition Facts: Calories 452, Fat 41g (Saturated 14g, Trans 1g), Cholesterol 109mg, Sodium 1038mg, Carbs 36g (Fiber 2g, Sugars 11g), Protein 31g

Nutrition by: Nutritional facts powered by Edamam
Use in:
Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Sloppy Joe Quesadillas

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30 Minute Meals, American, Bacon, Beef, Burger, Food, Gluten-free, Main Course, One-Pan, Recipe, Sandwich

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark Garso 3570 says

    May 2, 2009 at 12:15 am

    I’ve never tried cumin and chili powder. Am interested in how that will spice things up!

    Mark F Garso 3570

    Reply
    • ct says

      March 19, 2022 at 5:16 pm

      what is strange is those ingredients are not in the recipe

      Reply
  2. Helene says

    May 2, 2009 at 12:17 am

    This is one of my boys favorite meals also. You have a different recipe than mine. I’ll have to try it because it looks full of flavors.

    Reply
  3. Jo says

    May 2, 2009 at 12:49 am

    Hi Kevin,

    Wow these look great – we don’t eat such things down here in Australia but I am sure that my kids would definately give them a go.

    Great photo’s too…… as always!!

    Jo

    Reply
  4. Ciao Chow Linda says

    May 2, 2009 at 12:56 am

    Looks great Kevin. I never heard of that gochujang. Is that hard to find? I made some sloppy “Giuseppes” and posted about them on Jan. 17. Take a look when you have a chance.

    Reply
  5. giz says

    May 2, 2009 at 1:02 am

    Now that’s what I call a sloppy joe. You definitely need a big to bite into this one.

    Reply
  6. Lisa says

    May 2, 2009 at 2:08 am

    That is one good looking sloppy joe! Biting into that I think I would have one sloppy face:)

    Reply
  7. Poornima Nair says

    May 2, 2009 at 2:53 am

    I too love them..Urs has great flavors and looks delicious.

    Reply
  8. Bob says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:11 am

    Wow, those look amazing. I haven’t made sloppy joes in forever, I need to whip some up.

    Reply
  9. Marjie says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:28 am

    I too enjoy sloppy joes, but I wouldn’t go for the beans. Yours looks overstuffed and delectable!

    Reply
  10. Rabbittrick says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:42 am

    wow, this is a burger? Looks best eaten with a spoon.
    This recipe looks great; can’t wait to try it but I’d like to serve mine with rice!

    Reply
  11. Rosa's Yummy Yums says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:42 am

    OMG, these look incredibly scrumptious!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  12. Coleen's Recipes says

    May 2, 2009 at 7:25 am

    Your photographs are excellent.

    Reply
  13. Manggy says

    May 2, 2009 at 7:46 am

    I’ve only eaten sloppy joes once– but I really, really loved it. Now that I know how to cook I should really give it a shot! 🙂

    Reply
  14. My Asian Kitchen says

    May 2, 2009 at 7:53 am

    this snack is my hubby favourite!! now you remind me to make for him again! I like you add in the beans!

    Reply
  15. Risa says

    May 2, 2009 at 10:07 am

    Theese look great Kevin. I love that you made them your own and added the veggies, beans, and Korean flavors. Which did you prefer, the one with beans or the one without?

    Reply
  16. oneordinaryday says

    May 2, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Looks great. I think you’re going to need a fork!
    Michelle

    Reply
  17. Natashya says

    May 2, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Not only does it look delicious, but so much fun to eat! It’ll have you licking your fingers, palms, plate.. I might need a bib.

    Reply
  18. Melissa says

    May 2, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    I have been craving sloppy joes all week! These look amazing!!

    Reply
  19. Joanne says

    May 2, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    I would say the beans are a definite YES. I’ve also made these with a buffalo sauce flavor and they were fantastic with a little blue cheese on top.

    Reply
  20. Dawn says

    May 2, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    my hubby would love you right about now. now that’s what a sloppy joe should look like.

    Reply
  21. Junglefrog says

    May 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Ok, now that looks seriously good, but the eating part… How on earth do you eat a sloppy joe without having everything and I mean everything, falling of the sandwich before you took the first bite? I guess they are called sloppy joe’s for a reason! We don’t have them here, but I am very tempted to make one (as long as we can eat them outside! lol)

    Reply
  22. Suzer says

    May 2, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    The best is with Bennett’s Chili Sauce.

    Reply
  23. Sharon says

    May 2, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Mmmm, I really want one of these. 😛

    Reply
  24. Christina Kim says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Kevin, kudos for using the gochujang! Us Koreans use it in just about every dish. Sloppy joes bring back memories of grade school lunches… but I would definitely prefers yours! That is one HUGE sandwich, definitely a fork & knife kind of a meal.

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    Great Meal Kevin !!

    Reply
  26. Kerstin says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:44 pm

    Sloppy joes remind me of growing up too. Yours look super flavorful and I love how you overstuffed them – yum!

    Reply
  27. mikky says

    May 2, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    yours is a very interesting version… 🙂

    Reply
  28. Sweta says

    May 2, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    Spicy!!!!Looks very filling-that would be my entire days meal!!

    Reply
  29. Marta says

    May 2, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    I just love switching up the classics. I like your idea of adding Korean flavours, I can see how the two styles would go well together. It looks very moist and sloppy, I think you did a terrific job 🙂

    Reply
  30. Lori Lynn says

    May 2, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    I ate one every day from the high school cafeteria. Don’t think I’ve had one since.

    Doesn’t come close to yours. Looks great, and sloppy!
    LL

    Reply
  31. jordan says

    May 2, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    Whoa, that’s the sloppiest Joe I’ve ever seen!! Looks yummy. 🙂

    Reply
  32. mirtilla says

    May 2, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    Sembra delizioso…

    Reply
  33. Juliana says

    May 2, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    Wow, looks good…although I never had those, but the pictures that you feature looks so yummie.

    Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    May 2, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    I enjoy a good sloppy joe. Never had them with beans though. Interesting twist.

    Reply
  35. tamilyn says

    May 2, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    They look fabulous Kevin!

    Reply
  36. Shelly says

    May 3, 2009 at 12:51 am

    These look delicious! So much better than the cruddy Manwich stuff from a can. They might be thought of as kid food, but this adult likes chowing down on them too 🙂

    Reply
  37. Leslie says

    May 3, 2009 at 2:19 am

    I adore sloppy joes! I think everyone has had them at one time or another when they were kids! YUM

    Reply
  38. nicole says

    May 3, 2009 at 3:29 am

    I’ve never actually wanted a sloppy joe- like never really craved one- until now. I’ll be putting this into my recipe box :). Thanks!

    Reply
  39. we are never full says

    May 3, 2009 at 4:06 am

    wow! awesome! childhood memories!

    Reply
  40. Arch says

    May 3, 2009 at 4:59 am

    Thats one real ‘sloppy’ joe ! Brilliant pic and makes me hungry all over again !!

    Reply
  41. judyfoodie says

    May 3, 2009 at 6:00 am

    I have not had sloppy joes in forever. Yours looks great. It’s making me hungry

    Reply
  42. CORA says

    May 3, 2009 at 6:46 am

    Kevin, that has to be one of the most mouth-watering photos I have ever seen. We don’t have Sloppy Joes in Australia but I saw it served in a movie once.

    I’m curious about how it tastes but my imagination is working overtime and they just look irresistible.

    Reply
  43. Jamie says

    May 3, 2009 at 7:00 am

    Beautiful and mouthwatering! I have long wanted to introduce my kids to that great bonfire specialty Sloppy Joes. Yours sounds and looks so delicious, spicy and filled with so many incredible flavors! I do love the addition of kidney beans.

    Reply
  44. Anncoo says

    May 3, 2009 at 7:31 am

    Hi Kevin,
    Have never try this recipe before but will definitely try it out.

    Reply
  45. pigpigscorner says

    May 3, 2009 at 10:12 am

    Wow, looks so mouth-watering, how do you even eat that =P Love how you used kochujang here, love that paste too.

    Reply
  46. Mrs Ergül says

    May 3, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    The cool thing about you is that you go with your instinct, not necessarily the recipe!

    Reply
  47. Stephanesia says

    May 3, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    My friends often make sloppy joes– not completely from scratch, as this is, but they tend to do their own spices. I think they’ve decided to add cinnamon and chili-cayenne type spices to give it a “Cincinnati” feel.

    So they say.

    Anyway, might be a thought!

    Reply
  48. Street Foodie says

    May 4, 2009 at 8:59 am

    I currently live in Korea and I like the thought of adding Gochujang to a chilli recipe – I must try it sometime. Your sloppy Joe looks great btw!

    Reply
  49. Jeff says

    May 4, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Everytime someone says sloppy joes I instantly think of the part of Billy Madison where the lunch lady goes I made them extra sloppy.

    Yours are way better than the ones I grew up with from the lunch cafeteria.

    I enjoy the beans too.

    Reply
  50. Laura P. says

    May 4, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    I love sloppy joes and am always looking for new ways to make them…thanks for sharing your recipe! : )

    Reply
  51. Paula says

    May 5, 2009 at 3:22 am

    Oh, I like your variation! Sloppy Joes are great kid fare, too. Like how you diced up veggies in yours. YUM!

    Reply
  52. Kevin says

    May 5, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    Stephanesia: I definitely like the sound of the Cincinnati style version!

    Reply
  53. Kevin says

    May 5, 2009 at 10:04 pm

    Joanne: Adding blue cheese sounds great!

    Reply
  54. Deborah says

    May 6, 2009 at 3:05 am

    I LOVE sloppy joes! But I’ve never had them with beans – I’ll have to try that.

    Reply
  55. ChichaJo says

    May 6, 2009 at 9:14 am

    There was literally a sharp intake of breath when I saw this photo…whoa sloppy joe! That looks delicious!

    Reply
  56. Mochachocolata Rita says

    May 7, 2009 at 4:08 am

    is it weird that i haven’t had a sloppy joe before but i am craving it now? hehe…

    Reply
  57. Jeanne says

    May 8, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    OMG, that looks like pure comfort food! I would go for the “with beans” option 🙂

    Reply
  58. TheRoosterChick says

    November 19, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    I'm a bit of a Lazy Joe maker, but this recipe sounds like a winner.

    Reply
  59. Jiyeon Kim says

    January 21, 2011 at 4:48 am

    Hey Kevin, as a Korean I admire at ur recipes how beautifully adding gochujang/Korean flavour on sloppy joes! thats a brilliant idea(plus thats so Korean! haha)! thanks for the recipes! YUM!! XD

    Reply
  60. ricette leggere says

    April 13, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    I have no words for this plate…. I think is wonderful, but I'm not sure that italians can be eat it!!!! Nice blog!!!! See you sooon!! 🙂

    Reply
  61. Tanya Walker says

    March 2, 2013 at 2:13 am

    I just made it tonight! I had to cover so I would not eat the whole thing! Very flavorful and simple good tastiness!

    Reply
  62. Paige Cassandra Flamm says

    December 5, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    Homemade sloppy joes are so good! There is no going back to the canned version once you’ve made your sauce from scratch!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.com

    Reply
  63. Lorene says

    December 5, 2019 at 6:35 pm

    I wonder if this would work with Jack fruit? Sloppy Jack burger sure sounds good to me 🙂

    Reply
  64. mari says

    December 7, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    I’ve been craving a sloppy Joe and wanted a change up from the usuall one I make. I’ve made many of your recipes and have loved them all! But this is the first one I won’t be making again. It had too many ingredients in it for my taste. Way too sweet with brown sugar and ketchup. These days I guess bacon is in just about anything you want but we didn’t care for all the little bits of it in this sloppy Joe.

    Reply
  65. Jonathan M. Freiman says

    January 28, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    Way too salty. Hold the bacon!

    Reply

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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