Homemade Sloppy Joes

4.96 from 25 votes

An easy homemade recipe for Homemade Sloppy Joes made with lean ground beef and a sweet and tangy homemade sloppy joe sauce.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 221kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

2 pounds ground sirloin (see recipe notes for using a combination of beans and ground meat)
1 small yellow onion minced
½ jalapeno seeded and minced
1 small red pepper diced
1 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

For Serving (optional)

8 buns
8 slices cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat a non-stick or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Add in the ground meat, onion, jalapeno, and red pepper. Saute the meat and vegetables until the meat is browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat, and return the skillet to the stove.
Add in tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, salt and stir well. Bring mixture to a boil then lower to simmer. If using beans, add the drained beans now.
Add in the apple cider vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and let simmer for5-10 minutes.
Serve on buns with cheese or as desired.

Video

Notes

Ground Beef: Use lean ground sirloin, ground chicken, bison, or turkey.

Using Beans (An even healthier option): Use 2 cups of drained and rinsed pinto beans to replace 1 pound of ground beef. Alternatively, if you want Vegetarian Sloppy Joes, use 4 cups of pinto beans and omit the ground meat.

Storage: Leftover sloppy joe mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Jalapeno: Omit the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno so they lend more flavor than spice. Or omit altogether if despise heat.

Sweetener: Feel free to use brown sugar or molasses would be a great substitute for the honey.

Vinegar: Use either apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.

Optional: You may want to add in 1-2 teaspoons of oil before adding the meat and onions to the skillet if you are using meat that has less than 3% fat OR if you are not using a nonstick skillet.

Nutrition