Have ground beef? Make Sloppy Joes. This is not just any sandwich! This is the BEST homemade Sloppy Joe made with a thick from-scratch tomato sauce mixed with ground beef and served on fresh buns. This sauce is better than anything you’ll find in the can!
Every once in a while I stumble onto a recipe that goes over the top in flavor compared to what I’ve been used to in the past. I first made this recipe from the Ball Canning Recipe and canned it last fall. After enjoying it all winter – and running out of my canned sauce – I decided to make it my own.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOES
Sloppy Joes are made by the sauce. And not just any sauce, this is the best sauce because it’s packed with delicious peppers, onions, and other ingredients that make it better than anything you’ll find in a can. Here’s how to make this goodness.
- In a medium sauce pan, brown and cook one pound of ground beef. Drain the grease. Remove the cooked ground beef from the pan.
- In the now empty sauce pan, saute the onions and peppers until translucent and soft. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened.
- Add the cooked ground beef back into the homemade sauce and simmer until heated through.
- Fill hamburger buns with Sloppy Joe sauce and serve immediately.
What’s the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joe Sauce?
Manwich is the brand name for a canned Sloppy Joe sauce. The reality is, it’s very easy to make it yourself! And in my opinion, it tastes much better homemade! With the fresh peppers and onions to the hint of vinegar, once you make this recipe you’ll never go back.
Can you make Sloppy Joes in the slow cooker?
Yes! Follow the above directions. When the homemade sauce is thickened, add the cooked ground beef and sauce to the slow cooker. Cook on low for one hour until heated thoroughly. You can keep it in the slow cooker for up to 3 hours on low.
How Long to Simmer Your Sauce
I like to simmer my sauce for approximately five minutes. I have a gas range so it can really bring on the heat. What you are looking for is that the sauce has thickened. The simmering allows for the water from the peppers and onions to evaporate which helps to thicken the sauce while leaving the delicious flavor!
More Easy (& Popular!) Ground Beef Recipes
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3/4 Cup green bell pepper finely chopped
- 3/4 Cup red bell pepper finely chopped
- 1/2 Cup onion diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar firmly packed
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, brown and cook one pound of ground beef. Drain the grease. Remove the cooked ground beef from the pan.
- In the now empty sauce pan, saute the onions and peppers until translucent and soft. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened.
- Add the cooked ground beef back into the homemade sauce and simmer until heated through.
- Fill hamburger buns with Sloppy Joe sauce and serve immediately.
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