7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (2024)

If there is one dish that defines my idea of cooking, it would probably be sloppy joes. It doesn’t get much easier than mixing up ground beef with a bunch of ingredients and slapping a spoonful onto a sandwich bun. But if that sounds boring to you, things are about to get interesting. Because there are several clever ways to make sloppy joes that are anything but ordinary, and I’m sharing them here. These recipes take sloppy joes to a new level of yummy. These concoctions are loaded with flavorful ingredients that will excite your taste buds and your children’s appetites!

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (1)source: Yellow Bliss Road

1. Sloppy Joe French Bread Pizza

We eat pizza so much in my house, I’m half surprised that none of us have turned into a slice of pizza. On busy nights when there isn’t time to cook, my husband and I tend to default to the frozen pizzas in our freezer. But I would much rather serve my kids something like this pizza. It’s not necessarily healthier, but it’s way more interesting and probably tastes great! With just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps, you can whip this up in about 20 minutes.

Get the full recipe and cooking instructions from Yellow Bliss Road.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (2)source: Simply Quinoa

2. Slow Cooker Lentil Sloppy Joes

Before I met my Hungarian husband, I don’t think I even knew what lentils were. But now, we eat them on occasion when he makes dinner (he’s a great cook!). What’s great about lentils is that they are good for you, and they don’t taste too bold, so even kids like them! And this recipe uses a slow cooker, so I’m definitely willing to try it! I bet with ingredients like paprika, cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard and chili powder, this sloppy joe version probably has a kick to it.

Learn how to make this and other healthy recipes at Simply Quinoa.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (3)source: The Cooking Jar

3. Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

If you’ve got a night where you can spend a bit of time on dinner, I have a feeling the whole family would love this sloppy joe version of a casserole! I mean, tater tots? Who doesn’t like tater tots? And with cream cheese and corn, you know it’s gotta have a creamy texture that melts with the crispy tots to create a culinary masterpiece. This is definitely not your typical sloppy joe, and I’m betting once you make this, your kids will beg you to make it again.

Head over to The Cooking Jar for the full ingredients list and cooking instructions.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (4)source: Cooking Light

4. Turkey & Swiss Sloppy Joes

This sloppy joe recipe is so unique, it doesn’t even use beef! But we’re still calling it a sloppy joe, because, well, it’s sloppy and delicious! And with the main ingredient being turkey, this is a healthier way to enjoy a sloppy joe sandwich. With Swiss cheese, kale, and a few seasonings, it’s a gamble whether or not kids will give this a taste. Anything green pretty much gets vetoed in my house, but perhaps the melted Swiss cheese will be enough to convince my kids to try it.

Stop by Cooking Light to learn how to make this.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (5)source: The Simple Parent

5. Sloppy Joe Macaroni & Cheese

Not only is this a delicious twist on the classic sloppy joe, it’s also a delicious twist on classic macaroni & cheese! My kids ask for macaroni & cheese often, and sometimes I’ll add cut up hot dogs. But this version looks way heartier, and I bet the combination of flavors is delicious! This does require several steps prior to baking in the oven, but can be completed in less than an hour. So one night when your hubby has to work late, make this for the kids and hope they save some for you!

The Simple Parent has the recipe.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (6)source: Dessert Now, Dinner Later

6. Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

I personally don’t like Philly cheese steak anything, but my husband loves it! And my little guy doesn’t seem to mind either, so I’m thinking maybe I should make this Philly cheese steak sloppy joe one night and see what they think. If you’re a Philly cheese steak fan, you’ll love the mozzarella and provolone, melted over the green pepper and peppercorn steak seasoning. You know, this is starting to sound pretty good!

Check out all the details and full recipe at Dessert Now, Dinner Later.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (7)source: 5 Boys Baker

7. Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

And here we have another twist on a classic sandwich. Crispy, cheesy and meaty, this will cover at least one serving of protein, grains and dairy! It’s not exactly healthy, but hey, variety is the spice of life, right? Sometimes you just need a greasy, rich tasting sandwich made with toasted, buttered bread. Your arteries might not thank you, but I bet your kids will!

You’ll find the full recipe over at 5 Boys Baker.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (8)

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Leena Kollar

Contributing Writer at Life As Mama

I'm a wife, mother and everything else associated with domestic life. I can often be found hiding from my kids to sneak treats (especially ice cream). I love rainbows and naps, and I find any excuse to go to Target. When I actually make it out of the house in real clothes, I document my outfits on my fashion blog, Leather & Lip Gloss. My love for fashion also inspired me to start my own comprehensive style website, The Style Spectrum.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (10)

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (12)

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7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (13)

Leena Kollar

I'm a wife, mother and everything else associated with domestic life. I can often be found hiding from my kids to sneak treats (especially ice cream). I love rainbows and naps, and I find any excuse to go to Target. When I actually make it out of the house in real clothes, I document my outfits on my fashion blog, Leather & Lip Gloss. My love for fashion also inspired me to start my own comprehensive style website, The Style Spectrum.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to sloppy joes to make it better? ›

Give your Sloppy Joe a unique spin by replacing hamburger buns with taco shells and adding a little cumin, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, and juicy tomatoes.

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? ›

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling.

How many pounds of ground beef for sloppy joes per person? ›

In general, we call for 1 pound of ground beef to make 6 sandwiches in our sloppy joes recipes. That works out to 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich. Depending on the size of your bun and how meaty you like your sandwich, you can increase or decrease that amount an ounce or two either way.

How do you doctor up sloppy joe mix? ›

In addition to sweetness, the diced Gala apple also contributes some textural variety to the recipe.
  1. Spice Your Sloppy Joe Up With Chile Flakes Or Canned Chiles. ...
  2. Sneak Extra Veggies Into Your Sloppy Joes. ...
  3. Throw In Some Liquid Smoke. ...
  4. Deglaze Your Sloppy Joes With Beer. ...
  5. Add Salsa To The Mix.
Feb 28, 2024

How do you make sloppy joe sauce taste better? ›

Enhancing canned Sloppy Joe sauce is as simple as stirring in a couple of tablespoons of your favorite salsa. Salsa seamlessly complements Sloppy Joe sauce for a couple of reasons. First, both are tomato-based sauces, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors.

Should you drain meat before adding sloppy joe sauce? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce; heat through.

What's the difference between a Sloppy Joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

How do you thicken up Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

What is a New Jersey style Sloppy Joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

How many people does 2 lbs of sloppy joes feed? ›

My mom always made sloppy joes with sauce from a can. Remember that stuff? If you use that, you have to try this easy homemade version that is so much tastier! This recipe uses 2 lbs of ground beef and serves about 8 people.

What toppings go on sloppy joes? ›

Garnish with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, shredded pepper-Jack cheese, chopped avocado, pickled or fresh jalapeño slices and chopped cilantro, if desired. Hawaiian Variation: Prepare recipe as directed above, substituting 1/2 cup sweet barbecue sauce for tomato sauce and omitting Worcestershire sauce.

What if I forgot the tomato paste in the sloppy joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

What will thicken sloppy joes? ›

If you follow this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, you should have the perfect consistency, but if it comes out too watery, try adding a small slurry of cornstarch with water.

What do people add to Manwich? ›

Tweaks
  1. I used red pepper instead of green. ...
  2. More garlic is better! ...
  3. I really wanted something for my slow cooker but couldn't find a manwich copycat specific to slow cooker recipes. ...
  4. Add chopped green, red bell pepper, hot sauce or cayenne and some white vinegar along with 1 tsp of msg....

What's the difference between Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

Unlike traditional can Sloppy Joes, which are often loaded with unhealthy additives and preservatives, Sloppy Janes are made with lean meat, low-fat ingredients, and a variety of fresh vegetables. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients.

What's the difference between Sloppy Joe and Manwich? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

Is mayo good on a Sloppy Joe? ›

Happy thoughts: You CAN apply mayonnaise in copious amounts to your sloppy Joe!

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