Classic and comforting sloppy joes are always a quick, easy and delicious dinner. This sloppy joes recipe made with ketchup and mustard is my favourite!
When it comes to quick and comforting meals, it’s hard to beat sloppy joes! I’ve tried a number of different recipes over the years, but this is the one I always return to. Made with ketchup and mustard, this is a great panty dinner.
Ingredients and substitutions
A few notes about the key ingredients …
Ground beef – You can use any type of ground beef, from medium to extra lean. The extra fat will be spooned off and discarded after browning. That said, my preference is always for medium (80/20) ground beef for sloppy joes if possible.
Ketchup – Use your favourite ketchup for these sloppy joes.
Mustard – Regular yellow prepared mustard is all you need.
How to make sloppy joes: step-by-step
This is a visual summary of the steps to make this recipe. Scroll down to the Recipe Card below for the complete list of ingredients and instructions.
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a measuring cup and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet.
- Tip the skillet slightly so the fat flows to one side, then spoon off and discard.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet with the ground beef.
- Cook the onion and ground beef together until the onion is softened.
- Add the prepared sauce mixture to the skillet and stir together. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to low to simmer for 25-30 minutes.
- Remove the lid from the skillet.
- The finished mixture should be thick and saucy.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto toasted buns and enjoy!
Recipe tips!
- I love to add sweet pickles to sloppy joes, just for a bit of crunch and an extra flavour.
- I always feel like coleslaw is the perfect side for sloppy joes. Try my Dill Pickle Coleslaw recipe or Classic Creamy Coleslaw dressing. Potato salad is also nice. My classic creamy potato salad recipe would be perfect, too.
Making ahead, storing and freezing
The ground beef mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat in a skillet, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce if needed.
The cooked ground beef mixture for the sloppy joes can be frozen for up to 3 months.
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Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
For the sloppy joe sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon yellow prepared mustard
- 1 Tablespoon light or dark brown sugar, optional *see Note 2 below
- 1 lb ground beef, *see Note 1 below
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
For the sloppy joes:
- 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
- sweet pickle rounds, optional
Instructions
- In a 2-cup measuring cup or bowl, combine 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup water1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tablespoon yellow prepared mustard 1 Tablespoon light or dark brown sugar (optional *see Note 2 below). Stir together well and set aside.
- Add the 1 lb ground beef (*see Note 1 below) to a lidded skillet and place over medium heat on the stovetop. Cook the ground beef, stirring occasionally, until all the pink is gone. Tip the skillet slightly and use a spoon to move the ground beef to the higher end. All the fat should run to the lower end. Use a spoon to spoon off and discard the excess fat, leaving just a Tablespoon or two in the pan.
- Add the 1/2 cup onion (diced) to the ground beef and cook it together with the ground beef until the onion is softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the sauce to the skillet and stir in to combine. Reduce the heat under the skillet to LOW and place the lid on the skillet.
- Allow the mixture to simmer covered, for 25-30 minutes. Remove the lid. The mixture should be thickened and just a little saucy. If it is too thick, add a splash of water to loosen up the sauce. If it is too thin, allow to simmer uncovered for a minute or two.
- Spoon onto toasted buns and add some sweet pickle rounds on top of the meat, if you like.
Notes
More ground beef recipes to love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress-free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
I made these for supper tonight. I received the recipe in my email this morning. The perfect Sloppy Joe. Thank-you, Jennifer! :)
So glad you enjoyed it, Susan :) Thanks so much!
Wow, just in time to hit my in box. This is very easy it seems for me to make for super game day snacks I’ll use slider buns. Thanks.
Thanks Pat :) Enjoy!