Hands down this the Best Sloppy Joe recipe (aka wimpies)! This is my grandma’s recipe and my family has been making it for years. It’s been a staple at every party and is always a hit.
Why These Healthy Sloppy Joes Works
Whether you know this iconic sloppy joe mix from your school days, (the Adam Sandler Lunch lady song keeps playing in my head) or it was a staple in your home growing up, my mom always had the best sloppy joe recipe
For a dish that is this simple and easy to prepare, you need your flavors to be on point. Therefore, this sloppy joe casserole recipe has the best flavor and it is very quick to prepare on a busy weekday or great for parties and get-togethers because it can be made in large quantities to feed a crowd.
You can make sloppy joe mix ahead of time and freeze it for later. You can make them and keep them warm in slow cooker parties. And, you can even substitute ground turkey for the ground beef for a lighter version. This recipe is very flexible.
How to Make this Sloppy Joe Mix – Step by Step
For a fast meal that is nutritious and comes together quick, nothing is better than my Best Sloppy Joe recipe.
- Step One: First, in a large skillet, place your green bell peppers, onions and ground beef.(Photo 1 below)
- Step Two: Next, prepare your seasonings celery seed, dry mustard, sugar,and then salt and pepper to taste (Photo 2 below)
- Step Three: Then cook together over medium heat, breaking up the beef as you go. I love my ground beef chopper for this task. (Photo 3 below)
- Step One: Then drain the fat from the skillet. Next, after the ground meat has browned and the vegetables are tender add the seasonings and ketchup to the skillet. (Photo 1 below)
- Step Two: Then add the vinegar to the skillet. (Photo 2 below)
- Step Three: Finally, simmer for 15 minutes and serve on your favorite roll. (Photo 3 below)
Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
This is also a great crockpot Sloppy Joe’s recipe. Similarly, brown the beef, with the onions and peppers, and add it to your slow cooker with all of the other ingredients! Then set it and forget it. When dinner time rolls around, you’ll have delicious Crock Pot Sloppy Joes!
Recommendations for What to Serve with Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
I usually serve my Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes with my homemade Bread and Butter Pickles. It’s just one of those classic combinations — like peanut butter and jelly. I can’t have one without the other. I regularly like to make my homemade Baked Sweet Fries alongside these instant pot sloppy joes.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Sloppy Joe Recipe
Versatility in my recipes is the key to keeping my family interested. So try these handy tips for making the healthy sloppy joes:
- Spice it up: Try putting a little hot sauce and some jalapeno peppers into the simple for a spicy twist.
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and you can freeze half or serve to the team, church group, or family reunion.
- Sneak in other Vegetables: If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat their veggies, try sneaking in some finely chopped vegetables to your sloppy joes. They will never know!
- Serve Over Rice: If you are gluten-free, serve over rice, rice cauliflower, or even mashed potatoes to make a hearty meal.
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The Best Sloppy Joes Ever!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown beef with onions and peppers in a large skillet.
- Drain well and return to skillet.
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Serve on your favorite sandwich roll.
Video
Expert Tips
- Spice it up: Try putting a little hot sauce and some jalapeno peppers into the wimpie for a spicy twist.
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: This is a great recipe for a crowd. Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and you can freeze half or serve to the team, church group or family reunion.
- Sneak in other Vegetables: If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat their veggies, try sneaking in some finely chopped vegetables to your sloppy joes. They will never know!
- Serve Over Rice: If you are gluten free, serve over rice, rice cauliflower or even mashed potatoes to make a hearty meal.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
cindy leepier says
I made this for my grandkids they loved these sloppy joes
Christina Hitchcock says
I’m so glad they enjoyed them! 🙂
Jade says
My kids love sloppy joes. I usually use ground turkey but that’s just our preference!
Sandi says
This sloppy Joe’s recipe is perfect for busy school nights. Can’t wait to try!
Susanne says
I made these sloppy joes for dinner dinner last night and they were a hit with the whole family! Even my picky eater ate the whole sandwich!! We’ll be making these again soon!
Fiorenza says
I like the fact that I can also use other types of meat, I often have chicken in my fridge and this would certainly be a good idea.
I especially like serving it with rice or even bulghur wheat.
Jaclyn says
Yum! I think this will become a new family favorite!
Taryn says
We love sloppy joes! Thanks for the recipe.
Sandi says
Sloppy Joes are one of our very favorite dinners. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
WILLIAM SNIGAR says
I too was raised in the 50 ties Scranton, Pa. My mom worked the Wimpy Stand at Rocky Glenn on Polish Day
The difference between Sloppy Joes and Wimpies is this: Sloppy Joes are made with only ground beef. Wimpies are made with a mixture of ground beef and ground “SPAM”. Yes, you read it right…. SPAM! I have the original recipe, that was sold at Rocky Glenn. I have made this for very large groups, e.g. graduations, street fairs, etc. People always wonder about the unique taste, yet can’t identify it. I brought a portion of ‘Scranton’ to a little mountain town in CA (Coarsegold)
Bill Snigar
snigar@sti.net — Coarsegold, CA
Christina Hitchcock says
WOW! I never knew that! Thanks for sharing your story with me. It’s fascinating. I remember going to Rocky Glen when I was little. I just may give SPAM a try in the recipe! 🙂
Janet says
Just made these tonight for dinner and they are excellent! They are nice and mild. Not too much of a red sauce or bite to them. Thanks for publishing!
Christina Hitchcock says
I’m so glad you liked them!! They are a family favorite for sure!
Thom Welby says
Love it! Looking forward to enjoying them during the game today!
Christina Hitchcock says
I hope you liked them! 🙂