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Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

Published: April 9, 2019 Last Updated: March 20, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links.  For more information, read my disclosure policy here.   

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4.19 from 38 votes
Hands down this the BEST Sloppy Joes recipe (aka wimpies)!  Whether you know this iconic recipe 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's homemade recipe are the best! 
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
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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.

sloppy joes recipe on a wooden plank with a checkered napkin

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 by step instructions for making homemade sloppy joes recipe

  • 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)

Step by step instructions for making homemade sloppy joes recipes

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!

sloppy joes on a wooden board with a checkered napkin

 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.easy 30 minute sloppy joes in a hand

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.

Shop This Recipe

  • My favorite Meat Chopper
  • Large Skillet
  • Slow Cooker

More Recipes You Might Like

  • Bread and Butter Pickles
  • Sweet Potato Fries
  • Sloppy Joe Puffs

Looking for more? Check out all of the Quick and Easy Meals on It Is a Keeper.

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⭐ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ⭐

The Best Sloppy Joes Ever!

4.2 from 38 votes
Hands down this the BEST Sloppy Joes recipe (aka wimpies)!  Whether you know this iconic recipe 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's homemade recipe are the best! 
Print Pin Rate
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Servings: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

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
US Customary - Metric

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

Versatility in my recipes are the key to keeping my family interested. So try these handy 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

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 324mg | Potassium: 360mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 18.6mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1.9mg

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/

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Comments

  1. cindy leepier says

    July 6, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    I made this for my grandkids they loved these sloppy joes

    Reply
    • Christina Hitchcock says

      July 10, 2020 at 12:28 pm

      I’m so glad they enjoyed them! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jade says

    May 6, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    My kids love sloppy joes. I usually use ground turkey but that’s just our preference!

    Reply
  3. Sandi says

    May 6, 2019 at 12:40 pm

    This sloppy Joe’s recipe is perfect for busy school nights. Can’t wait to try!

    Reply
  4. Susanne says

    May 6, 2019 at 11:38 am

    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!

    Reply
  5. Fiorenza says

    May 4, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    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.

    Reply
  6. Jaclyn says

    May 3, 2019 at 8:39 pm

    Yum! I think this will become a new family favorite!

    Reply
  7. Taryn says

    May 3, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    We love sloppy joes! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  8. Sandi says

    May 3, 2019 at 6:27 pm

    Sloppy Joes are one of our very favorite dinners. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

    Reply
  9. WILLIAM SNIGAR says

    June 30, 2018 at 7:12 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Christina Hitchcock says

      July 13, 2018 at 11:43 am

      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! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Janet says

    January 22, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Christina Hitchcock says

      January 23, 2018 at 3:00 pm

      I’m so glad you liked them!! They are a family favorite for sure!

      Reply
  11. Thom Welby says

    January 21, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    Love it! Looking forward to enjoying them during the game today!

    Reply
    • Christina Hitchcock says

      January 23, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      I hope you liked them! 🙂

      Reply
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