Hands down this the BEST Sloppy Joes 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 This Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe Works
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!
For a dish that is this simple and easy to prepare, you need your flavors to be on point. Therefore, this easy Sloppy Joes 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 it ahead of time and freeze it for later. You can make them and keep them warm in a 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 Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe – 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)
Can I use my Slow Cooker for this Best Sloppy Joe Recipe?
This is also a great crock pot Sloppy Joes 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 slow cooker Sloppy Joes!
Recommendations for What to Serve with My Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
I usually serve my easy sloppy joe recipe 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 this recipe.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Sloppy Joe Recipe
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.
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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
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
- Want to scale a recipe up or down? Simply type in a new serving amount and the recipe will automatically adjust!
- When a recipe call for House Seasoning Blend, you can use this recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- I always use unsalted butter in my recipes.
- I always use a meat thermometor to test for doneness when cooking meat. This one is my favorite.
- When a recipe is made in the oven, it should be pre-heated to the temperature in the recipe, unless otherwise noted.
- The nutritional information provided in this recipe is an estimate. Learn more on how I calculate nutritional information for my recipes.
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! 🙂