Homemade Sloppy Joe

Most of us remember that soggy sloppy joe the lunch lady would throw on our tray during elementary school and thought it was the best thing ever. Well, we are here to tell you that as an adult; you deserve better! Homemade Sloppy Joe’s are super simple, easy, and full of flavor. 

It’s the perfect dinner or lunch recipe to serve to the fam, share at a party, or keep you warm on a cold winter day. 

This recipe doesn’t come from a can; no way! This homemade recipe is just that. A combination of fresh ingredients for peak freshness and a juicy mixture that isn’t too runny or too dry. The sauce is made of tangy Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard. These flavors are similar to the marinades top BBQ masters use for their smoked meats. 

Homemade Sloppy Joe’s can be served with the traditional buttery bun, or you can really level up this recipe and use hearty garlic texas toast. If you have never tried it with texas toast, you are truly in for a treat!

The onions are cooked down to release a delicious aroma of sweet flavors and softened to soak up all the other ingredients. The yellow mustard and Worcestershire sauce add a southern tang that is balanced by the brown sugar to add a dimension of creaminess to your sauce. 

What is the best way to serve these sandwiches?

We recommend keeping the sloppy joe filling separate from your bun or toast until you are ready to eat. If you serve them together the bread will become soggy quite quickly and will just fall apart in a meat mess on the hands. You can easily toast your buns for leftovers in the oven while reheating your meat in a skillet or microwave for faster cook time. 

Here is everything you need to make Homemade Sloppy Joe’s!

1 lb. Lean ground beef

½ C. Onion chopped

¼ C. Green bell pepper chopped

1 C. Ketchup

½ C. Water

1 Tbsp. Brown sugar

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. Yellow mustard

½ tsp. Garlic powder

6 Slices Texas toast bread (or a buttery toasted bun)

12 Slices White American cheese (you can use a spicer cheese if you want more heat)

Let’s get into making your Sloppy Joes!

Heat the broiler on high.

Place the ground beef, onion, and peppers in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute until the meat is browned and the vegetables have softened. Drain any excess fat.

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Reduce the heat on the stove to low, and add the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, and garlic powder. Stir to combine, and saute for 5-10 minutes until the sauce thickens.

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Place the Texas toast on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler until golden brown.

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Top each piece of toast with a slice of American cheese and place the baking sheet under the broiler for 30 seconds.

Add an equal portion of the meat mixture to the top of each piece of toast and then add another slice of American cheese.

Place the baking sheet under the broiler again until the cheese has melted.

What would you serve alongside your sloppy joe’s?