Be sure to try my Creamy Beef and Shells and Baked Chili Cheese Dogs next!
Homemade Sloppy Joes
When it comes to beef recipes, this one just jumped right to the top of my favorites list. I did some serious recipe testing to ensure that no ingredient overpowered another here. (And that each ingredient was necessary. Trust me, everything is in perfect harmony.)
Manwich vs. Sloppy Joes
Manwich sauce comes in a can and contains a combination of tomato paste, water, a few varieties of sugar, distilled vinegar, salt, dried bell peppers, dried garlic, chili pepper, spices, and a few other ingredients. My Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe was carefully created to ensure the perfect balance of flavors: Tomato sauce, a little ketchup, and some apple cider vinegar for just the right balance of tomato flavor and acidity. Yellow mustard adds depth of flavor, brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness, and Worcestershire sauce adds umami to balance it all out.
How to Make it
See recipe card at bottom of post for ingredient quantities and full instructions Brown the top and bottom of the ground beef prior over high heat before breaking it up and cooking the middle. The texture will be similar to that of a hamburger and it’s very good in Sloppy Joes.
Cook and crumble the beef and add the onions until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste.
Add the remaining ingredients and heat until thickened. Don’t let the sauce reduce too much, especially if you’re going to reheat leftovers. Serve with toasted hamburger buns.
Crock Pot Method
Prepare the ground beef, onions, and garlic on the stove top as instructed. Drain any excess grease as needed. Add the meat to the Crock Pot and stir in remaining ingredients. (Minus the buns.) Cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally if possible. Serve on toasted hamburger buns.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Optional: Add a little more tomato sauce and water or beef broth if you would like it saucier once reheated.
Pro Tips
Optional Additions include celery, bell peppers, and ground turkey or chicken instead of beef. Add a slice of cheese on top of the meat before serving if desired. Leftovers taste great over Homemade French Fries with Nacho Cheese Sauce. Or transform it into chili and make Baked Chili Cheese Dogs! This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 78!
What To Serve with Sloppy Joes
