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Homemade Sloppy Joes are the perfect thing to make for easy dinners this summer. Make the best sloppy joe sauce, add beef, and voila! Learn how to make sloppy joes from scratch and enjoy these messy sandwiches any night of the week. Yum!
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4.80 from 25 votes

Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

Homemade Sloppy Joes are the perfect thing to make for easy dinners this summer. Make the best sloppy joe sauce, add beef, and voila! Learn how to make sloppy joes from scratch and enjoy these messy sandwiches any night of the week. Yum!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Becky Hardin

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons water divided
  • 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ½ yellow onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • tablespoon cider or red wine vinegar
  • teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch
  • 4 hamburger buns

Instructions

  • Add 1 tablespoon water and ground beef to a large skillet set over medium heat. Sprinkle the beef with ¼ teaspoon baking soda and stir well. Cook until the beef is no longer pink. Be sure to continuously break up the meat with a wooden spoon or a potato masher as it cooks. With a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a bowl and discard the rendered fat and meat juices. Set the beef aside.
  • Add oil to the skillet and cook until shimmering. Add butter and stir until melted. Add onion and ¼ teaspoon baking soda, stir to coat. Cook the onion, stirring often, about 4 minutes or until it is translucent and has softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
  • Stir in sugar, paprika, pepper flakes, dry mustard and salt. Cook, stirring continuously 1 minute.
  • Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly 3-4 minutes or until the paste color has darkened a bit.
  • Add the browned beef and stir to combine.
  • Add ketchup, vinegar and Worcestershire Sauce and stir well.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and remaining 1 tablespoon water. Add the cornstarch/water mixture to the Sloppy Joe mixture and stir well. Cook until sauce thickens, stirring continuously, about 1 minute.
  • If desired, season to taste with extra kosher salt, sugar and/or vinegar.
  • Serve on soft burger buns and…
  • Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 1327mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 970IU | Vitamin C: 6.4mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 4.6mg