Ina Garten Sloppy Joes

Ina Garten’s Sloppy Joes is the best sloppy joes recipe that you will try, even better than Manwich or any canned sloppy joes that you’ve tried. This recipe is made with ground beef, onions, ketchup, tomato sauce, and more delicious ingredients. These sloppy joes can go with sandwiches, with rice or pasta, or even as a pizza topping. This easy sloppy joes recipe takes 25 minutes to finish cooking and can serve 6 persons.

Sloppy Joes Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1/3 of green bell pepper, minced
• 1/2 of a large yellow onion, minced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 2/3 cup of ketchup
• 1/3 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of yellow mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• A dash of hot sauce

How To Make Homemade Sloppy Joe

1. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart into crumbles as it cooks.
2. Transfer the browned beef to a colander to drain. In the same skillet, cook the onion and bell pepper until soft. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
3. Return the beef to the skillet and add the tomato paste. Stir well to combine.
4. Add the ketchup, water, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
5. Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture has thickened to your liking. Serve over toasted buns.

How To Make Sloppy Joes In A Crockpot

1. Brown the beef in a skillet, then transfer it to your crockpot.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients to the crockpot (except the buns). Stir well to combine.
3. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours. Note that the texture will be softer than skillet-made sloppy joes.
4. Once cooked, serve the sloppy joe mixture over toasted buns.

How To Make Sloppy Joe Better 

To make your sloppy joe sauce even better, consider adding a few things. A bit of apple cider vinegar can give it a tangy kick. A sprinkle of smoked paprika can add a smoky flavor. And a little molasses can sweeten it up. But remember, always add a little at a time and taste as you go!

How To Spice Up Sloppy Joes 

To make sloppy joes sauce more spicy add a chopped jalapeno or serrano pepper when you’re cooking the onions and bell peppers. Or, for a smoky heat, try adding a bit of chipotle powder. You can also add 1/4 Cup Of Chili Sauce and let it cook for about 2 hours in the crockpot.

How To Thicken Sloppy Joes 

If your sloppy joe mixture is too thin, you can use flour or cornstarch to thicken it. Here’s how:

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of flour or cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. Make sure it’s well mixed and there are no lumps.
2. Stir the slurry into your sloppy joe mixture.
3. Let the mixture simmer for a few more minutes. As it cooks, the flour or cornstarch will thicken the sauce.

How To Thicken Sloppy Joes Without Cornstarch Or Flour 

To make sloppy joes sauce thicker without cornstarch or flour just let it simmer on the stove for a bit longer. As it cooks, the sauce will reduce and get thicker. Just keep an eye on it and stir it from time to time to make sure it doesn’t stick.

Sloppy Joes Variations And Substitutions

1. Use Beef Broth Instead of Water: Using beef broth instead of water adds more depth of flavor to the sauce. You can use the same amount of beef broth as the water called for in the recipe.
2. Omit the Green Pepper: If you’re not a fan of green pepper, feel free to leave it out. The recipe will still be delicious.
3. Keto-Friendly Substitutes: Use a keto-friendly brown sugar substitute and sugar-free ketchup. This will reduce the carb content of the recipe.
4. Use Different Types of Mustard: If you don’t have yellow mustard, you can use a different type like Grey Poupon.
5. Use Ground Chicken: For a lighter version of sloppy joes, you can use ground chicken instead of beef. Just keep in mind that chicken has less fat than beef, so you might need to add a bit of oil to prevent it from sticking to the pan.

What To Do With Sloppy Joe Sauce

1. Sloppy Joe Tacos or Burritos: Use Sloppy Joe Sauce as a filling for tacos or burritos. Add some cheese, lettuce, and your favorite salsa.
2. Sloppy Joe Pizza: Spread Sloppy Joe Sauce over a pizza crust, top with cheese, and bake until golden and bubbly.
3. Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese: Make a grilled cheese sandwich, but add a scoop of sloppy Joe sauce in the middle for a fun twist.
4. Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers: Hollow out a bell pepper, fill it with Sloppy Joe Sauce, top with cheese, and bake until the pepper is tender and the cheese is melted.

What Sides Goes Well With Sloppy Joes 

1. French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries: These are classic pairings. You can even use the sloppy joe sauce as a dip!
2. Coleslaw: The cool, creamy crunch of coleslaw balances the hearty sloppy joe.
3. Baked Beans: Another classic pairing, baked beans complement the flavors in the sloppy joe sauce.

What Vegetable Goes With Sloppy Joes 

The best vegetables that go well with sloppy joes are green beans, roasted broccoli, carrots, sautéed spinach, or baked asparagus. You can also pair sloppy joe sauce with roasted sweet potatoes.

What Dessert To Serve With Sloppy Joes 

The best desserts that can be served with sloppy joes are apple pie or apple crisp, chocolate cookies, fruit salad, or simply a cup of vanilla ice cream.

What To Serve With Sloppy Joes At A Party 

At a party, serve sloppy joes with a big bowl of potato chips, a tray of cut-up veggies with dip, or a large salad. Mini corn muffins or garlic breadsticks could also be a good pairing.

How To Serve Sloppy Joes Without Bread 

If you’re avoiding bread, you can serve sloppy joes over a baked potato or sweet potato. You could also serve it over a bed of rice or quinoa, or inside lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.

How Long Is Sloppy Joe Good For In The Fridge 

Sloppy joe sauce can last in the fridge for up to 4 days. To store sloppy joe sauce correctly, let it cool after cooking, then pour the sauce into a well-sealed glass container, and place it in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Sloppy Joes 

Sloppy joe sauce freezes well and can last in the freezer for 3 months. To freeze sloppy joe sauce correctly, simply let it cool after cooking. Then, divide it into medium-sized servings and pour each serving into a freezer bag, leaving some space for expansion. Write the freezing date on the bag and place it in the freezer.

To thaw frozen sloppy joe sauce, transfer it to the fridge and let it thaw overnight. It should be completely defrosted by the next morning.

How Much Sloppy Joe Per Person

For each person, plan on about 1/2 cup of sloppy joe mix, or roughly 1/4 pound of ground beef. This fits nicely on a standard bun and accounts for the beef reduction when cooked.

How Much Sloppy Joes For A Crowd

Using the rule of 1/2 cup of sloppy joe mixture per person, here’s how much you’d need for larger groups:

• For 30 people: You’d need about 15 cups of sloppy joe mixture. This equates to roughly 7.5 pounds of ground beef.
• For 50 people: Aim for 25 cups of sloppy joe mixture. This would require approximately 12.5 pounds of ground beef.
• For 100 people: You’d need about 50 cups of sloppy joe mixture, which means you’d need around 25 pounds of ground beef.

Sloppy Joes Calories And Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 288
• Total Fat: 11g
• Cholesterol: 46mg
• Sodium: 696mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 23g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Sugars: 11g
• Protein: 18g

Sloppy Joes FAQs

Can I Use Sloppy Joe Mix To Make Chili 

Absolutely! You can use your sloppy joe mix as a base for chili. Just add a can of beans and an extra teaspoon of chili powder for more heat. This will give you a quick and easy chili with the sweet and tangy flavors of a sloppy joe.

Can I Make Sloppy Joes Without Tomato Paste 

Sure! Instead of using tomato paste, use an extra 1/3 cup of ketchup instead. It’ll still taste great. The ketchup will provide the tangy tomato flavor that the tomato paste usually adds.

Can I Use Sloppy Joe Sauce For Spaghetti 

Sloppy joe sauce pairs well with spaghetti. You will need about 2 cups of sloppy joe sauce for every pound of pasta.

Can You Make Sloppy Joes With Bbq Sauce 

Definitely! Substitute the ketchup with the same amount of BBQ sauce for a tangy twist. The BBQ sauce will give your sloppy joes a smoky flavor that’s different but still delicious.

Can You Make Sloppy Joes With Ground Pork 

Yes, ground pork works well. Use it in the same amount as the ground beef in the recipe.

Can You Put Cheese On A Sloppy Joe 

Yes, you can add a 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce in the last minute of cooking until melted. This will give you a creamy and cheesy sloppy joe sauce. You can also add a slice of cheese when making sloppy joe sandwiches.

Try More Recipes:

• Chicken Alfredo
• Alfredo Sauce
• Osso Buco Recipe
• Stuffed Pepper Casserole