7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (2024)

If there is one dish that defines my idea of cooking, it would probably be sloppy joes. It doesn’t get much easier than mixing up ground beef with a bunch of ingredients and slapping a spoonful onto a sandwich bun. But if that sounds boring to you, things are about to get interesting. Because there are several clever ways to make sloppy joes that are anything but ordinary, and I’m sharing them here. These recipes take sloppy joes to a new level of yummy. These concoctions are loaded with flavorful ingredients that will excite your taste buds and your children’s appetites!

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (1)source: Yellow Bliss Road

1. Sloppy Joe French Bread Pizza

We eat pizza so much in my house, I’m half surprised that none of us have turned into a slice of pizza. On busy nights when there isn’t time to cook, my husband and I tend to default to the frozen pizzas in our freezer. But I would much rather serve my kids something like this pizza. It’s not necessarily healthier, but it’s way more interesting and probably tastes great! With just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps, you can whip this up in about 20 minutes.

Get the full recipe and cooking instructions from Yellow Bliss Road.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (2)source: Simply Quinoa

2. Slow Cooker Lentil Sloppy Joes

Before I met my Hungarian husband, I don’t think I even knew what lentils were. But now, we eat them on occasion when he makes dinner (he’s a great cook!). What’s great about lentils is that they are good for you, and they don’t taste too bold, so even kids like them! And this recipe uses a slow cooker, so I’m definitely willing to try it! I bet with ingredients like paprika, cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard and chili powder, this sloppy joe version probably has a kick to it.

Learn how to make this and other healthy recipes at Simply Quinoa.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (3)source: The Cooking Jar

3. Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

If you’ve got a night where you can spend a bit of time on dinner, I have a feeling the whole family would love this sloppy joe version of a casserole! I mean, tater tots? Who doesn’t like tater tots? And with cream cheese and corn, you know it’s gotta have a creamy texture that melts with the crispy tots to create a culinary masterpiece. This is definitely not your typical sloppy joe, and I’m betting once you make this, your kids will beg you to make it again.

Head over to The Cooking Jar for the full ingredients list and cooking instructions.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (4)source: Cooking Light

4. Turkey & Swiss Sloppy Joes

This sloppy joe recipe is so unique, it doesn’t even use beef! But we’re still calling it a sloppy joe, because, well, it’s sloppy and delicious! And with the main ingredient being turkey, this is a healthier way to enjoy a sloppy joe sandwich. With Swiss cheese, kale, and a few seasonings, it’s a gamble whether or not kids will give this a taste. Anything green pretty much gets vetoed in my house, but perhaps the melted Swiss cheese will be enough to convince my kids to try it.

Stop by Cooking Light to learn how to make this.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (5)source: The Simple Parent

5. Sloppy Joe Macaroni & Cheese

Not only is this a delicious twist on the classic sloppy joe, it’s also a delicious twist on classic macaroni & cheese! My kids ask for macaroni & cheese often, and sometimes I’ll add cut up hot dogs. But this version looks way heartier, and I bet the combination of flavors is delicious! This does require several steps prior to baking in the oven, but can be completed in less than an hour. So one night when your hubby has to work late, make this for the kids and hope they save some for you!

The Simple Parent has the recipe.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (6)source: Dessert Now, Dinner Later

6. Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

I personally don’t like Philly cheese steak anything, but my husband loves it! And my little guy doesn’t seem to mind either, so I’m thinking maybe I should make this Philly cheese steak sloppy joe one night and see what they think. If you’re a Philly cheese steak fan, you’ll love the mozzarella and provolone, melted over the green pepper and peppercorn steak seasoning. You know, this is starting to sound pretty good!

Check out all the details and full recipe at Dessert Now, Dinner Later.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (7)source: 5 Boys Baker

7. Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

And here we have another twist on a classic sandwich. Crispy, cheesy and meaty, this will cover at least one serving of protein, grains and dairy! It’s not exactly healthy, but hey, variety is the spice of life, right? Sometimes you just need a greasy, rich tasting sandwich made with toasted, buttered bread. Your arteries might not thank you, but I bet your kids will!

You’ll find the full recipe over at 5 Boys Baker.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (8)

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Leena Kollar

Contributing Writer at Life As Mama

I'm a wife, mother and everything else associated with domestic life. I can often be found hiding from my kids to sneak treats (especially ice cream). I love rainbows and naps, and I find any excuse to go to Target. When I actually make it out of the house in real clothes, I document my outfits on my fashion blog, Leather & Lip Gloss. My love for fashion also inspired me to start my own comprehensive style website, The Style Spectrum.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (10)

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (12)

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7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (13)

Leena Kollar

I'm a wife, mother and everything else associated with domestic life. I can often be found hiding from my kids to sneak treats (especially ice cream). I love rainbows and naps, and I find any excuse to go to Target. When I actually make it out of the house in real clothes, I document my outfits on my fashion blog, Leather & Lip Gloss. My love for fashion also inspired me to start my own comprehensive style website, The Style Spectrum.

7 Delicious Sloppy Joe Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I put in my sloppy joe mix to make it taste better? ›

Well, it's as easy as incorporating a splash of apple cider vinegar to upgrade the savory Sloppy Joe flavors. By adding apple cider vinegar, you introduce a tangy acidity to sugary Sloppy Joe sauce, effectively balancing its sweetness and enhancing its overall flavor profile.

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? ›

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling.

How do you doctor up sloppy joe mix? ›

5 Easy Ways to Doctor up Manwich Sloppy Joes to Improve Taste
  1. Produce.
  2. • 1/4 tsp Garlic powder.
  3. • 1/2 Green bell pepper.
  4. • 1 Large or 2 small jalapeno peppers.
  5. • 1 Onion, medium white or yellow.
  6. • 1 Pickled jalapenos.

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

The stuffed pepper sloppy joe is another combo that mixes the sandwich with another popular dish, swapping buns for bell peppers. If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef.

Should you drain meat before adding sloppy joe sauce? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

How do you thicken up sloppy joe sauce? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

What is a New Jersey style Sloppy Joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

Can you use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

Making sloppy joe sauce, like Manwich, from scratch involves a blend of tomato sauce, ketchup, onion, green pepper, and spices.

What if I forgot the tomato paste in the sloppy joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce; heat through.

What will thicken sloppy joes? ›

How to Thicken Sloppy Joes. If you follow this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, you should have the perfect consistency, but if it comes out too watery, try adding a small slurry of cornstarch with water. That should thicken it right up!

What is a fancy name for a Sloppy Joe? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

What is a nickname for a Sloppy Joe? ›

Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.

What do Canadians call Sloppy Joes? ›

Several variations of the sloppy joe exist in North America. In Quebec, Canada, sandwiches of stewed ground beef such as pain à la viande and pain fourré gumbo are usually served on hot dog buns.

What do people add to Manwich? ›

Tweaks
  1. I used red pepper instead of green. ...
  2. More garlic is better! ...
  3. I really wanted something for my slow cooker but couldn't find a manwich copycat specific to slow cooker recipes. ...
  4. Add chopped green, red bell pepper, hot sauce or cayenne and some white vinegar along with 1 tsp of msg....

What goes good on sloppy joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

What is sloppy joe supposed to taste like? ›

Once you've gathered the ingredients, it's basically like making Bolognese. And the flavour is somewhat reminiscent of it too, except Sloppy Joes taste a bit more like BBQ Sauce. The one big difference is that the sauce is cooked right down so it's really thick and not saucy at all.

Does sloppy joe seasoning mix go bad? ›

Unopened McCormick Culinary® Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix packages are shelf stable and can be held for use for up to 720 days.

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