This easy old-fashioned sloppy joe recipe is a classic family favorite made with ground beef and simple pantry ingredients. The sweet and tangy sandwich filling comes together in under 30 minutes.
Homemade sloppy joes are perfect for busy weeknights or a quick lunch. Serve it on hamburger buns with your favorite sides for a satisfying meal everyone will enjoy.
Why You'll Love This Amish Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Made with simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.
- A super quick dinner option when you need something hearty and filling.
- The sweet and tangy flavor is loved by both kids and adults.
- A budget-friendly way to serve a hearty meal to your family.
- Perfect for busy weeknights, a quick lunch, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
A few simple ingredients come together to create the classic sweet and tangy flavor of these old-fashioned sloppy joes.
- Ground beef: The base of this homemade sloppy joe mixture. (I often use 80/20 ground chuck, but feel free to use whatever you normally purchase.)
- Onion: Adds flavor and a little sweetness as it cooks. (I prefer red onions.)
- Ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard: Create the sweet and tangy sauce that gives these sloppy joes their old-fashioned flavor.
- Vinegar: Adds a little tang and helps balance the sweetness. (I use white vinegar. However, apple cider vinegar can also be used if that's what you have on hand.)
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds depth and savory flavor.
- Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder: Simple seasonings that bring all the flavors together.
How to Make Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes
Making these homemade sloppy joes is quick and simple. The flavorful sauce comes together right in the same pan as the ground beef, making this an easy one-skillet dinner.
- Brown the ground beef. Cook and crumble the ground beef in a large saucepan or skillet until browned. I like to use a meat chopper to break the beef into small, even pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the pan before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Add the onion and sauce ingredients. Stir in the finely chopped onion, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and seasonings. Mix well until everything is combined.
- Simmer the sloppy joe mixture. Let the mixture simmer on low for a few minutes so the flavors can blend together.
- Serve on buns. Spoon the warm sloppy joe filling onto hamburger buns (I love to have my buns lightly toasted), and serve with your favorite sides.
Tips for the Best Sloppy Joes
- Use 80/20 ground chuck for the best flavor.
- Toast buns to prevent sogginess.
- Let the mixture simmer so flavors blend.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
Sloppy joe sandwiches are a simple meal that pair well with many classic side dishes. Here are a few of our favorite options:
- Potato chips: A quick and easy side that goes perfectly with a sloppy joe sandwich.
- Coleslaw: The fresh crunch of coleslaw balances the sweet and tangy sloppy joe filling.
- Potato salad: A classic side dish for family meals, picnics, and potlucks.
- Baked beans: A hearty side that makes this a filling meal.
- French fries or tater tots: A family favorite that kids especially enjoy.
- Pickles: The tangy crunch pairs well with the sweet flavor of sloppy joes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Sloppy joes are a great make-ahead meal. The flavor often gets even better after sitting because the sauce has more time to blend with the ground beef. Store the beef mixture in the refrigerator and reheat it before serving.
Yes, the sloppy joe mixture freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat when you're ready to serve.
To help prevent soggy buns, lightly toast the hamburger buns before adding the sloppy joe filling. (I love to spread a bit of softened butter on the inside of the buns and sprinkle them with a touch of garlic powder before toasting them in the oven for 5-10 minutes.)
Also, wait to assemble the sandwiches until you're ready to eat.
A Simple Meal From My Amish Kitchen
Having grown up in an Amish home, we butchered our own cows and turned much of that meat into ground beef. Our freezer (yes, we had freezers in the basement) was usually full of burger. So recipes like these sloppy joes with homemade sauce were a simple way to turn that ground beef into a filling meal our whole family enjoyed.
More Amish Recipes Using Ground Beef
- Stuffed Peppers with Ground Beef and Rice
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Macaroni and Tomato (Amish-style Goulash)
- Baked Potato Bar
- Little Cheddar Meatloaves
- Hamburger Stuffing
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Looking for more ideas? Check out my collection of 20 Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes
I love recipes like this because they are simple, filling, and made with ingredients you usually have on hand. Whether you're feeding a family on a busy weeknight or looking for an easy meal everyone enjoys, this old-fashioned sloppy joe recipe is one that's worth keeping.
If you try this Amish recipe, I'd love it if you left a comment and star rating below! Thank you!
📖 Recipe Card
Easy Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joe Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 - 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
8 Hamburger Buns for serving
Instructions
- Cook and crumble the ground beef in a large saucepan or skillet until browned. Drain any excess grease before adding the remaining ingredients.2 pounds ground beef
- Add the chopped onion, and remaining ingredients and mix well.1 small onion, finely chopped, ½ cup ketchup, 2 - 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Cover and simmer on low for several minutes. Then let it rest while you toast hamburger buns to serve it on.
- Serve on toasted hamburger buns with cheese slices, pickle slices, or your favorite toppings. (Wait to assemble the sandwiches until you are ready to eat - I let everyone fix their own sandwich.)
- Refrigerate and reheat leftovers.
Notes
- I like to use 80/20 ground chuck, but you can use whatever ground beef you normally purchase.
- Adjust the sweetness to your preference. If you like a less sweet sloppy joe, start with less brown sugar and add more if needed.
- For extra flavor, I lightly butter my hamburger buns, sprinkle them with a little garlic powder, and toast them in the oven before serving.
- The sloppy joe mixture can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
- Leftover sloppy joe meat freezes well for an easy meal later.
Anna
Dinner doesn't get much easier than this, and we all love this for sandwiches!
Arvis Copley
My wife has been making this recipe for years and we really love it. She tried a few different recipes but always ends up back to this recipe. Nothing else gets close to the same flavor as this one.
Anna
Awesome! Thank you!