Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes (Stove Top & Crock Pot)
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Our Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes recipe features a zesty homemade sauce and can be made on the stove top or in your crockpot. It’s on the table in 30 minutes if you use the stove, making for an easy dinner.
This family favorite recipe features a tangy sauce that perfectly complements the ground beef. It starts with a tomato base and contains simple ingredients you probably have on hand.
Before we get too far in, I have to know…how do you refer to these tasty sandwiches – as sloppy joes or Manwiches? I’m a sloppy joe girl, but I know lots of people call them something different.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
As I mentioned, these homemade sloppy joes can be ready in about 30 minutes when using the stove top method. However if you like to ease the dinner time rush, you’ll want to prepare this classic dish in the crockpot.
And it’s a great dish when you need to feed a crowd because you can easily double or triple the recipe. Which makes it a great choice for parties and game day gatherings.
If you love classic sandwiches, be sure to try our easy ham salad recipe or open faced tuna melts. And our crockpot pulled BBQ chicken and hamburger hash brown casserole are two more great dishes for family dinners or feeding a crowd.
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Ingredients
- Lean ground beef – I prefer to use 93-97% lean if I’m using the slow cooker, to keep the dish from being too greasy.
- Dry mustard – if you don’t have this you can substitute Dijon mustard for a similar flavor.
- Green bell pepper – this veggie is optional, but it does add additional flavor. Chop it small or omit it if your kiddos are haters.
- Other ingredients: celery, onions, brown sugar, ketchup, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and tomato sauce.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe Instructions
How to Make Sloppy Joes on the Stovetop
Start by cooking the ground beef in a large skillet with the chopped vegetables, until the beef is cooked through.
Add the other ingredients and then cook over medium low heat for about 20 minutes or until the mixture is heated through and the sauce has thickened. Keep warm until ready to serve.
How To Make Classic Sloppy Joes in the Crock Pot
Add the ground beef, celery, onions and green peppers to a large skillet and cook through. Remove any excess grease then transfer the meat mixture to the slow cooker.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir to mix everything together. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through. Use the keep warm feature if you’re not quite ready to serve.
I use a meat chopper to break up the meat – we like our sloppy joes with smaller pieces of meat rather than big chunks.
Tips for Making Sloppy Joes
- Chop the veggies in a fine dice, so they are in proportion to the crumbled meat.
- Substitute ground turkey for a healthier option.
- Use a disposable crock pot liner for easy cleanup.
How to Serve Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
Serve up these hearty sandwiches on toasted hamburger buns. We eat them “straight up” but you can add a slice of cheese, dill pickle chips or a squirt of yellow mustard if that’s how you roll. Round out the meal with a bowl of country style potato salad, favorite pasta salad or potato chips.
How to Store Leftover BBQ Loose Meat Sandwiches
After the meat has cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove top or microwave before serving.
Can I make sloppy joes ahead of time?
Yes! You can make this dish a day ahead. Or you can prepare the ground beef and vegetable mixture the day before, then add the sauce ingredients when you’re ready to cook – this works great for meal prepping on the weekend.
Can you freeze sloppy joes?
This easy recipe freezes really well. After the cooked meat mixture has cooled, transfer it to a resealable freezer bag or container, where it will keep in the freezer for about 2 months. Don’t forget to label the contents, including the date.
Once you make sloppy joes from scratch, it’s hard to go back to the canned stuff. So go ahead, make a double batch and freeze some for a future meal.
More Sloppy Joe Recipes…
This recipe was originally published on 3/11/21 and updated on 1/19/26.
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Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup yellow or white onion, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup green pepper, finely chopped, optional
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup barbeque sauce
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
Stovetop Directions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with celery, onions and green pepper until beef is no longer pink and vegetables are soft and translucent. Drain off grease if necessary.1 pound lean ground beef, 2 celery stalks, ⅓ cup yellow or white onion, ⅓ cup green pepper
- Add the ingredients for the sauce and stir to combine.¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup barbeque sauce, 8 ounces tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, salt and black pepper
- Cook over medium low heat for 15-30 minutes or until heated through and the sauce has thickened.
Crock Pot Directions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and chopped vegetables until beef is cooked through and the vegetables have softened. Drain off grease if needed.
- Add cooked meat and the sauce ingredients to slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through.
Notes
- Serve immediately on burger buns or keep warm in the crockpot until you’re ready to serve.
- This recipe makes 4 hearty sandwiches or 6-8 smaller sandwiches. If you’re serving as appetizers or feeding younger kids, serve on slider buns and reduce the amount of meat filling per sandwich.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead directions: prepare as directed in the stove top directions and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve. Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave before serving.
- Freezer directions: make the recipe as directed. Allow cooked meat to cool before transferring to a resealable freezer bag or container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. To use: defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove top or in the microwave before serving.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
