Sloppy Joe Recipe

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This Sloppy Joe recipe is an easy and classic recipe, which is made with ground beef and kidney beans. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner, ready in about 30 minutes.

Sloppy Joe Ingredients

¾ pound quality lean ground beef or turkey (10% fat)
1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 green bell pepper, cored seeded and diced
¾ cup tomato purée
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1½ tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon chile powder
½ 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
freshly ground pepper, to taste
For serving:
4 whole wheat hamburger buns or whole wheat wraps
1 cup shredded lettuce

How To Make Sloppy Joes

Cook the meat and veggies: Put a large sauté pan over a medium heat and crumble in the ground beef or turkey. Fry until the meat starts to brown, then add the diced bell pepper and onion. Continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened.
Make the sauce: Add the tomato purée to the pan and stir it into the meat. Add the vinegar, brown sugar, honey, mustard, and chile powder and give everything a good stir to combine.
Simmer and serve: Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook until the sauce is nice and thick. To serve, pile the Sloppy Joe mixture onto the bottom of a bun or into the middle of a wrap, top with shredded lettuce, and enjoy.

Recipe Tips

What’s the best meat to use? Look for ground beef with around 10% fat. If you’re using turkey, try to buy the best quality you can afford. You can even ask your butcher to grind the meat for you.
How can I make this healthier? For a healthier version, use lean ground turkey instead of beef. Also, rinsing the canned beans removes some of the excess salt.
How do I make it spicier? If you want to give your Sloppy Joes a bit more of a kick, you can add some more chile powder or even a finely chopped fresh chilli with the onions.
Can I make this ahead of time? This recipe is perfect for making ahead. The mixture can be made completely and then reheated just before serving. If it seems too thick when reheating, just add a little water at a time to loosen it up.

What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

This is a classic sandwich that pairs perfectly with simple sides.

An everyday chopped green salad
Brilliant broccoli
French fries or potato wedges
Coleslaw

How To Store Sloppy Joes

Refrigerate: Store the leftover meat mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavor is often even better the next day.
Freeze: The meat mixture freezes exceptionally well. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Sloppy Joe Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Fat: 15g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Protein: 25g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes. Simply brown the meat and vegetables on the stovetop first, drain the fat, then transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Why is my sauce too thin?

If your sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like, just let it simmer for a few extra minutes with the lid off. This will allow the excess liquid to evaporate and the sauce to reduce and thicken.

Can I use different beans?

Absolutely. If you don’t have kidney beans, black beans or pinto beans would also be a delicious substitute.

Try More Recipes:

10 Best Jamie Oliver Vegetarian Recipes
Jamie Oliver Feta Spinach Pie 30 Minute Meals
Jamie Oliver Pesto Salmon

Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

350

kcal

A classic, savory, and slightly sweet meat sauce served on hamburger buns for a quick and easy family meal.

Ingredients

¾ lb lean ground beef or turkey
1 yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
¾ cup tomato purée
2 tbsp cider vinegar
1½ tbsp light brown sugar
1 tbsp honey
2 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp chile powder
½ can kidney beans, rinsed
Salt and pepper
For serving: 4 buns or wraps, 1 cup shredded lettuce

Directions

In a large pan, brown the ground meat. Add the bell pepper and onion and cook for 5-10 minutes until soft.
Stir in the tomato purée, vinegar, brown sugar, honey, mustard, and chile powder.
Add the kidney beans, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil.
Cook until the sauce has thickened.
Serve the mixture on buns or in wraps, topped with shredded lettuce.

Notes

For a healthier version, use lean ground turkey and rinse the beans well.
This can be made completely ahead of time and reheated just before serving.
For a spicier kick, add more chile powder or a chopped fresh chilli.
This recipe is delicious served in easy-to-eat wraps or classic burger buns.