This Sloppy Joe recipe only takes a few ingredients and is super easy to make on busy days when you don’t feel like cooking dinner. And they are always a family favorite!
If you want to go beyond the classic sloppy joe, check out this Enchilada Sloppy Joe Recipe, these Buffalo Sloppy Joes, or Smoky Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes.
I have been all about the classic recipes lately. Tuna casserole, lasagna, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, and salisbury steak.
And when you’re talking about classics, especially childhood classics, you’ve got to put sloppy joes on that list.
Not only is this sloppy joe recipe super simple for a weeknight, but it only takes a few ingredients, it’s full of flavor, and it’s a crowd pleaser. I’ve been using this recipe for years and years – that’s always how you know a recipe is a good one!
What are Sloppy Joes?
If you haven’t had this childhood classic, sloppy joes are a loose meat sandwich that are served on a bun. The meat is cooked in some sort of sauce, which gives it the “sloppy” part of the title.
It is said that the sandwich was named when a chef named Joe added a tomato sauce to a loose meat sandwich. It was a hit, and now people have been enjoying these sandwiches for decades.
The original sloppy joes are made with a tomato sauce, like this recipe. But there are a lot of different variations these days.
Ingredients
Ground Beef – I like to use a lower fat percentage ground beef so that I don’t have to drain off any fat.
Celery – I have had celery in my sloppy joes for as long as I can remember, and I love the extra texture it gives.
Onion – This adds lots of flavor.
Condensed Tomato Soup – This is my shortcut ingredient! You could always make your own mixture with tomato sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch, but this just makes it so much easier!
Salt – Always taste and season with more salt as needed!
Chili Powder – I always use just regular chili powder, but I’m guessing that a chipotle chili powder would be a great way to give the sloppy joes a nice smoky flavor!
Hamburger Buns – Just use one that you like! Or make your own hamburger buns if you are feeling ambitious.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
This really is the easiest sloppy joe recipe – all of my kids can make these on their own!
- Brown the ground beef.
- Add the onions and celery and cook.
- Stir in the tomato soup, salt and chili powder.
- Cook until thickened.
- Serve on a bun.
Tips and Tricks
- I learned the hard way many years ago to not use the “healthy” version of the tomato soup. Just the classic can works best here for the best flavor.
- I grew up thinking that the addition of celery was just something that my mom did, but I have learned that many recipes actually contain celery! I love the extra flavor and texture, but if it’s not your thing, feel free to leave it out. Or you could add in another veggie of your choice, like bell peppers or carrots.
- Always taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. The seasoning can make or break this recipe.
- Don’t cook the sauce down too much. Make sure your mixture is at a simmer. If it does get too thick, you can add in a bit of beef broth to thin it out.
- I love my sloppy joe with a slice of cheese. It’s one of those things that really remind me of being a kid! My husband also likes his with mustard on top.
- Leftover filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or it can be frozen for up to 3 months.
More easy weeknight dinner ideas:
Sausage and Bean Enchiladas
Taco Casserole
Chicken Lettuce Cups
General Tso’s Chicken
Chicken Chilaquiles
Tools to Make This Sloppy Joe Recipe
You need a good skillet – I have been using my cast iron skillet almost every day lately and love it!
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Sloppy Joe Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 10.75 oz can condensed tomato soup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet until it is no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain if necessary.
- Add the celery and onion to the beef. Cook until tender.
- Add the tomato soup, salt, and chili powder. Stir to combine, reduce the temperature and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Serve on the hamburger buns.
Joy says
Very similar to my Mothers recipe, omit chili spice, we purée the onion and celery, and add ketchup and mustard. So good!
Megan Newhouse says
This is my absolute FAVORITE sloppy joe recipe ever. I’ve never been a canned joe fan so when I found this recipe, I was so excited! I make it once every two weeks for my family and we hardly ever have leftovers!
John Buck says
I add 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard and a quarter cup of quick oats this makes this recipe super fast and I also do it because that’s what my mother used to do