Quick and Tasty with Hidden Veggies- Perfect for Week Nights!
Craving something comforting yet simple for your next meal? These Homemade Sloppy Joes are just what you need! Packed with savory flavors and a hint of sweetness, these sandwiches offer a nostalgic taste that's hard to resist. Whether you're making them for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual weekend lunch, these Sloppy Joes will surely satisfy your hunger and delight your taste buds.
Why Make Homemade Sloppy Joes?
As someone who loves creating delicious meals accessible for the home cook, I'm always on the lookout for recipes that bring comfort and convenience together. Sloppy Joes are a classic example of this. The combination of ground beef, rich tomato sauce, and a blend of spices creates a hearty and flavorful sandwich that's perfect for any occasion. Plus, making them from scratch allows you to control the ingredients, making it easy to adjust to your taste or dietary preferences. It's all about making this comfort food a little healthier and more delicious without any unnecessary additives.
Keeping It Simple and Tasty
Sloppy Joes can be healthy; don't think of canned mush microwaved and thrown together. Think packed with vegetables and flavor when you season in layers, and use my Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree to make this delicious meal in 30 minutes. Your family will love this recipe and beg for more!
Use lean ground beef or even substitute for ground turkey. The sauce, made with tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper, brings that classic tangy-sweet flavor that makes Sloppy Joes so irresistible.
I developed this recipe to bring a delicious homemade touch to a beloved classic. For more tips on making your meals healthier without sacrificing flavor, check out my guide to healthy substitutions.
Jump to:
Building the Recipe
Ingredients
Each ingredient in this recipe is selected to ensure a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Lean ground beef or turkey provides a hearty base, while the onion adds a subtle sweetness and crunch. The sauce, a blend of my hearty Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup, gives that classic tangy-sweet flavor. I also add a touch of Dijon mustard for a bit of zing and a dash of salt and pepper for a balanced finish.
The secret ingredient? A splash of apple cider vinegar, which brightens up the sauce and balances the flavors perfectly. And don't forget the delectable mini Hawaiian rolls, lightly toasted, brushed with butter, and sprinkled with garlic salt, hold up against the deliciously messy filling.
Check Your Pantry
- Lean ground beef
- Vidalia Onion
- Tomato paste
- Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree
- Worcestershire sauce
- Ketchup
- Dijon Mustard
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Brown Sugar
- Hawaiian Rolls
- Salt and pepper
- Butter and Garlic Salt for rolls (optional)
- Cooking Oil - (I love using avocado!)
See the recipe card for quantities.
Making Homemade Sloppy Joes
1 Step: Cook the Onion and Beef
- Heat a small amount of cooking oil (such as avocado oil) in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks, about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet, and then set the beef and onion mixture aside.
2 Step: Make it Sloppy
- In a bowl, mix together the tomato paste, Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree, water, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and apple cider vinegar.
- Pour in the prepared sauce base to the beef and onion mixture. Stir well to coat evenly.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let it cool slightly to allow the flavors to meld together for about 10 minutes.
3 Step: Assemble the Sloppy Joes
- While the sloppy joe mixture is simmering, slice the sweet Hawaiian rolls in half. Lightly toast them in a toaster oven or broil them in an oven until golden brown.
- Fill each toasted Hawaiian roll with a generous portion of the sloppy joe mixture.
- Brush the tops of the filled buns with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic salt for extra flavor.
4 Step: Serve
- Serve the sloppy joes with a side of sweet potato wedges and crispy parmesan brussels sprouts for a meal your family will love and ask for again and again.
Hint: For extra picky kiddos, skip the diced onion and add an extra teaspoon of onion powder.
Substitutions
Feel free to make substitutions based on your preferences or dietary needs! If you don't have ground beef, ground turkey or chicken works well as a leaner option. You can also make these Homemade Sloppy Joes vegetarian by using lentils or a plant-based meat substitute instead. And if you like a bit of heat, add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Variations
There are so many ways to customize these Homemade Sloppy Joes to suit your taste! For a smoky twist, add a few drops of liquid smoke or smoked paprika. You could also mix in some shredded cheese for a gooey, cheesy Sloppy Joe. For a more veggie-packed version, try adding grated carrots, diced zucchini, or mushrooms to the meat mixture. The possibilities are endless, so don't be afraid to get creative!
Equipment
To make these Sloppy Joes, you'll need a large skillet or sauté pan. A wooden spoon or spatula works well for breaking up the meat and stirring the sauce. You might want to use a set of measuring spoons for seasoning. A toaster oven will do the trick of toasting the buns, or I always prefer to broil them in the oven. For more on how versatile your oven really is, check out my guide to all the ways you can use your oven. Last but not least, a cutting board and knife; I've linked my recommendations for these as well!
Storage
To store any leftover Sloppy Joes, transfer the meat mixture to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7 days. The flavors actually improve over time, making for great leftovers! You can also freeze the meat mixture in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight and warm on the stove over medium heat, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce. Toast fresh buns just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Top Tip
For an extra flavor boost, sauté your beef and onions in a little bit of bacon fat instead of avocado oil. This adds a smoky, savory note that complements the rest of the ingredients perfectly. Just remember to adjust the salt if you're using bacon fat, as it can be quite salty on its own.
FAQ for Homemade Sloppy Joes
Absolutely! Ground turkey is a leaner option and works perfectly in this recipe. It absorbs the flavors of the sauce just as well, making for a delicious and lighter Sloppy Joe.
The short answer is yes; just replace the tomato paste with sauce and omit the water. However, most canned tomato sauces contain extra seasoning and might change the flavor of your sloppy joes.
Yes, Sloppy Joes can be made in advance. In fact, they often taste better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld together. Store the meat mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Homemade Sloppy Joes:
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- large skillet or sauté pan
- wooden spatula
- measuring cups and spoons
- cutting board
- knife
- small bowl optional
- small sheet tray for toasting buns in the oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ Vidalia onion finely chopped
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree
- ⅛ cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 package sweet Hawaiian rolls
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Butter for brushing rolls
- Garlic salt optional to season buns
- Cooking oil e.g., avocado oil
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Onion and Beef:
- Heat a small amount of cooking oil (such as avocado oil) in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.1 lb lean ground beef, ½ Vidalia onion, Cooking oil
- Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks, about 5-7 minutes.Salt and pepper
- Drain excess fat from the skillet, and then set the beef and onion mixture aside.
Step 2: Make it Sloppy:
- In a bowl, mix together the tomato paste, Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree, water, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and apple cider vinegar.3 tablespoon tomato paste, ¼ cup Hidden Veggie Carrot and Onion Puree, ⅛ cup water, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoon ketchup, 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Pour in the prepared sauce base to the beef and onion mixture. Stir well to coat evenly.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let it cool slightly to allow the flavors to meld together for about 10 minutes.
Step 3: Assemble the Sloppy Joes:
- While the sloppy joe mixture is simmering, slice the sweet Hawaiian rolls in half. Lightly toast them in a toaster oven or broil them in an oven until golden brown.1 package sweet Hawaiian rolls
- Fill each toasted Hawaiian roll with a generous portion of the sloppy joe mixture.
- Brush the tops of the filled buns with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic salt for extra flavor.Butter, Garlic salt
Step 4: Serve:
- Serve the sloppy joes with a side of sweet potato wedges, and crispy parmesan brussels sprouts for a meal your family will love and ask for again and again.
Taylor @ Cain Kitchen says
One of my most asked for recipes! Mom's love how nutritious and delicious these are!