Sloppy Joes the Cafeteria Favorite
A classic American Sloppy Joe: savory-sweet, tangy ground beef simmered in a quick homemade sauce and piled onto soft buns. This version is balanced (not candy-sweet), easy for weeknights, and designed for that nostalgic cafeteria bite—messy in the best way.
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Sloppy Joes earned their place in American cafeterias because they’re fast, filling, and built from pantry staples. The signature flavor comes from a smart mix of tomato, vinegar, and a touch of sugar, simmered just long enough to turn saucy and clingy. Once you learn the basic ratio, you can confidently adjust heat, sweetness, or tang to match your house style.
Total Time
35 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Servings
6
Ingredients
Sloppy Joe Filling
- •1 tablespoon neutral oil (optional, only if beef is very lean)
- •1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- •1 green bell pepper, finely diced
- •3 cloves garlic, minced
- •1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 preferred)
- •1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
- •1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- •2 tablespoons tomato paste
- •1 cup ketchup
- •1/2 cup tomato sauce
- •2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- •1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- •1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- •1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
- •1 teaspoon chili powder
- •1/2 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- •1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- •1/2 cup water or low-sodium beef broth, plus more as needed
To Serve
- •6 hamburger buns
- •Butter for toasting buns (optional)
- •Dill pickle chips (optional)
- •Coleslaw (optional)
- •American cheese slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Soften the aromatics: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil if needed. Cook the onion and bell pepper until softened, 5–7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- 2
Brown the beef: Add ground beef, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink and lightly browned, 6–8 minutes. If there’s excess fat, drain off all but about 1 tablespoon.
- 3
Build flavor with tomato paste: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen its flavor.
- 4
Make the sauce: Add ketchup, tomato sauce, mustard, Worcestershire, vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, and cayenne (if using). Stir to combine, then add water or broth.
- 5
Simmer to cafeteria-style saucy: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to mound on a bun, 10–12 minutes. If it gets too thick, add a splash more water; if too loose, simmer a few minutes longer.
- 6
Taste and adjust: For more tang, add a small splash of vinegar; for more sweetness, add a pinch of brown sugar; for more savory depth, add a few drops of Worcestershire. Adjust salt as needed.
- 7
Toast and serve: Toast buns in a skillet with a little butter if desired. Spoon filling onto buns and serve with pickles, coleslaw, or a slice of American cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Nutrition calculated automatically from ingredients.