These Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes are made in one skillet with simple ingredients. This is an easy dinner for those busy weeks. We think they are best served open-faced on buttered Texas toast with melty shredded sharp cheddar cheese, but you can serve them however you prefer!
The best part about this easy recipe is that you can make the sloppy joe mixture ahead of time and then reheat and assemble when everyone is ready to eat. It's a great recipe to have on hand when you know dinner time will be rushed throughout the week.
If you usually reach for the canned sauce, this homemade version is just as approachable but has a richer, more flavorful sauce. It's perfectly tangy with just a little heat.
If you need a few more easy dinner ideas for busy nights, try Open Face Tuna Melts, Italian Dunkers or Cheeseburger in a Bowl.
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Quick Wins 🙌
- One skillet dinner
- Made with basic pantry ingredients
- Family-friendly and filling
- Great for busy weeknights
- Easy to double for a crowd
- Leftovers reheat well
Game Plan 📋
Here's how this easy sloppy joe recipe fits into your week.
- Make the sloppy joe mixture ahead and store it in the fridge until you're ready to serve.
- Reheat it quickly on the stove or in the microwave while you toast the bread or warm the buns.
- Wait to toast the bread and add the cheese until you're ready to serve so the toast stays crisp.
- Double the recipe. It's perfect for feeding a crowd, or you can freeze half or refrigerate the leftovers for easy lunches and dinners later in the week.
Ingredients 🛒
Here are a few notes about the simple, everyday ingredients you'll need for these homemade sloppy joes.
- Ground beef: Use lean ground beef if possible. If there's excess grease after cooking the beef and onion, simply drain it before continuing with the recipe.
- Onion: Yellow or white onion both work well.
- Chili sauce: I always buy the Heinz Chili Sauce, which is a tomato-based condiment rather than a spicy hot sauce.
- Green chilies: I prefer to use a can of mild diced green chilies.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the best flavor, but jarred garlic will work in a pinch.
- Texas toast: We like serving these open-faced on thick slices of buttery Texas toast, but regular sandwich bread or hamburger buns work just as well. If using a thinner slice of bread, be sure it is nicely toasted so it holds up to the sloppy joe mixture.
- Extra sharp cheddar cheese: Extra-sharp cheddar adds plenty of flavor, but mild or sharp cheddar will also work.
Scroll to the recipe card below for all ingredient amounts and details.
Recipe Variations
- Serve it as a sandwich: Skip the toast and pile the sloppy joe mixture onto hamburger buns for a classic sandwich.
- Turn down the heat: Leave out the crushed red pepper flakes if you prefer a milder sloppy joe.
- Skip the cheese: Feel free to make this without the melted cheese on top.
- Add crunch: Serve this with Fritos on top or on the side for added crunch.
Equipment Needed 🥄
- Large skillet: A wide skillet works best for browning the beef and simmering the sauce.
- Baking sheet: Needed for broiling the Texas toast and melting the cheese.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. If needed, carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
STEP 2: Stir in the ketchup, diced green chilies, beef broth, chili sauce, chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
STEP 3: Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
STEP 4: While the sloppy joe mixture simmers, prepare the toast. Spread the Texas toast with softened butter on both sides and place it on a baking sheet.
Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the bread is lightly toasted. Flip the bread and broil for about 1 more minute, or until the other side is lightly toasted. Watch the bread closely because it can burn quickly under the broiler.
STEP 5: Remove from the oven and top each slice with about ½ cup of the sloppy joe mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
Return to the broiler for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Watch closely to prevent burning under the broiler.
Serve immediately with Fritos or potato chips, if desired.
Expert Tips
Here are some tips for making this family favorite.
- Drain excess grease after cooking the beef if needed so the sauce doesn't become oily.
- Let the mixture simmer long enough to thicken slightly. This helps prevent soggy bread. The filling should be thick enough to mound on a spoon without excess liquid pooling around it.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving if needed.
- Serve with Fritos or potato chips for scooping up any extra filling, or sprinkle crushed Fritos directly on top.
FAQ ❓
Yes. The sloppy joe mixture can be made a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Simply reheat it on the stovetop before serving.
Yes, the meat mixture freezes well. Let it cool completely, then store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months.
Absolutely. These sloppy joes work great on hamburger buns if you prefer a traditional sandwich. You can add cheese or skip it depending on what you like.
They have just a little heat from the crushed red pepper, but I wouldn't consider them especially spicy. The mild green chilies add more flavor than heat, and you can omit the crushed red pepper for a milder version.
This recipe makes 6 open-faced sloppy joes when you spoon about ½ cup of filling onto each piece of Texas toast.
Storage
Refrigerator storage: Store leftover sloppy joe filling in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Be sure to store the meat mixture separately from the bread and cheese. This is especially useful for preventing soggy leftovers.
Freezer storage: The sloppy joe mixture can be frozen for up to 3 months. Assembled Texas toast should not be frozen; freeze only the sloppy joe filling.
Reheating instructions: Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Add a little broth or water if the mixture becomes too thick when reheated.
More Recipes To Try
Looking for other recipes to make? Try these:
If you make these Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes, I'd love to hear how they worked in your week.
Leave a comment and star rating below or tag me on Instagram @heysnickerdoodle so I can see how you served them. ❤️
Recipe
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies undrained
- ½ cup beef broth
- ¼ cup chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 slices Texas toast
- 2 tablespoons butter softened
- 1 ½ cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until the beef is no longer pink. Carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet, if needed.1 pound ground beef, 1 small onion
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.2 cloves garlic, minced
- Stir in the ketchup, undrained diced green chilies, beef broth, chili sauce, chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.1 cup ketchup, 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies, ½ cup beef broth, ¼ cup chili sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling has thickened. It should be thick enough to mound on a spoon without excess liquid pooling around it.
- While the sloppy joe mixture simmers, preheat the broiler. Spread both sides of each slice of Texas toast with softened butter and arrange the bread on a baking sheet.6 slices Texas toast, 2 tablespoons butter
- Broil the bread for 2-3 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Flip the bread and broil for about 1 more minute, or until the other side is lightly toasted. Watch it closely because bread can burn quickly under the broiler.
- Remove the bread from the oven and spoon about ½ cup of the sloppy joe mixture onto each slice. Top with the shredded cheddar cheese.1 ½ cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- Return the baking sheet to the broiler for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Watch it closely to prevent burning. Serve immediately with Fritos or potato chips, if desired.
Video
Nutrition Information
Please note that these nutrition facts are approximations and may not be entirely precise.
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