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:
Easy 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.
Joan Hildebrand says
Try chili sauce and sweet pickle relish to leftover roast beef! This is my sloppy joe or beef bar-b-que
Deborah says
That sounds so good!!
Helen s Bell says
I also use Chicken Gumbo soup in place of tomato.
Christina Hunt says
My mom made these in the 60’s and also made chili from Campbell tomato soup. My son’s still love Grandma’s chili as they called it. I still make these sloppy joes for myself in 2019.
Jackie Pedersen says
My mom made these for the family back in the 1940’s. She had called them “Wimpies” They are the best! However, it is hard to duplicate Campbell’s condensed tomato soup if you want to use a healthy-type soup. The onions and celery are delicious in these. Thanks you for confirming my mom’s recipe! I shall keep trying to duplicate the soup if I can. Jackie
Deborah says
I’m so happy that you love this recipe! I make it ALL the time!
Megan Davis says
I love sloppy joes! They are my favorite. By the way, this turned out to be my top best sloppy Joe recipe. Thanks a lot!
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
I'll bet these are awesome too. Too bad about the salt, amazing how good it is to have salt but then how horrible it turns out if there is too much!!
grace says
this is the second sloppy joe i've come across this morning. breakfast? perhaps. 🙂
teresa says
this always reminds me of snl's sloppy joe song, did you ever see that? these look great!
The Comfort of Cooking says
Oh, these look SO yummy! Who doesn't love a messy, saucy sloppy joe… Mmmm!
Joanne says
I totally know what you mean! Last night I made lumpy polenta because I was super hungry and in a rush. I didn't think I could mess it up.
I totally trust you though! I bet these are awesome.
scrambledhenfruit says
Sloppy joes were a standby meal here when my boys were teens- quick, easy and made lots! Your recipe sounds similar to mine- the canned soup gives it a little sweet taste. Maybe that's what the light version lacks. Thanks!
Susi says
Sloppy Joes are always a favorite with my crowd. Unfortunately the "Healthy Request" Soups are anything but good tasting, too bad it ruined your dinner.
kat says
It must be something in the air, you, another blogger & I all posted sloppy joes in the last couple of days
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
A yummy speciality!
Cheers,
Rosa
Kim says
Sploppy Joes are almost always good! It's a fact the "healthy stuffs" aren't always tasting good…
Patsyk says
I've had the same thing happen to me as well on recipes I have made many times. Consider it a lesson learned and make sure you have the right products in the pantry for next time! 🙂