Sloppy Joe Recipe with Brown Sugar

These Homemade Sloppy Joes are anything but ordinary! With a thicker, heartier filling and the smoky addition of bacon, this recipe takes the classic Sloppy Joe to the next level. Made with simple ingredients and ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect comfort food for busy nights.

One reader, Sarah, raved, “Best Sloppy Joes I’ve ever made! The whole family devoured them.”

Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

This recipe was born out of a need to ditch the canned stuff and create a fresh, flavorful alternative that the whole family would love. Over the years, I’ve tweaked it to make the filling thicker, heartier, and, as I like to call them, “not as sloppy” Sloppy Joes. The secret? Adding smoky bacon for that extra layer of flavor that truly sets these Sloppy Joes apart from the rest.

Why you’ll love this Homemade Sloppy Joes recipe:

• Thicker, Heartier Filling: No more runny sauce! These “not as sloppy” Sloppy Joes have the perfect balance of meat and sauce for a satisfying bite.
• Smoky Bacon: The addition of bacon brings a depth of flavor that makes these Sloppy Joes stand out.
• Quick & Easy: You’ll have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
• Simple Pantry Ingredients: Everything you need is likely already in your kitchen—no canned sauces here!
• Family-Friendly: These Sloppy Joes are a hit with kids and adults alike.

I’ve also included tips for customizing the recipe to your taste—whether you prefer them sweeter or spicier, it’s easy to adjust. Plus, they freeze beautifully and make great leftovers, so they’re perfect for meal prep too. Give them a try—I know they’ll become a go-to in your kitchen!

Homemade Sloppy Joe Ingredients

• Onions, peppers, and garlic | lends amazing flavor, texture and well hello, veggies! Got picky eaters? Easily disguise by grating the onions and mincing the peppers super fine.
• Tomato sauce & tomato paste | no ketchup here baby! Rich, delicious tomato sauce.
• Smoked paprika | this is the best stuff, I use it all the time!
• Brown sugar | light or dark, your choice, I used light!

• Worcestershire sauce | adds a punch of savory and amazing flavor!
• Bacon | totally optional, thick or thin, I’ve made it with both, personally I like the crispy thin bacon!
• Ground Beef | You can also use ground turkey, chicken, bison or plant protein; I use 80/20 ground beef from a local rancher, it’s so delicious!
• Brioche buns or hamburger buns | lightly grilled is best!

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

• Heavy duty skillet | I love my Lodge Cast Iron Pan and my latest addition is my Favorite Pan!
• Sturdy Wooden Spoon or Meat Breaker Upper | Meat breaker upper not necessary, a good solid spatula or even spoon will work great!
• Measuring Cups & Spoons | These are my favorites! But these are on my wish list! And this is my favorite mini measuring cup!
• A good knife | Do you have a favorite knife? This one was worth the investment; I use it daily and almost exclusively.

How to make Homemade Sloppy Joes

While a packet of sloppy joe mix or canned mix seems easy, there are so many ingredients in those you cannot pronounce and are just flat out not good for you!

I’ll show you how to make homemade sloppy joe sauce from scratch and dinner will on the table in under 30 minutes!

1. If using bacon (thin, thick or turkey bacon), in a large skillet cook the bacon on medium-high for 2-3 minutes until crisp. Remove from pan to paper-towel lined plate.
2. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease — if you used turkey bacon or precooked bacon, simply add 2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil.
3. Heat skillet to medium-high heat and cook onions and peppers; about 5 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized. Add minced garlic the last minute and stir until fragrant. Scoot veggies to the side, adding ground meat to skillet.
4. Break meat apart into chunks to brown, don’t break into tiny pieces, keep some larger, that will help keep the sandwich together better. Brown until almost all pink is gone. About 5-6 minutes.

5. Add smoked paprika, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine and reduce heat to low, bringing to a simmer. Stir occasionally over low heat for about 5-6 minutes until the mixture thickens and reduces slightly.

6. Return bacon to skillet with sloppy joe mixture and mix in.
7. If desired, toast buns on griddle or pan with a little bit of butter until golden. Spoon mixture on top of buns, enjoy!

Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe Variations

• Can I substitute turkey or chicken for beef? Yes! In fact, you can substitute any ground meat, including bison, elk or venison in this dish! Or if you are vegetarian, try a plant based protein as well. Increase leaner meats to 2 pounds, also increasing Worcestershire sauce to 2 tablespoons; it’s a bit more bland, especially if not making with bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Can I substitute ketchup for tomato paste? Substitute two tablespoons of ketchup for every one tablespoon of tomato paste. Reducing brown sugar by a few teaspoons as well. OR… Substitute 1 tablespoon tomato paste with 2 to 3 tablespoons tomato puree or tomato sauce (reduce liquid in recipe by 2 to 3 tablespoons); or boil tomato puree or sauce until reduced to 1 tablespoon.
• Gluten Free Sloppy Joes – Sloppy Joes, minus the buns are naturally gluten free, swap out gluten-full buns with a quality Gluten Free bun and it’s a delicious, healthy, gluten free dinner!
• Can I Make Sloppy Joe’s Vegetarian or Vegan? Well yes, yes you can! And here’s how:
  • Omit the bacon (obvi)
  • Swap a plant based protein for ground beef
  • Use soy sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce, increasing Soy sauce to 2 tablespoons and adding a little extra salt and pepper — let me know if you try it!

I created this simple free substitutions chart!
Print and tape to the inside of a cupboard, I refer to mine often!

How to Store Leftover Homemade Sloppy Joes

Refrigerate: Let the Sloppy Joe mixture cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Freeze: To freeze, place the cooled mixture in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Lay the bag flat for easy storage and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating Instructions

From the Refrigerator:

• Stovetop: Warm the mixture in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water or broth if it seems too thick.
• Microwave: Place the mixture in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and heat on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add a small splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.

From the Freezer:

• Thaw First: For best results, thaw the mixture overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat as described above.
• Reheat Directly from Frozen: Place the frozen mixture in a saucepan over low heat. Cover and stir occasionally until fully heated, adding a tablespoon or two of water or broth.
• Microwave (Frozen): Transfer the frozen mixture to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a paper towel. Add a tablespoon of water, then heat in 1-minute intervals on medium power, stirring between intervals until hot.

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe FAQs

More great 30 minute meals to enjoy!

• Best Cheesesteak Sandwich
• Coconut Curry Chicken
• Beef and Broccoli
• Honey Bourbon Chicken
• Easy Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya
• Easy Baked Spaghetti Pie
• Penne alla Vodka | The Best Vodka Sauce Recipe
• Easy 30 minute Chicken Parmesan Recipe + Gluten Free and Low Carb Option
• Ham, Mac & Cheese Soup
• Wild Rice Supreme {Easy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole}
• Turkey Divan

Recipe Card

Bacon Sloppy Joes

5 from 3 readers

Author: Kathleen | The Fresh Cooky © 2020

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 -6 servings

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Delicious brown sugar bacon sloppy joes are simmered in a rich, thick, full-bodied, sweet and sticky tomato sauce loaded with caramelized onion, red pepper, and bacon!

Video

Equipment

• ▢
  The Pampered Chef Mix N Chop #2583
• ▢
  OXO Good Grips Angled Measuring Cup, Mini, Clear
• ▢
  Lodge Cast Iron Pan with Lid

Ingredients 

• ▢ ¼- ½ pound bacon diced (use thick, pre-cooked, thin or turkey bacon)
• ▢ 1 medium sweet onion diced (or grated if you have kids who spy onions!)
• ▢ 1 red bell pepper chopped finely (or use yellow, orange or even green)
• ▢ 2-3 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1 ½ – 2 pounds ground beef try ground chicken, turkey, bison, elk, or plant based protein
• ▢ 1 heaping teaspoon smoked paprika regular is fine too
• ▢ 3 tablespoons tomato paste see notes for substitutions
• ▢ 1 15 oz can organic tomato sauce
• ▢ 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce gluten free if needed
• ▢ ¼ cup brown sugar light or dark, packed
• ▢ 4-6 Brioche buns or hamburger buns

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• If using bacon (thin, thick or turkey bacon), in a large skillet cook the bacon on medium-high for 2-3 minutes until crisp. Remove from pan to paper-towel lined plate.
• Reserve about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease — if you used turkey bacon or precooked bacon, or chose not to use bacon, simply add 2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil. Heat skillet to medium-high heat and cook onions and peppers; about 5 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized.
• Add minced garlic the last minute and stir until fragrant. Scoot veggies to the side, adding ground meat to skillet.
• Break meat apart into chunks to brown, don’t break into tiny pieces, keep some larger, that will help keep the sandwich together better. Brown until almost all pink is gone. About 5-6 minutes.
• Add smoked paprika, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine and bring to simmer reducing heat to low. Stir occasionally uncovered, over low heat for about 5-6 minutes until the mixture thickens and reduces slightly. Return bacon to skillet with sloppy joe mixture and mix in.
• If desired, toast buns on griddle or pan with a little bit of butter until golden. Spoon mixture on top of buns, enjoy!

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Notes

Increase leaner meats like turkey or chicken to 2 pounds, also increasing Worcestershire sauce to 2 tablespoons; it’s a bit more bland, especially if not using bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Substitute two tablespoons of ketchup for every one tablespoon of tomato paste. Reducing brown sugar by a few teaspoons as well. OR…

Substitute 1 tablespoon tomato paste with 2 to 3 tablespoons tomato puree or tomato sauce (reduce liquid in recipe by 2 to 3 tablespoons); or boil tomato puree or sauce until reduced to 1 tablespoon.

Nutrition

Serving: 11 serving | Calories: 694kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 1101mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g

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