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21 Comments

Sloppy Joe Recipe with Brown Sugar

Kathleen

by Kathleen Pope Mar 5, 2025

Jump to Recipe

Easy Healthy Sloppy Joe Long Pin with close up of sloppy joe sandwich on top with veggies behind and bottom image of sloppy joe mixture in pan with wooden spoon and buns nearby.
Pinterest image of closeup of sloppy joe burger or sandwich filled with sloppy joe mixture some spilling onto white parchment paper with type saying The Best Homemade Sloppy Joes

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.”

Sloppy Joe sandwich on top of white parchment paper on a wooden charger with bright carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes in background
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.

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!
Image of a sloppy joe burger on white parchment paper, with some of the sloppy joe mixture fallen out. All on a wooden charger
  • 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!
Sloppy Joe Ingredients laid out on a chopping block. Left to right. White bowl with chopped onions, red peppers and garlic. Can of organic tomato sauce, small bowl with tomato paste, measuring cup with brown sugar, slab of bacon, 1 ½ lbs of ground beef, small white bowl with worcestershire sauce, small wooden bowl with smoked paprika

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.
Sloppy Joe Burger ona white plate with brioche buns in background along with a pan with sloppy joe mixture and wooden spoon
Sloppy Joe sandwich on top of white parchment paper on a wooden charger with bright carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes in background

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!

Process shots for Sloppy Joes. 1. crisping bacon, 2. browning onions, veggies. 3. browning ground beef. 4. adding beef and veggies together.
  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.
process shots for sloppy joes, 5. adding paprika. 6. adding tomatoe paste. 7. adding brown sugar. 8. adding tomato sauce.
  1. 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.
Process shots Sloppy Joes 9. adding worcestershire sauce. 10. returning bacon to skillet. 11. browning buns. 12 finished sloppy Joes ready for eating!
  1. Return bacon to skillet with sloppy joe mixture and mix in.
  2. If desired, toast buns on griddle or pan with a little bit of butter until golden. Spoon mixture on top of buns, enjoy!
Cast Iron Skillet with Sloppy Joe mixture with wooden spoon full of mixture. White plate in foreground with toasted brioche bun on top

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.
Cast Iron Skillet with Sloppy Joe mixture with wooden spoon full of mixture. White plate in foreground with toasted brioche bun on top

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe FAQs

Is Sloppy Joe and Manwich the Same Thing?

Remember those? Manwiches! A sloppy joe sauce that came in a can that you simply added to browned ground beef, ew! LOL!
So while they might be the same thing, this recipe uses a homemade from scratch sloppy joe sauce and tastes amazing!

Are there other names for Sloppy Joes?

Who knew!?? Manwich, slush burger, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums are all variations on the Sloppy Joe Sandwich. (Source) I’m leaning towards yum yums! 🙂

Why Are They Called Sloppy Joes?

According to legend, a cook named Joe at Floyd Angell’s café in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches and the “sloppy joe” sandwich was born. And the rest, as they say, is history!
I hope you enjoy this Sloppy Joe burger or whatever you want to call it! Just don’t call them late for dinner!!

White plate with sloppy joe burger on it stuffed with sloppy joe filling with skillet in background with wooden spoon resting inside

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

Like this recipe?

Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!

Recipe Card
Sloppy Joe sandwich on top of white parchment paper on a wooden charger with bright carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes in background

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
Print Pin SaveSaved!
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- ยฝ 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!
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

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
Sloppy Joe sandwich on top of white parchment paper on a wooden charger with bright carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes in background
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Kathleen Pope

Meet Kathleen

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, Iโ€™m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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  1. Boo

    Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 5:36 pm

    Soy Sauce/Worcestershire Sauce-this seems to be a running ingredient (s) in your sandwiches-sorry kids & I just hate the way these ingredients taste, fishy, salty so again, just leave them out or do you have a substitute ? Thanks, I do want to make these.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen Pope

      Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 5:49 pm

      Sorry that your kids donโ€™t like it and that I use it often! They are natural flavor boosters. Have you ever tried coconut aminos? Or tamari sauce? They are not quite as salty tasting. You certainly can just omit it, use a bit more ketchup and then taste and adjust your seasonings to taste.

      Reply
  2. Kimberly

    Wed, Sep 15, 2021 at 2:21 pm

    Love sloppy joes, never thought to put bacon in them, can’t wait to try! What kind of buns are pictured here, they look yummy!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Wed, Sep 15, 2021 at 3:40 pm

      Thanks Kimberly, we love these sloppy Joe’s and sorry the buns are Brioche buns, usually found in the bakery section of your grocery store.

      Reply
  3. Carol

    Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    I made this today and it was delicious! A perfect depth and balance of flavors, in my opinion. Definitely two thumbs up from my husband and me. Thank you! This is now my go-to Sloppy Joe recipe.
    My husband said the meat would be good served over salad greens, sort of like a taco salad. We’ll have to try it. He may be on to something.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 8:14 pm

      Thank you so much Carol, love hearing this and yes, it would indeed bee delicious on a salad! Thank you so much for your kind comment.

      Reply
  4. Vickie

    Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    I have made homemade sloppy joes all my adult life. I’m 64 now and am going to try your recipe-I love the ingredients and cooking style. I never ate Manwich but have smelled it when others have used it and it never smelled good. And wanted to tell you there is yet another name for these; my full Italian blooded sister in law calls them “yip-yips”! Thanks for the memories and for a new recipe for them!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Mon, Apr 26, 2021 at 10:49 am

      Thank you so much Vickie!! So glad you are going to give this delicious recipe a try!! And loving the new name, will have to add “yip-yips” to my list!

      Happy and healthy cooking!
      Kathleen

      Reply
  5. Julie Pollitt

    Fri, Apr 23, 2021 at 7:42 am

    I am drooling! This looks fantastic!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 5:28 pm

      Awe, thank you so much Julie!!

      Reply
  6. MICHAELA KENKEL

    Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    These were magnificent! Even my sloppy Joe hating husband liked them!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 8:35 pm

      LOVE hearing this! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  7. Jennifer Stewart

    Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 8:11 am

    My momma never made Sloppy Joe’s with bacon and now I am rethinking my entire childhood! After making these, even Connor wanted seconds and thirds:)

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      Haha, well give your momma a break!! Mine didn’t either, maybe I didn’t make that clear! Glad you loved it!

      Reply
  8. Jennifer Stewart

    Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    5 stars

    Reply
  9. micchele

    Sun, Aug 23, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    5 stars
    I hadn’t had a sloppy Joe in forever but after making this Ill be eating these a LOT more often! Adding the bacon to this was simply brilliant! Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Tasia ~ two sugar bugs

    Sun, Aug 23, 2020 at 11:12 am

    Your timing is perfect Kathleen! I was just thinking that I need to find a good sloppy joe’s recipe as I”ve never made them for my girls. Pinned!!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      I hope they love them Tasia! My boys do, anything that they can do sloppy is in their wheelhouse!

      Reply
  11. Debi

    Sun, Aug 23, 2020 at 7:33 am

    My family loves sloppy joes, and these did not disappoint. Great recipe.

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Tue, Aug 25, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      Love hearing that Debi, thank you so much!!

      Reply
  12. Wendy Behm

    Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars

    Reply

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Kathleen Pope

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Hey there! I'm Kathleen Pope, a proud wife, mom of two awesome college boys, and recipe nerd. Welcome to my world of easy recipes with a healthy twist! Join thousands who trust The Fresh Cooky as their go-to recipe source. Let's cook up some magic!

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