Nostalgic Sloppy Joe Recipe - An Easy Weeknight Comfort Food

A Nostalgic and Comforting Sloppy Joe

Sloppy joes can bring back fond childhood memories for many people. This easy and delicious sloppy joe recipe is the ultimate nostalgic comfort food, transporting you right back to the school cafeteria or a neighbor's weekend barbeque in the 1990's.

The Classic Sloppy Joe Formula

At its core, a classic sloppy joe recipe calls for just a few simple ingredients: ground beef, tomatoes or tomato sauce, onions, spices, and burger buns. Despite the basic components, this sandwich is a long-time family favorite due to its savory flavor and messy, fun nature.

The seasoned ground beef mixture is slowly simmered allowing the flavors to meld before being piled high on soft burger buns. The juicy beef and tomatoes ooze out with every bite for a truly sloppy, finger-licking good meal!

Customizing Your Ideal Sloppy Joe

Half the fun of sloppy joes is customizing them to suit your tastes. Many enjoy adding Worcestershire sauce, mustard, or vinegar for a tangy flavor. Onion and garlic can also be sautéed beforehand for added depth.

For variation, you could use turkey or vegetarian protein instead of beef. Toppings like shredded cheese, crispy bacon, jalapeños, or fried onion strings take it over the top! Serve your customized sloppy joes with extra napkins and your favorite sides like tater tots or fries.

Make Ahead Sloppy Joes

One of the bonuses of this nostalgic sloppy joe recipe is that everything except the burger buns can be made 2-3 days in advance. This allows the flavors to develop further and makes weeknight dinners a breeze.

Prepare the meat mixture, let cool completely, then refrigerate in an airtight container. When ready to serve, reheat on the stovetop until warmed through. Pile onto buns and you have a quick, delicious meal everyone loves without lots of last minute prep.

Ingredients for Classic Sloppy Joes

At the core, you likely have most of the ingredients for sloppy joes already in your kitchen. Having the components on hand makes whipping up this comforting meal even easier.

For the Meat:

• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dijon mustard

For the Sauce:

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon each: salt, pepper, paprika

For Serving:

• Hamburger buns or sandwich rolls
• Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
• Bacon pieces (optional)
• Fried onions (optional)

Step-By-Step Instructions

Now for the fun part, let's walk through exactly how to make these easy, saucy sloppy joes. Just follow these simple steps for the best results:

Cook the Meat:

Add the ground beef, onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard to a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, breaking up the meat thoroughly with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if needed.

Make the Sauce:

Stir in the tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, chili powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 8-10 minutes so the flavors combine.

Serve Immediately or Store:

Taste and adjust any seasonings as desired. Serve sloppy joe mixture immediately on buns, or allow to fully cool then refrigerate up to 3 days for quick reheat-and-eat meals. Top with any desired cheeses, bacon, or crispy onions before serving.

More Tips for Sloppy Joe Success

With this easy sloppy joe recipe, you're well on your way to enjoying this fun, nostalgic classic. But a few extra tips can help take your sloppy joes to the next level:

• Sauté the onion and garlic before adding ground beef for deeper flavor
• Layer the bottom bun with shredded lettuce for added crunch
• Mix some of the meat mixture with ketchup for picky kids
• Add hot sauce if you like an extra kick
• Serve with tater tots, fries, coleslaw or baked beans

Now gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy the comforting tastes of childhood with these easy, saucy sloppy joes. Just be warned - they might start a battle for who can get the messiest!

FAQs

What kind of ground meat is best for sloppy joes?

The most classic choice is ground beef, but you can also use ground turkey or a vegetarian meat substitute. Choose whatever protein suits your preferences.

Do you need to cook the onions and garlic first?

It's optional, but sautéing the onions and garlic in a little oil first helps enhance the flavor before adding the ground meat.

Can sloppy joes be made ahead of time?

Yes! Prepare the meat mixture up to 3 days in advance then store covered in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop when you're ready eat. Add the buns just before serving.

What are some great sides for sloppy joes?

French fries and tater tots are classic pairings. You could also do baked beans, coleslaw, a crisp green salad, or roasted potato wedges.