There’s a reason sloppy joes never really disappear.
They’re unfussy, deeply savory, and just messy enough to feel fun. This version keeps things classic — ground beef, onion, green pepper, ketchup, mustard — simmered down into a thick, tangy sauce that’s just sweet enough without going overboard.
No bottled sauces. No complicated ingredients. Just balance.
The key is letting the mixture simmer long enough to thicken and concentrate. That’s what takes it from “ground beef with ketchup” to a real sloppy joe — saucy, cohesive, and perfect for piling high on a soft bun.
If you love this kind of nostalgic comfort food, you might also enjoy:
- Lighter Sloppy Joe Bowls with Roasted Broccoli – the same flavors, reworked into a bun-free bowl
- Easy Weeknight Stuffed Peppers – another classic comfort dish, simplified
- One-Pan Orecchiette Pasta – bold, savory, and weeknight-friendly
- Check out my most-used kitchen tool, the Meat Chopper. It works great for all these recipes
This recipe is part of my Quick & Easy Weeknight Recipes Collection, because some nights you just need something dependable.
Savor the process, and thanks for cooking with us. Check out our other recipes. Visit us on Pinterest
Classic Sloppy Joes, Done Right
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ of a small onion, chopped
- ½ of a green bell pepper, chopped
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it begins to brown and release some fat, about 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped onion and green bell pepper. Continue cooking until the vegetables are softened and the beef is fully cooked, another 3–5 minutes.
- Add the ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, and season with salt and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and saucy.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto hamburger buns and serve warm.
