When my mom first started teaching kids to cook, we always started with very basic foods. And then once we had a handle on them, she would branch out and let us learn to create some of our favorites from her vast collection of recipes. One of my first and favorite meals that I learned how to cook from my mom is our Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes! Oh my goodness, this easy sloppy joes recipe has been a hit for years and years!

Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

The great thing about this easy sloppy joe recipe is that it can be doubled for when you have a large crowd gathering. It can be frozen for an easy warm up meal when company comes. We also make up a big batch and freeze it to take it camping. All you have to do is warm it up and you are good to go!

But for me right now; I made a large batch and froze it in the freezer so I could have an easy meal for after this new baby is born. I absolutely love how you can make a double batch or just a single. And the left overs are just as good as the first day, if not better!

It’s a family friendly recipe that has been proven time and time again. I grew up loving this recipe and I make it often for our family as well because it is so well received. And it is great for pot luck dinners as well!

As I said this recipe is super easy! The secret ingredient I think has to be the chicken gumbo soup. It’s not the most well known ingredient into a batch of sloppy joes. I mean would you think to add chicken gumbo soup? But is definitely makes a big difference in the flavor and texture of the sloppy joes.

We always use 93% lean hamburger. This way it has a better flavor freezes better and you don’t have to drain it after browning.

Like I mentioned earlier, this is our favorite meal to make when we need extra for a follow-up meal, or a meal to take to a neighbor or potluck.

The other day I actually doubled this recipe (which is really easy to do as long as you have a pan big enough for it) thinking I would have a lot left over to package up into meal portions and freeze for after the baby arrived.

Well, after my kids and husband finished with dinner I ended up with only 1 meal worth left over to freeze. Holy cow! That is how popular this recipe is!

You can serve it up in hamburger buns or serve it in a lettuce wrap. It’s great either way. My kids love having chips and veggies or grapes as a side dish. We always go easy and use finger foods.

But make sure you have a safe place to eat it and napkins! Because it truly lives up to it’s name and it is SLOPPY! The perfect sloppy joes!

If you have to watch out for onion due to nursing like I will be soon, you can cut down on the amount of onion in the recipe too. It won’t make too drastic of a difference. I had to cut the onion down to half of what it calls for and it still tasted great.

Want another great dish to teach your kids how to cook? Try our easy Kid Friendly French Toast! My kids love making this one! And I only lightly supervise!

What sides would you serve with our easy Homemade Sloppy Joes?