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!
Best Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe
The best homemade sloppy joes recipe your family will love! Makes great left overs nad easy freeze ahead meals!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground 93% lean Hamburger
- 1 can tomato paste 6 oz
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 can Chicken Gumbo Soup
- 1 Onion diced
- 2 Tablespoons mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- in large sauce pan, brown hamburger and onion
- Add remaining ingredients and stir
- Simmer for 30 minutes covered.
- Stir occasionally.
- Serve warm.
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!
Tammy
Wednesday 29th of January 2020
This is the only way I make sloppy Joes. It is so good!! All my friends and family love it!
Delicious Leftovers and How to Pack them Easily for Lunch
Thursday 6th of October 2016
[…] Homemade Sloppy Joes from Scratch […]
BEST HOMEMADE SLOPPY JOES RECIPE #instagood #homemade #DIY #love #homecooking #partyplanning #holidays
Monday 26th of September 2016
[…] Busy Creating Memories blog has a great sloppy joes recipe that she is allowing us to share! This is a great make-ahead meal! As you all know I love …ok I don’t LOVE, but I DO cook all our weeks meals in one day as often as I possibly can! It saves me time during the week. Plus people can eat when hungry. This means it also saves my sanity! There is no whining about who wants what and when. There are 3 choices. You pick one, grab some, heat it and eat it. End of story! Don’t like the three choices? You have the further option to eat cereal! I don’t care what meal it is, you eat what is made and you enjoy that I cooked for you, or you eat cereal! Sloppy Joes usually are a winning meal here! I’ll be making these this next coming round! Get the directions and more photos by heading –> -> HERE! […]
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Monday 7th of March 2016
[…] Easy Sloppy Joes – Nothing like a great dish you can make ahead and full of great flavor! […]
Anette
Sunday 6th of September 2015
I have saved this since we love a good Sloppy Joe. But quick question please - I have never seen Gumbo soup, what can I use as a substitute? Thanks
Amber Edwards
Sunday 6th of September 2015
The gumbo soup is harder to find on the shelves, but I have always been able to find it in any grocery store. It usually just takes a bit of looking on the shelf. Campbell's is the one I get most often. If you can't find it in the store I know amazon has it too http://amzn.to/1PVKeOD I haven't been able to find anything that gives the same texture and flavor for the Gumbo soup, so I don't know if there's a good substitute to the Gumbo Soup.