Super Easy Sloppy Joes from Scratch

These homemade Easy Sloppy Joes are the perfect quick family dinner. They’re made with basic ingredients and come together in just 30 minutes! One of our favorites!

I wasn’t very old when I decided that my grandmother and mom always made the best Sloppy Joes.

As a child, I was a picky eater and didn’t like a lot of foods, but homemade Sloppy Joes were one of my favorites.

But due to my pickiness, I dreaded when we’d be invited to someone else’s place to eat because I was worried they’d serve something that I didn’t like.  And obviously, I hated trying to choke down food and needing to fight my gag reflex as I tried to be polite and eat what was served.

If our hosts happened to be having Sloppy Joes though, I could always breathe a sigh of relief because I knew I could easily eat that!  But I remember frequently being somewhat disappointed because, in my opinion, most people’s Sloppy Joes tasted a bit bland and slightly sweet- nothing like the from scratch version that my mom and grandmother made!

The Sloppy Joe recipe that my mom and grandmother use is an old fashioned one that is juicy, full of flavor and has a little tang, thanks to the addition of apple cider vinegar.  Apple cider vinegar is actually what makes this recipe old fashioned and is the ingredient that is missing from a lot of newer recipes.

I’ve eaten a lot of different Sloppy Joe recipes over the years, but I still think this old fashioned easy Sloppy Joe sandwich that is totally from scratch is the best!

And now that I’m a mom, I appreciate this Sloppy Joe recipe in a whole new way. Because like every other mom, I’m always looking for quick and easy dinner ideas to feed my tribe.  We rarely eat out, so recipes that are fast and easy are sanity savers for me!

I also prefer if those easy dinner ideas are made with simple, basic ingredients too since I try to stay away from a lot of pre-packaged foods.

And this homemade easy Sloppy Joe recipe delivers all of those things: super easy to make, ready in 30 minutes, and made with just a few simple, basic ingredients.  Plus it’s a recipe that is a winner with the whole family too, from the youngest to the oldest!

How does this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe compare to Manwich?

Some of you might wonder how this recipe compares to Manwich.  I honestly can’t even answer that because I’ve never actually had Manwich before.  But I can tell you that if you like Manwich that I think you’ll enjoy this recipe every bit as much, maybe more.  Plus it’s healthier and almost as easy too!

What should I serve with Sloppy Joes?

I love serving Sloppy Joes with a simple lettuce salad or raw or cooked veggies.  They also pair well with potato chips, pasta or potato salad or a fruit salad such as my 5 Minute Mandarin Orange Jello Salad.

Can you freeze leftover Sloppy Joes?

Yes!  Sloppy Joe meat freezes really well.   So go ahead and make a double batch and freeze it to have on hand for a super quick meal later on.

How to Make Super Easy Sloppy Joes from Scratch

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Super Easy Sloppy Joes

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 6 sandwiches

Author ThriftyFrugalMom.com

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 6 hamburger rolls

Instructions

1. Fry hamburger and onion together until browned; drain if needed.

2. Add remaining ingredients (excluding hamburger rolls of course!) and stir until combined.

3. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes.

4. Serve on hamburger rolls. (We love spreading some mayonnaise on the rolls too for extra deliciousness.)

Recipe Notes

The meat on each sandwich can be topped with pickles or cheese if desired.

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