Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

5 from 5 votes

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April 20, 2014

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Creamy, savory, and messy are all the good things that make this sweet and spicy sloppy joe recipe, with white cheddar, what they should be. Serve with a cold Coleslaw or Cucumber Salad.

Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe (1)

Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe | With White Cheddar

Give this Sweet and Spicy Sloppy Joerecipe a whirl tonight. Very minimal ingredients go into these bad boys and the longer they cook the better they get. When I first married my husband, he was ADAMANT that he hated sloppy joes so I rarely made them. Buuuuut, a few weeks ago, I got the brilliant idea to make this version and whaddaya know. One bite and he loves sloppy joes.

Main Ingredients Needed

Here is everything you’ll need to make these tasty sweet and spicy sloppy joes!

  • Lean Ground Beef – I used 93/7. Feel free to make this healthier by using ground turkey instead.
  • Onion + Garlic – two basic but flavorful ingredients that make a great base for any meal.
  • Ketchup, Mustard + Worcestershire Sauce –these three condiments create a lovely blend of flavors.
  • Brown Sugar –this is where the sweet comes in.
  • Red Pepper Flakes –this is where the spicy comes in, add more if you like it hot hot hot.
  • Salt + Pepper –season to taste.
  • Hamburger Buns –we like to toast our buns for a crunchy soft bite.
  • White Cheddar Cheese –this adds creaminess and a softer flavor to the sandwich.

How to Make Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joes

This Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe is based on my sweet and sour meatball sauce recipe, with a few modifications. And, because cheese is its own food group at my house, I grated a little white cheddar over the top of the whole thing and let it melt. For full recipe details check out the recipe card below.

1. Brown the Meat

Start browning meat, breaking apart as you go. Add in onion and garlic and cook to soften.

2. Make the Sauce

Stir in all ingredients to create the sauce and bring it to a bubble. Reduce heat immediately to low, cover, and cook. {The longer the better}

3. Toast Buns

Toast open sides of hamburger buns spread generously with softened butter and rub with the cut side of a garlic clove if desired. This is totally optional.

4. Serve with White Cheddar Cheese

Spoon filling onto the bottoms of each bun and sprinkle with grated white cheddar cheese. Top with other bun and enjoy!

Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2)

Storing Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joes

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5 days!

This Sweet and Spicy Sloppy Joe recipe is great for meal prepping for the rest of the week.

Freezing Instructions

The beauty of this recipe is that you could even store the leftovers in thefreezer for up to 4 months!

Cool completely, then transfer sloppy joe mixture into an airtight container. To use, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Sloppy Joe Recipes to Try!

  • *BEST* Sloppy Joe Recipe
  • Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
  • Taco Sloppy Joes

Sweet, spicy, creamy, savory and very very messy. All good things that makes sloppy joes what they should be.

Here’s the printable. Try this easy one-pot dinner out tonight 🙂 Have a great day, friends!

5 from 5 votes

Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe

Creamy, savory, and messy are all the good things that make this sweet and spicy sloppy joe recipe, with white cheddar, what they should be.

servings 4 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. lean ground beef 93/7
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes add more or less, depending on taste
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 4 soft hamburger buns
  • white cheddar cheese grated

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place a large skillet over medium heat and start browning meat, breaking apart as you go. Add in onion and garlic and cook to soften about 5 minutes. Stir in all ingredients to create the sauce and bring it to bubble. Reduce heat immediately to low, cover, and cook 45 minutes-1 hour. {The longer the better}

  • Toast open sides of hamburger buns spread generously with softened butter and rub with the cut side of a garlic clove if desired. This is totally optional.

  • Spoon filling onto the bottoms of each bun and sprinkle with grated white cheddar cheese. Top with other bun and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 913mg | Potassium: 747mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 5mg

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sloppy joe recipe, sloppy joes, spicy sloppy joe recipe

Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to add to sloppy joes to make it better? ›

Worcestershire Sauce and Hot Pepper Sauce: These condiments add umami and a heat, deepening the flavor of the dish. Hamburger or Brioche Buns: The vehicle for the Sloppy Joe mixture, offering a soft and slightly sweet contrast to the flavorful beef filling.

How to cut sweetness in sloppy joes? ›

If you like Sloppy Joes a little less sweet, you can reduce the brown sugar to 1 teaspoon. If you keep the mustard at 2 teaspoons, the result will be a tangier Sloppy Joe.

How do you thicken up Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

Why is Sloppy Joe so sweet? ›

It's no wonder that the sauce for Sloppy Joe filling is often candy‑sweet, since it contains anywhere from 1/2 cup to 1 cup of ketchup (and sometimes brown sugar, too).

Should you drain meat before adding sloppy joe sauce? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce; heat through.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

What seasoning cancels out sweetness? ›

How to Make Food Less Sweet. Add an acid or seasonings such as vinegar or citrus juice; chopped fresh herbs; a dash of cayenne pepper; or, for sweet dishes, a bit of liqueur or espresso powder.

How do you make sauce sweeter? ›

The more sugar or honey you add, the sweeter your sauce will become.

What balances sweetness in sauce? ›

Balance with acidity

Add some lemon juice: The tartness of lemon can help cut through the sweetness. Squeeze in a little lemon juice and taste as you go until you achieve the desired balance. Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar can also work wonders in reducing sweetness.

What can I use instead of tomato paste for Sloppy Joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Does sour cream help thicken sauce? ›

For an add-in that both thickens and enhances flavor, turn to a versatile, dairy-forward ingredient: sour cream. Sour cream is a common add-in for thickening soups and sauces, but it can also be stirred into gravy for a touch of tang and a smooth, creamy finish.

How do I make my sauce thicker and creamier? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

What is the difference between sloppy joe and Manwich? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's.

What's the difference between Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

Unlike traditional can Sloppy Joes, which are often loaded with unhealthy additives and preservatives, Sloppy Janes are made with lean meat, low-fat ingredients, and a variety of fresh vegetables. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients.

What is the fancy name for Sloppy Joes? ›

Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.

What goes good on sloppy joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

What is the best way to eat sloppy joes? ›

serve them on hamburger buns, brioche buns, homemade french bread rolls, or over cornbread with cheese. the prepared sloppy joe meat can be refrigerated for several days and reheated AND it also freezes great.

Can you substitute tomato paste in sloppy joes? ›

Instead of tomato paste, use 1 can (19 fl oz / 540 mL) tomatoes, undrained, and omit water. Increase cooking time to 20 minutes.

References

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