Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe
You only need four ingredients to make my deliciously quick and easy sloppy joes recipe. I promise that with one bite you’ll never look at canned sloppy joe sauce the same way again!
The first time I made this easy sloppy joe recipe for my husband, it was right after we got married (over two decades ago). My husband took one bite and his eyes got really big, then he took another, and his eyes got even bigger. They were almost inhaled after that. I’ve found the same reaction whenever I serve them so watch your family for those bulging eyes and you’ll know you’ve got a winner!
I call these Not Your Average Sloppy Joes. This is one of my favorite ways to make homemade sloppy joes, beginning with simple ingredients and taking that delicious canned sauce up a notch. All you need is ground beef, fried onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and Manwich sloppy joe sauce. When I say this is an easy sloppy joe recipe, I mean it. Just cook the beef, combine the ingredients, and then assemble your sloppy joes. It’s that easy and in no time at all, you’ll be devouring a delicious sloppy joe burger. I like the sound of that!
Trust me, one bite and you’ll never look at that can of sloppy joe sauce the same again. Ready to give it a go?
Recipe Ingredients
- Manwich sloppy joe sauce
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- French fried onions
- Browned ground beef
How to Make My Easy Sloppy Joes Recipe
Brown your ground beef in a large skillet and drain off any grease. I am using two pounds, even though the can says to use one pound.
Add the sloppy joe sauce…
Then add the cheddar cheese and french fried onions.
Stir that all up and make sure it is heated through.
Now we need to toast our buns! I just put mine in a skillet and turn the heat on medium-high. After a minute or so flip them over.
Toasted buns make the BEST sloppy joes!
For my fries, I prefer crinkle cut and usually get name brand if they aren’t too outrageously priced.
I like to bake mine but if you have an air fryer you may prefer that.
If you’re baking, lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Sprinkle fries liberally with seasoned salt.
I bake these at 425 for about 20 minutes or so, stirring once, until they are golden brown on the edges.
Put your sloppy joe mixture on the toasted bun and top with more french fried onions. The little crunch and flavor is so good with sloppy joes!
Serve your with lots of ketchup and sweet tea.
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- I love to make double and then freeze leftovers, as they’ll last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop, or even in the slow cooker.
Recipe Notes
- Now you know I normally don’t get specific with brands but I have to stick by my Manwich sloppy joe sauce. I have tried several generics and they don’t even come close (some are quite horrid). I really suggest you get this kind unless you already have a favorite out there.
- If you want to add some veggies to your meat mixture, add finely diced green bell pepper, carrot, or celery.
- Instead of hamburger buns, use brioche buns or pretzel buns. Another option is to swap the bun for a baked potato.
- For extra heat, stir in some green chiles or chopped jalapeños.
- If you like, swap the lean ground beef for ground turkey.
Recipe FAQs
What do you serve with sloppy joes?
Besides fries, I love to serve my sloppy joes sandwiches as a with pickles, potato chips, tater tots, baked mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, and sometimes even grilled corn on the cob. Instead of crinkle-cut fries, try my parmesan oven fries or zucchini fries.
Can I cook my sloppy joes in the crockpot?
Yes, you can! Once you brown the beef in the skillet, add this and the remaining ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours. They will have a softer and saucier texture.
What is in Manwich sloppy joe sauce?
Here’s a copycat recipe, but Manwich sloppy joe sauce is made with tomato sauce, corn syrup, dehydrated bell pepper, spices like dried onion and garlic, and a hint of chili powder.
You may also like these scrumptious supper recipes:
Beef Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Delicious Hamburger Steak Recipe with Fried Onions (Oh Yum!)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 can Manwich sloppy joe sauce
- 2 cups french fried onions
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 packet hamburger buns
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet and drain off any grease. Add the sloppy joe sauce, cheese, and 1 cup of french fried onions to the browned beef. Stir and heat until bubbly.2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained, 1 can Manwich sloppy joe sauce, 2 cups french fried onions, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Toast burger buns in a clean skillet over medium-high heat (about 1 minute on each side) and top each hamburger bun with sloppy joe meat. Sprinkle more onions on top. Serve with fries.1 packet hamburger buns
- Makes about 8 sloppy joes.
Nutrition
I originally published this recipe in 2009 and updated the photos and post in 2020.
Ohmistars…true confession… I HATED sloppy joes…until I tried yours! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I have a question regarding the Italian cream cake. Could it be made without the coconut? No one in my family likes coconut! Thank you in advance for answering.
I tried the recipe but didn’t like the way the french fried onions went to mush after being added. it tasted good but biting into mushy fried onions was not so good. Hubby liked the milder taste of using 2 lbs of hamburger rather than one for the one can of manwich sauce. I continue to enjoy trying your recipes and almost all are big hits. keep up the good work!
These look and sound so yummy! I have been fixing Sloppy Joes another way, but your way sounds so much easier and tastier. I’m definitely going to give this a try.
P.S. How do you prepare your ground beef ahead of time and freeze? Do you weigh it or measure it? I would love to know. THanks!
I just made these tonight and they were DE.LISH.US. This is definitely the way we’ll eat sloppy joes from now on! Thanks for sharing 🙂
YAY!!
Thank YOU For trying it and reporting back! So glad it was a hit!!!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
This is great! My husband shot 2 deer this weekend and picked it up from the processor last night … wow that’s a lot of meat. I’m in need of “ground beef” recipes and I’ll be sure to add this recipe to the rotation. I love french fried onions and never thought about adding to Sloppy Joe’s.
So jealous of you!! FREE MEAT!!!
hehe
Hope you like them! Can’t ever have too many ground beef recipes!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
Mmmmm…..I love Sloppy Joes. That was always the comfort food my roommate in college asked me to make. Along with grape Kool-aid. I will have to try with the onions.
Ooooh now I want some green kool aid. I have a bit of a thing for green kool aid!!!
Hope you get to try them! Thank you so much, Brindi! You are right about comfort food, these are the best!
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂
YUMMY YUM YUM,
Dang Christy you know how to come up with the best recipes. Heck I might just have to share my recipe for Fire and Ice Tomatoes with ya’ll sometime soon. Real simple and real good alongside just about anything.
Robert,
~puts her hands on her hips and looks stern~
You had best be sharin’ your recipe with me! ~winks~
Gratefully,
Christy 🙂