These BBQ sloppy joes are the perfect easy weeknight dinner. They are like traditional sloppy joes but made with my sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and done in under 30 minutes. Your whole family will love these!
Our kids love sloppy joes for dinner, and this BBQ sauce version gives a deeper, smokier flavor while still holding on to the sweet and tangy taste of a traditional sloppy joe. Worcestershire sauce and ground mustard balance the sweetness, while onion and green pepper keep that familiar sloppy joe flavor.
We love to round this one out with one or two simple side dishes. Don’t miss the list at the bottom of the post of recipes that are just perfect to pair with this.
BBQ Sloppy Joes Key Ingredients
- Ground Beef: We use ground beef that is 85/15 when we make this recipe. If you use that or 80/20 you will need to drain off excess grease when the vegetables are done cooking and before you add the BBQ sauce.
- BBQ Sauce: The sauce you use will be the biggest factor in the final taste of this recipe, especially when it comes to sweetness, smoke, heat, and acidity. So choose something you really love. A sweet BBQ sauce will result in sweeter sloppy joes, while a smokier sauce will yield smokier sandwiches. My homemade BBQ sauce has so many great reviews, and is amazing in this.
- Ketchup: Adds the familiar tomato tang that you think of when you think of sloppy joes.
- Worcestershire sauce: This is an ingredient that sets this recipe apart and brings a savory depth to the sauce.
- Brown sugar: This is needed to help balance the tang and smokiness of the sauce.
- Ground mustard: This adds another layer of flavor without making the sauce taste like mustard.
How to Make BBQ Sloppy Joes
- Cook the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, then add the green pepper and onion and cook until tender.
- Make the sloppy joe sauce. Stir in the BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, ground mustard, salt, and ground pepper, and simmer. Serve on buns and enjoy!
How to Thicken Sloppy Joes
If your sloppy joe filling is too thin at end, simply allow it to simmer uncovered for a few minutes until you have the desired thickness.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover BBQ sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in the microwave or in a small skillet over low heat until heated through.
Freezing
Sloppy joe filling is incredibly freezer friendly. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container once cooled. Leave some room for the sauce to expand as it freezes. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. When you are ready to eat it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then warm it up in a skillet on the stovetop, over low heat.
Tips and Tricks
- Homemade BBQ sauce: BBQ sauce is the star of this homemade sloppy joe recipe, and my homemade BBQ sauce has the best flavor and is so easy to make. If store-bought sauce is more your speed, that will work in this recipe.
- Make sloppy joes with turkey: If your family prefers ground turkey to ground beef, turkey sloppy joes are an easy swap to make in this recipe. You may want to add a little olive oil to the meat as it cooks since it doesn’t have as much fat.
- Crockpot sloppy joes: This is a great meal to make ahead of time in the slow cooker. Follow the directions in my crock pot sloppy joes using the sauce ingredients in this recipe.
- Toast the buns: Toasted buns hold up better to sloppy joe sauce. I like to do this on the stovetop by lightly greasing a skillet or griddle and toasting the buns cut side down for a few minutes, watching closely so they don’t burn.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
If you make this easy sloppy joe recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think!
BBQ Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 85/15 (453.6 grams)
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (224 grams)
- 1/4 cup ketchup (235 grams)
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up until it begins to brown, about 4 minutes. No need to cook it all the way through.1 pound ground beef
- Add in the green pepper and onion and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.1 green bell pepper, 1 small yellow onion
- Add in the BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, ground mustard, salt, and ground pepper. Stir to combine.1 cup BBQ sauce, 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low. You should still be able to see intermittent bubbles. Cook, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If your sloppy joe filling is too thin at end, simply allow it to simmer uncovered for a few minutes until you have the desired thickness.
Notes
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