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Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and quick, ready in just 25 minutes. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness.

In addition to enjoying it on sandwich rolls, the beef mixture is tasty over rice, pasta or baked potatoes. You can also use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef.

This homemade small batch recipe makes a great lunch, dinner, or game day meal for two.

Best Homemade Sloppy Joe on a plate.
Best Homemade Sloppy Joes for Two

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Best side dish for Sloppy Joes

Try these Homemade Baked Beans or this Cream Coleslaw.

How to make Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

On a small cutting board, dice the onion.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain the grease and return the beef to the pan. Click for a medium non-stick skillet.

ground beef and onion frying in a pan.

Add the diced onions until they start to soften.

Then add the minced garlic, tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and salt. Mix until combined well.

Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar cooking in a pan.
Sloppy Joes with Brown Sugar

Allow to simmer on low for 20 minutes.

Serve the ground beef mixture on two soft sandwich buns.

Sloppy Joe loose meat sandwich on a plate.
Great as an open face Sloppy Joe

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Yield: Serves 2

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe loose meat sandwich on a plate.

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and quick, ready in just 25 minutes. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness. The beef mixture is tasty over rice, pasta or baked potatoes. You can also use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 of an onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 2 soft sandwich buns

Instructions

  1. On a small cutting board, dice the onion.
  2. In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain the grease and return the beef to the pan. Click for a medium non-stick skillet.
  3. Add the diced onions until they start to soften.
  4. Then add the minced garlic, tomato paste, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and salt. Mix until combined well.
  5. Allow to simmer on low for 20 minutes.
  6. Serve the ground beef mixture on two soft sandwich buns.

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As an Amazon Associate I may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase through product links in this post.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 497Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 736mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 3gSugar: 9gProtein: 36g

Nutrition information is a guideline only, is calculated automatically by third party software, and absolute accuracy is not guaranteed.

Did you like this recipe?

Please leave a comment on this post and pin this recipe on Pinterest.

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joe on a plate.
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes on parchment paper.
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

This recipe is also on my other site Zona’s Lazy Recipes and serves 4.

Barbara Bosworth

Friday 5th of August 2022

I am totally seeing this being done in my Instant Pot. I'm thinking going to sauté the meat and pressure 7 minutes.

Zona

Friday 5th of August 2022

Hi Barbara, great idea! Please let me know how it turns out so I can add your suggestion to the post. Thanks :)

Jennifer Warren

Tuesday 29th of June 2021

I just made this for myself, and it was really delicious!

Zona

Wednesday 30th of June 2021

Hi Jennifer, so glad to hear it! Thank you

Johanna Beebe

Monday 19th of April 2021

Love this recipe for 2.. liked using tomato paste instead of ketchup!

Zona

Monday 19th of April 2021

Hi Johanna, I'm happy you like these delicious Sloppy Joes. Thank you :)

Charlotte

Wednesday 9th of December 2020

This was so simple and delicious!

Zona

Wednesday 9th of December 2020

Hi Charlotte, thank you! I'm so happy you enjoyed it :)

Nancy

Saturday 7th of November 2020

Good! Love having the reduced amounts so I don’t have to figure it out. Recommended. Added a little green pepper to the onions.

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