These Quick & Easy Sloppy Joes have been a family favorite for years. They’re my go-to recipe on so many occasions. Slightly sweet, slightly tangy and so, so good.
(Originally posted June 3, 2016)
I think Sloppy Joes are one of those foods that people either love or hate, depending on how they’re made. Sometimes I think they get a bad rap, but I have always loved them, even when my mom made them with Manwich instead of her homemade version. I think sloppy joes are definitely one of those nostalgic comfort foods, don’t you?
This recipe is so simple and can easily be adjusted to fit your tastebuds. It calls for a can of chicken gumbo soup (please don’t freak out) which might seem kind of weird, but it makes these so good. My boys love them and I love knowing that I can make them for dinner and won’t have any complaints.
These Quick & Easy Sloppy Joes have saved me many times over the years during our school Book Fairs that I was in charge of for years. Without fail, I would make these sloppy joes one of the nights I’d be gone and then put the meat in my slow cooker on warm so dinner would be ready whenever my boys wanted to eat.
Sometimes I put a butter on the buns and toast them on a griddle or skillet. It’s not necessary, but it gives a little bit of crispness to the sandwiches, aaaand doesn’t butter just make things a whole lot better?
With school out now and your kids home possibly driving you crazy, quick and easy meals like this are much needed. Oh and potato chips are a must. It’s kind of like peanut butter and jam go together, we think sloppy joes and potato chips definitely go together.
These are also our Halloween tradition. My mother-in-law made them every year for Halloween and I’ve kept the tradition going now that she doesn’t do it anymore.
If you ask any of my boys, they will tell you these are truly the best sloppy joes around!
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Quick & Easy Sloppy Joes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 –8 sandwiches 1x
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 can Campbell’s Chicken Gumbo soup (undiluted)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3/4 teaspoon mustard
- 2–4 tablespoons brown sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet brown ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain off any grease.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Serve on hamburger buns.
Notes
- I’ve been making these sloppy joes for years. My husband’s grandma made hers using chicken gumbo soup and the first time I tasted them I was hooked. She didn’t have an exact recipe, she just told me what she put in it and said the amounts were always different. So like her, I’ve never really measured ingredients, but have been keeping closer tabs lately so I could finally share the recipe. Feel free to adjust amounts according to your tastebuds. If you don’t like your sloppy joes sweet, stick to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. If you want more “tang” add an extra squirt of mustard, etc.
- Sometimes I butter and toast our buns and other times I don’t. It’s totally a personal preference. We sometimes throw a slice of cheese on top which makes them even more fabulous.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Sandwiches/Burgers/Wraps
This recipe is just like the one my mom used when we were going up and they are so good. I think it is the gumbo soup. But my mom added a little bit of quick oatmeal. This made the sloppy joes not so sloppy. but I also think it was a way she got a pound of hamburger feel 6 people. I just like the consistency of it.
I have never heard of adding oatmeal, great idea, I’ll have to try it. I love the gumbo soup in it too. Thank for leaving a comment.
We had these for dinner last night and everyone loved them!!! So glad I doubled the recipe. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with all these yummy recipes!
So happy you loved them! Thanks for letting me know!
These were so DELICIOUS!!! I tripled the recipe and they were a huge hit!! So good!! Thanks so much for the recipe! 🙂
Hi Brittany! I’m so happy they were a hit and thanks for letting me know! Happy holidays!
Perfect sloppy joes! I have always made them chicken gumbo soup but didn’t have set amounts. I followed your amounts and my family likes them even better. Never used the Worcestershire and it’s that extra little zing! Thank you , going to make lots for a family Christmas!
I’m so glad you tried these sloppy joes and loved them! They are a favorite in this house of boys! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, I really appreciate it. Happy Holidays!
My mother in law had these but her recipe had heinz 57 and A-1 also in it. I have lost the recipe. We always loved it.