Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes

These Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes are the comfort food of our childhood. And forget about the jarred stuff. You don’t need a jar of premade sauce to make yourself a hearty, homemade Sloppy Joes sandwich. You can whip this up with just a handful of pantry items like tomato sauce and seasonings. This sandwich is just like what I grew up with, but maybe just a little bit better (shhhh, don’t tell Mom)! {And if you love a hot homemade sandwich, check out my recipe for Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches}

But it did get me thinking a little about the origin of this childhood favorite (I’m kinda weird like this). A little research has informed me that it likely originated in the early 20th century – maybe the 1920s or 1930s (but the jarred stuff has been around since the 1960s). It’s possibly a version of the midwestern loose meat sandwich or otherwise originated at Sloppy Joe’s bar in Key West, or the other Sloppy Joe’s bar in Havana, Cuba. Who knew?!

Anyway, this sandwich with its mysterious origins has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. And kids and adults alike tend to love it. I’ve made my homemade version with a tangy tomato sauce that has a hint of sweetness, plus a few spices. It’s super simple to make and feeds those comfort food cravings.

And don’t feel you have to use ground beef here. I’ve used ground turkey successfully, and you can make a darn good vegetarian version by substituting a combination of cooked lentils and chopped mushrooms for ground beef. You can even lighten up the calories by using a lettuce wrap instead of a bun.

I hope you try my version of Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes, and I hope you love it. Let me know in the comments.

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Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joe’s

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★★★★★

4.8 from 12 reviews

• Author: My Homemade Roots
• Total Time: 0 hours
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/4 pound lean ground beef or turkey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
• Pinch ground cloves
• Salt and pepper
• Rolls or Hamburger buns

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Instructions

1. Add oil to a large skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add ground beef to the pan and cook while breaking up the meat with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper.
2. When meat is almost cooked through and beginning to brown, add in onion and bell pepper. Cook until beef is nicely browned and vegetables are beginning to soften. Drain off any grease.
3. Add tomatoes, ketchup, water, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, cinnamon, celery seed, and ground cloves to the meat and vegetables. Stir to combine.
4. Cover with lid, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Turn heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally and add extra water if needed.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot on buns, or try lettuce wraps for a lighter version.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes