A sloppy joe skillet is saucy, sweet and tangy ground beef simmered in one pan in about 25 minutes, with a sauce made from scratch out of tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard and a little brown sugar.
Homemade sloppy joes don’t need a can or a packet. The sauce is pantry staples, and a pound of beef makes six sandwiches. You can stretch it further with lentils or grated carrot.
It’s a fast weeknight dinner, and the filling freezes well. For more low-cost ideas, see our 10 budget dinners under $10.
Ingredients and Swaps
- Ground beef: 80/20 ground beef usually costs the least, and you drain the extra fat after browning. Leaner beef or ground turkey work too.
- Onion and bell pepper: Finely diced so they soften into the sauce.
- Sauce: Tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, yellow mustard and Worcestershire.
- Chili powder: Adds warmth without heat.
- Buns: Toasted hamburger buns. The filling is also good over baked potatoes or rice.
Tips for the Best Sloppy Joes
- Brown the beef well. Color on the meat means flavor in the sauce.
- Drain the fat. It keeps the filling from being greasy.
- Simmer until thick. The filling should mound on a spoon, not run. Ten minutes usually does it.
- Toast the buns. A toasted bun holds up to the sauce.
- Taste and balance. Add a splash of vinegar if it’s too sweet or a pinch of sugar if it’s too tangy.
Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.
Cost: Ingredients – $9.48 from Walmart, $8.99 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.50 to $1.58
Sloppy Joe Skillet
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper and cook for 7–8 minutes, breaking up the beef, until browned and the vegetables are soft. Drain excess fat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, and chili powder.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick. Season with salt and pepper.
- Spoon over toasted buns and serve warm.
Notes
- Use ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Stretch it further by adding a cup of cooked lentils or finely grated carrot.
- Serve over baked potatoes or rice instead of buns.
- Top with a slice of cheddar and melt under the broiler.
Ways to Stretch It
Stir in a cup of cooked lentils or a finely grated carrot to feed more people from the same pound of beef. For a version with more vegetables built in, see Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joes. Serve with Oven-Baked Fries.
Storage and Freezing
- Refrigerate the meat mixture for up to 4 days.
- Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until hot.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
Sloppy Joe Questions
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. The flavor improves overnight. Reheat and add a splash of water if it has thickened.
What can I use if I don’t have tomato sauce?
Use an extra ½ cup of ketchup and ½ cup of water, and leave out the brown sugar.
