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    Home » Dinners » World's Best Sloppy Joes From Scratch

    Published: Oct 7, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2022 by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links.

    World's Best Sloppy Joes From Scratch

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The World's Best Sloppy Joes are healthy, delicious, easy and fast. Both kids and adults love this mid century creation. What more could you ask for!

    Close up of a sloppy Joe on a bun

    If you're like me, anytime you make sloppy Joes you brown up a pound of ground beef or turkey and grab a can from your cupboard to mix in. Well, not anymore! Give up the preservatives and high fructose corn syrup and make tastier ones from scratch -- in a snap!

    A Mid Century Meal That's Still a Favorite Today

    Sloppy Joe on a bun, sitting on a plate with potato chips and a fork

    Sloppy Joes are thought to have originated in Sioux City, Iowa at a corner joint called Ye Old Tavern. Supposedly a cook named Joe combined the popular loose meat (ground hamburger) sandwich with tomato sauce, and the sloppy joe was born. It first appeared in cookbooks in the 1940's and has remained a casual family favorite ever since.

    The 1950's recipe shown on this vintage card tastes very similar to the popular canned sloppy joe mixes, only better. The freshly chopped onion, celery and green pepper make a world of difference in the taste of this dish.

    Mid century sloppy Joe recipe card
    1950's Recipe Card for Sloppy Joes

    I used to dread it when a recipe called for chopped items like onions and peppers. Not only are the vapors too much for my eyes, but it took me a long time to chop and dice. And even though I have taken knife skills classes, I'm still dangerous when I wield a knife. Kevin has had to come running with a bandage more times than I care to remember. I have since graduated to an onion chopper to make this task faster and easier, and tearless!

    Sloppy Joe Ingredients laid out in individual bowls
    Ingredients for World's Best Sloppy Joes

    Here's What You'll Need to Get Cooking

    The ingredients you need to make the World's Best Sloppy Joes from scratch are:

    • Ground beef or ground turkey
    • Yellow onion
    • Celery
    • Green Pepper
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Sea salt
    • Pepper
    • Sugar
    • White vinegar
    • Tomato sauce
    • Ketchup
    • Buns for serving

    Helpful Hints For Making Sloppy Joes

    • Measure and prep all of your ingredients in advance to make cooking go very fast.
    • Cook beef or turkey in skillet until almost, but not quite, fully browned. Then add vegetables and simmer for 5-7 minutes while meat continues to brown and vegetables tenderize.
    • Cook ahead of time then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 6 months, and reheat for a fast meal.
    Close up of a sloppy Joe on a bun

    World's Best Sloppy Joes From Scratch

    Nancy Blackstone
    The World's Best Sloppy Joes are healthy, delicious, easy and fast. Both kids and adults love this mid century creation. What more could you ask for!
    4.50 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 -6 Servings
    Calories 355 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
    • 1 cup diced yellow onion
    • ½ cup diced green pepper seeds removed
    • ¼ cup diced celery
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
    • ¼ cup ketchup

    Instructions
     

    • In a skillet, cook the meat over medium heat until it is almost browned, then add the onion, green pepper and celery. Cook on medium-low until onions are clear and vegetables are crisp-tender, 5-7 minutes. 
    • Add all remaining ingredients to the skillet and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve over hamburger buns, or store in refrigerator or freezer for re-heating later.

    Notes

    Meat mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days or in freezer bags in the freezer for up to 6 months. 
    Serve on slider buns for appetizers. Kids also love sloppy joes on slider buns for their meal!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 21gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 917mgPotassium: 671mgFiber: 2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 378IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword 1940's recipes, 1950's recipes, 1960's recipes, From Scratch Sloppy Joes, Mid Century Dinners, Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

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