Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix
Description
This Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix is the easy, pantry-friendly seasoning blend that turns plain ground beef into smoky, sweet, tangy sloppy joes the whole family loves. Made with just 7 spices in 5 minutes, it skips the additives in store-bought packets and tastes a hundred times better.
Ingredients
For the Dry Sloppy Joe Mix:
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar, light or dark
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Sloppy Joes:
- 1 pound lean ground beef, 85/15 or 90/10
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup water,
- 2½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted
Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ small yellow onion, diced
- ½ green bell pepper, diced
- Shredded cheddar cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Mix the seasoning. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, dried minced onion, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Break up any brown sugar clumps with the back of a spoon. Set aside.
- Brown the beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains. If using onion and bell pepper, add them halfway through browning. Drain excess grease.
- Add the wet ingredients. Stir in the tomato sauce, water, apple cider vinegar, and mustard until smooth.
- Stir in the seasoning. Sprinkle the full dry mix over the meat and stir until everything is fully combined.
- Simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Serve. Spoon generously onto toasted hamburger buns, top with shredded cheese if desired, and serve warm.
Equipment
- Large skillet (12-inch)
- Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- Small mixing bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Measuring spoons
- Airtight jar (for big-batch storage)
Notes
- Big-batch tip: Multiply the dry mix ingredients by 4, 6, or 8 and store in an airtight jar for up to 6 months. Use ¼ cup + 1 teaspoon per pound of ground beef.
- Packet equivalent: This recipe makes the equivalent of one store-bought sloppy joe seasoning packet.
- Too watery? Simmer uncovered another 5–10 minutes or skip the water next time.
- Too sweet? Add an extra teaspoon of cider vinegar to balance.
- Make it spicy: Add ¼–½ teaspoon cayenne or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Vegetarian: Swap the beef for plant-based crumbles or 2 cans of drained, slightly mashed lentils.
- Slow cooker: Brown the meat first, then combine all ingredients in a slow cooker on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours.
- Instant Pot: Sauté the beef, add remaining ingredients, and pressure cook on HIGH for 5 minutes with a quick release.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store cooked filling in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Cool completely, then freeze flat in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Dry mix: Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark pantry for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 362kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 31gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 1424mgPotassium: 906mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 1390IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 121mgIron: 6mg