Fall is officially sloppy joe season (it’s not just me right?). If you don’t already include sloppy joes in your weekly meal planning, please consider starting a new tradition. Not only are they super fast and easy to make, but they are also fan favorites. Like everything, there is a traditional recipe that has stood the test of time and there are also hundreds of variations of the sloppy joe so you could plausibly make a different version once a week for an entire year. Imagine that.
And because these are super sloppy (hence being called sloppy joes), make sure you have lots of reusable paper towels on hand like our favorites from Marley’s Monsters (affiliate).
I’m sharing some of my very favorite sloppy joe recipes here, but I know there are so many more out there. If you have a favorite that I need to consider, please send me a message here or through our Recipe Rescue group. I always love discovering a new must-try recipe.
Top Image: Sloppy Joes Italian Style from Laughing Spatula and Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese from Spicy Southern Kitchen
Traditional sloppy joes
Sloppy joes are really so simple to make and odds are you have most of the ingredients in your pantry already so please don’t buy the can of sloppy joe sauce that is full of preservatives. This recipe for The Best Sloppy Homemade Joes from The Chunky Chef is the real deal and almost exactly like my mom’s recipe that I have hand-written on the back of an envelope stuck in a cookbook on my bookshelf.
Philly cheese steak sloppy joes
Sabrina at Dinner then Dessert has created some of my family’s very favorite recipes, in fact, her recipe for Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes often finds its way into my weekly meal plans. But these Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes are a drop everything and make this right now recipe. Like right now – go do it – I will wait. This recipe has been pinned over half a million times on Pinterest, so after you lick the skillet clean, you can go and pin it as well.
Related: Authentic Philly Cheese Steak Recipes
Chili cheese sloppy joes
I don’t typically make sloppy joes in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker because they really don’t need that kind of time. But if you are going to be running around all afternoon, consider popping these Chili Cheese Sloppy Joes from Modern Farmhouse Easts into your slow cooker so they are ready to go whenever everyone gets home. The chili beans and seasonings give this sloppy joe recipe a southwest kick, and if you want to skip the buns you can spoon this sloppy joe concoction on top of crinkle-cut french fries topped with shredded cheddar cheese and it is so good.
Pizza sloppy joes
These Pizza Sloppy Joes on Garlic Bread Rolls from Celebrating Sweets come together from start to finish in about the same time it would take you to order take-out pizza. I think they are tastier than take-out pizza too. One thing I love about this recipe is that you can tailor it to fit whatever pizza toppings your family prefers – I typically chop up zucchini and throw some sliced black olives in the mix.
Related: 25 creative pizza toppings
Sloppy joe grilled cheese
File this recipe for Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese from Spicy Southern Kitchen under “Why didn’t I think of this?” I mean, what more is there to say about this recipe except get in my belly right now.
Related: 7 Grilled cheese recipes that your family will ask for over and over
Vegan sloppy joes
If you don’t have meat eaters in your house, no worries. This Vegan Sloppy Joes recipe from Minimalist Baker is both vegan and gluten-free and uses green or red lentils as the heart of this “joe”. It still takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and it really tastes amazing.
Related: How to go vegan with kids
Hawaiian-inspired sloppy joes
These Hawaiian Sloppy Joes from Carlsbad Cravings are smothered in a Hawaiian BBQ sauce that is so good, you will literally be licking your fingers and plate clean. The pineapple and molasses add the “tang” to this sandwich, and I love Jennifer’s suggestion to serve these on Hawaiian sweet rolls. But do toast them first so that they hold up to the filling a little longer.
Asian-inspired sloppy joes
You may not immediately think about ground pork as the main ingredient for sloppy joes, but combine it with some ginger, hoisin sauce, and chili sauce you get these amazing Asian Sloppy Joes from Show Me The Yummy. These may be your family’s next favorite meal. I think the broccoli slaw is perfect on these, but if you sub regular cabbage slaw that will do just fine.
Related: 14 AAPI-owned food companies you should know about
Sloppy Joes Italian Style
This recipe for Sloppy Joes Italian Style from Laughing Spatula is just like sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen soaking french bread into a big bowl of her comforting spaghetti sauce. You will want to put this recipe on repeat during those chilly evenings after all of the practices and games. It comes together in under 35 minutes, and in my opinion, the grilled french bread is the real hero in this recipe.
