This Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe is the ultimate comfort food. And it’s got a modern twist to add even more flavor! This is not your typical school cafeteria sloppy joes sandwich.

Is there anyone who doesn’t love sloppy Joes? Okay… I do know that there are some people who don’t love them (that’s probably because they had some really bad ones in their school cafeteria), but this recipe is for those who do!

This old-fashioned sloppy Joes recipe has all the classic rich tomato flavor that’s slightly sweet and slightly tangy, but I’ve changed it up a bit by using grass-fed beef. It adds a bit more texture and a deeper taste.

But if you don’t want to use grass-fed, feel free to use regular ground beef. It will still taste great!

Sloppy Joes Sauce

Let’s talk about the old-fashioned sloppy joes sauce for a minute. It’s the key to a classic-tasting sandwich! The fundamentals include tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, and apple cider vinegar. (See full recipe below).

And you can get creative from there. Some like horseradish, others like to use ketchup as the base. Some prefer garlic, others don’t. My old-fashioned sloppy joes recipe does have garlic, but I stick to the fundamentals to give it that classic taste.

How Do You Spruce Up Sloppy Joes?

I like the very traditional old-fashioned sloppy Joes taste and texture, but sometimes it’s fun to jazz it up a bit. If you’re in a jazzy kind of mood, try adding diced pickles, crumbled bacon, or minced black olives. Or top them with my Mexican Pickled Onions! Yum!!

Another way to change it up (and lighten it up) a bit is to use ground turkey (otherwise known as a sloppy Jane) and serve it on toasted flatbread. Or you can even serve it as a dip with pita chips. This works great for parties!

And serve them with something interesting like my Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries or this Crisp Green Salad.

How Do You Thicken Sloppy Joes Without Cornstarch or Flour?

This old-fashioned sloppy Joes recipe is pretty thick, but some people like to thicken it up so it’s a little less “sloppy.” And many of my readers try to avoid flour or cornstarch.

The easiest way to thicken it up is to let it simmer on medium-low heat with the lid off until it reduces to the desired thickness.

You can also add a slurry of equal parts potato flakes and water. Start with 2 tablespoons and add more as needed.

Make Ahead and Freeze

This is a great make-ahead meal. Once you have the sloppy joe filling the consistency you like, cover the pot and remove it from the heat.

Let it cool off a bit, then scoop it into a freezer bag or container. I love these reusable freezer bags. Thaw in the fridge the day before you want to use it. Then warm it back up on the cooktop over medium-low heat.

Ingredients In This Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

White Onion – Finely mince the onion so the texture doesn’t compete with the beef.
Green Bell Pepper – Like the onion, finely mince the pepper after removing the seeds and membranes.
Grass-Fed Ground Beef – I like the texture and taste of grass-fed. Plus it’s better for you!
Garlic – I prefer freshly minced garlic, but powdered will do in a pinch.
Tomato Sauce – This is the most classic base for an old-fashioned sloppy Joe recipe.
Brown Sugar – Start with a tablespoon, but add more if you want a sweeter mixture.
Yellow Mustard – I don’t recommend other types of mustard but feel free to experiment with spicy brown or whole grain if you’d like.
Apple Cider Vinegar – This adds tang and a little sweetness.
Worcestershire Sauce – This adds a lot of depth of flavor to the recipe.
Salt and Pepper – To taste.
High Quality Hamburger Buns – They’ve gotta be big enough to stand up to the ground beef mixture. I also like to toast the buns first.

How To Make Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes

Saute the onions and bell peppers. (See full recipe below)
Add the ground beef and saute until the beef is crumbly and no longer pink. Then add the minced garlic.
Add the remaining ingredients (except the buns!) and simmer until thick.
Build your sloppy Joe sandwich!

These old fashioned sloppy Joe sandwiches are a huge hit every time I make them! (Speaking of which, I think I’ll make some tonight…) Enjoy!