Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe (2024)

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byAshlyn Edwards on Aug 10, 2018 (updated Jan 6, 2020) 36 comments »

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5 from 32 ratings

These Taco Sloppy Joes are the perfect mix of two dinnertime favorites! They are quick, easy to make, and a total crowd pleaser. Load them up with your favorite toppings and serve for an awesome dinner or for parties and tailgates!

Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe (1)

My kids and I like to play something we call the “Favorites Game” when we are trying to pass the time. It’s a pretty simple activity and not so much a game, even though that’s what we call it. ????

Basically we take turns asking each other what our favorite things are. I might start by asking them what their favorite book is. After everyone answers, then the next person will go and ask whatever they choose. Examples might include favorite color, ice cream flavor, movie, superhero, Disney princess, dessert, outside activity, holiday, place that we’ve lived, etc. We do it a lot when we are waiting somewhere, like at the doctor’s office or at a restaurant.

It’s a fun game to play because it keeps them occupied for a little while, and I enjoy hearing what their favorite things are since they actually change pretty frequently! The kids think it’s funny though because my answers usually stay the same, and they actually like to guess what all of mine are because they remember them. The one they NEVER forget is my favorite food/dinner: TACOS!

Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe (2)

I love tacos of any form, and I’ve become especially taco obsessed ever since we moved to Texas. The taco options here are out of this world, with so many fun and delicious variations. And because I’m taco obsessed, I make them at home a lot and I also like to try different ways of preparing them. Like these super yummy and crazy easy Taco Sloppy Joes!

To make the meat for these Taco Sloppy Joes, you only need five ingredients. Scoop it on to some buns and add your favorite taco toppings at the end, and dinner is DONE! If you need a super easy side dish to go with them, check out my Mexican Black Beans recipe. Enjoy!

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Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe (3)

5 from 32 ratings

Recipe: Taco Sloppy Joes

These Taco Sloppy Joes are the perfect mix of two dinnertime favorites! They are quick, easy to make, and a total crowd pleaser. Load them up with your favorite toppings and serve for an awesome dinner or for parties and tailgates!

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Ingredients

Sloppy Joes:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion,, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic,, minced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup chunky salsa
  • 1/4-1/2 cup water
  • buns,, for serving

Toppings (optional):

  • shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • shredded lettuce
  • diced tomato
  • diced avocado or guacamole
  • sour cream

Instructions

  • Brown ground, chopped onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium high heat. Drain grease and add the taco seasoning and salsa.

  • Reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 5 more minutes until mixture has thickened and is heated through. Add up to 1/2 cup of water to achieve desired consistency. Serve over hamburgers buns and add desired toppings such as shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, avocado, guacamole, or sour cream. Enjoy!

Notes

*Nutrition facts do not include buns or optional toppings.

Cuisine: American, Mexican Inspired

Course: Main

Author: Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Calories: 135kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 46mg, Sodium: 826mg, Potassium: 411mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 755IU, Vitamin C: 5.1mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 2.4mg

Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.

If you like these Taco Sloppy Joes, then you might also like:

Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

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Beef Dinner Game Day Eats Main Dish Mexican Quick Meals Sandwiches

originally published on Aug 10, 2018 (last updated Jan 6, 2020)

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36 comments on “Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe”

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  1. Jake Smith Reply

    My wife and I love this recipe!

  2. Donny Reply

    This is quite tasty. We’ve made it several times with some doctoring. We add corn and poblano peppers every time. And always guacamole!

  3. Nadalie Reply

    Never tried sloppy joe but this really looks yummy! I’m sure the family would love to try this!

  4. Jen @ JENRON DESIGNS Reply

    YUM what a delicious twist on a classic favorite!

  5. Sharon Reply

    Sloppy joes get a delicious taco upgrade! What a great family-friendly meal.

  6. Mimi Reply

    Yes! This is the perfect cheat meal for me for the weekend

  7. bella Reply

    Oh my this looks so good!!! I love sloppy joes I need to try and make this recipe! so tasty

  8. Marisa Reply

    This is a great way to change up the regular ole Sloppy Joes. Sounds yummy!

  9. Marina Reply

    I don’t eat meat but my husband does and this is the kind of dish he loves a lot.

  10. Floree | angelfloree Reply

    wow! i really love tacos! would love to try this recipe one day.

  11. Tima Reply

    This was so yummy. Easy to make

  12. greg Reply

    really seriously delicious. Def. in our monthly rotation from now on.

  13. Crystal Reply

    Made this sloppy joe for dinner. It was absolutely fantastic,, thank you! Made my own taco seasoning for this recipe, enjoyed this recipe so much!

  14. Irina Reply

    Made last Sunday! This delicious Taco Sloppy Joes is going to become my saver once we have unexpected guests! This happened yesterday. Thanks for shring.

  15. Pam Greer Reply

    I want to play the favorites game – my new favorite are these sloppy joe tacos!! What a genius idea! So good!

Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between sloppy joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.

Is there a difference between sloppy joes and Manwich? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

What is the sloppy Joe sauce made of? ›

What is the sloppy joe sauce made of? It's made with ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire, chili powder, garlic, dry mustard, and a little Tobasco (if you want). That sauce coats the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to make the filling.

How to make sloppy joes taste better? ›

Try serving your sloppy joes with their own toppings such as slaw, melty cheese, grilled pineapple, or Hatch green chile. Even just adding a pickle gives extra flavor and crunch, transforming it from a bland sandwich into something great, like the recipe below!

What is a New Jersey style sloppy joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

What is the fancy name for Sloppy Joes? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

What if I forgot the tomato paste in the sloppy joes? ›

You can use canned tomatoes, tomato sauce or even ketchup when you don't have tomato paste.

Do you drain ground beef for sloppy joes? ›

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Bring to a boil.

What is sloppy joe meat called? ›

Sloppy joe meat being prepared with Manwich sauce. Early and mid-20th century American cookbooks offer plenty of sloppy joe-type recipes, though they go by different names: Toasted Deviled Hamburgers, Chopped Meat Sandwiches, Spanish Hamburgers, Hamburg a la Creole, Beef Mironton, and Minced Beef Spanish Style.

Is sloppy joe a Southern thing? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.

What can I use in place of tomato sauce for sloppy joes? ›

Here are a couple of options to try.
  • Ketchup: Use 1 cup of ketchup in place of 1 cup of tomato sauce. Add spices to tweak the flavor as needed. ...
  • Tomato Soup: Add a 10 3/4-ounce can of tomato soup. Then, cut one of the wet ingredients in the recipe back by 1/4 cup to account for the extra liquid.

How do you thicken runny sloppy joes? ›

  1. Flour can be used similar to corn starch.
  2. Other thickeners used are bread crumbs, potato flakes and oats. ...
  3. Go gradually with these. ...
  4. Use oats to thicken sloppy-joes as to absorb the excess but it will be thicker the next day.
  5. Barley can be used but is more expensive.
Oct 29, 2021

Is mayo good on a sloppy joe? ›

Spread Mayo or Miracle Whip over toasted hamburger buns top with sloppy joe mix, sliced pickles and sliced cheese.

What's the difference between messy Jane and Sloppy Joes? ›

Our Sloppy Jane recipe is a healthy cross between chili and Sloppy Joes that makes great sandwiches. This is a hearty sandwich is made with ground turkey or ground chicken so it is lighter and lower in calories.

Why are they called Sloppy Joes? ›

García also sold iced seafood in his restaurant, and the floor was often wet from melted ice. This led some customers to tease García for having a “sloppy” restaurant. Eventually, the name “Sloppy Joe's” stuck with his establishment.

What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy otto sandwich? ›

Instead of ground beef, the sloppy otto calls for minced spicy sausage as its meat. The pork sausage is mixed with onion, green and yellow sweet peppers, and topped off with cheese. This gives the sandwich a cheesy tang and a vastly different mouthfeel compared to the saucy sweetness of the tomato-based sloppy joe.

What do they call Sloppy Joes in South Dakota? ›

Taverns = Sloppy Joe

What other Americans call a Sloppy Joe, South Dakotans call a tavern (or loosemeat). It's like a Sloppy Joe but without the tomato!

What is sloppy joe bold vs regular? ›

The majority used ground beef in the sauce - a concoction of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and spices - and made it into sandwiches. Food scientist Bill Skinner occasionally buys Hunt's Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce and described the bold version as being a little sweeter with more tomato flavor.

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