A hearty, old-fashioned Sloppy Joe made with seasoned ground beef in a tangy-sweet tomato sauce, piled high on toasted buns. Messy, comforting, and always a family favorite — the kind of simple weeknight meal that never goes out of style.

Sloppy Joes
A midwestern staple, Grandma Drine sorted through dozens of sloppy joe recipes before settling on this one. They taste awesome with Grandma Drine’s dill pickles and fresh onions from Grandpa Lowell’s garden!
Ingredients
Method
- Fry hamburger, onion, and celery until done, stirring often.
- Add catsup, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and enough tomato juice to make the right consistency. Simmer about 15 minutes.
- Serve hot in hamburger buns.
Notes
The actual title for this recipe is “Barbecued Hamburgers,” but we all lovingly refer to these as “Sloppy Joes.”
Advance Prep
The meat can be made in advance and refrigerated or frozen. Reheat to serve.