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    Home » Recipes » Sandwich

    Homemade Manwich (Sloppy Joes)

    Published: Apr 16, 2024 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Homemade Sloppy Joes - Better than Manwich

    Homemade Manwich Sloppy Joes are not only easy to throw together, the rich zesty flavor is better than store-bought!

    Ever since developing this recipe, I have never purchased another can of Manwich. This easy meal is effortless to make, and I always seem to have the simple ingredients on hand, since they are mostly pantry staples.

    Homemade Sloppy Joes on sesame seed bun.

    The classic sloppy Joe, as we know it today, is mostly associated with Manwich, but it was actually born from Loose Meat Sandwiches, popular in Iowa. It is said that a cook, appropriately named "Joe", added tomato sauce to a loose meat sandwich, and a new classic was born!

    This homemade sloppy Joes recipe recreates much of what I love about Manwich, while taking these classic sandwiches to the next level! The sauce bursts with a deeper, richer, flavor that I absolutely love! Most importantly, you probably have all of the ingredients for it already in your kitchen!

    Plus, let's be honest, we all feel a bit lazy dumping Manwich from a can and calling it dinner. If you make my homemade Manwich recipe, not only is it a great recipe, but you get the satisfaction of making classic sloppy Joes from scratch!

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    • Lean ground beef - The best beef for making sloppy Joes is 90/10 ground beef in my opinion. 80/20 is great for making burgers, but it is a little greasier than I prefer for sloppy joes.
    • Onion 
    • Green pepper - Red bell peppers are a sweeter substitute.
    • Fresh garlic - You can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
    • Ketchup - BBQ sauce can be used to take the flavor in a different direction, like my BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes.
    • Cider vinegar
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Brown sugar
    • Dijon mustard - Any brown mustard is a good substitution. You can even use Yellow mustard or ground mustard if needed.
    • Paprika - Smoked paprika is a great substitution for a deeper flavor.
    • Cayenne pepper - You can substitute chili powder or crushed red pepper flakes.
    • Salt
    • Buns - Simple hamburger buns are the classic choice, but you can upgrade to toasted Pretzel buns or brioche buns for a gourmet twist.

    For comparison, here is the difference between my homemade Manwich above, and the ingredients you'll find in store-bought Manwich below.

    Canned Manwich Ingredients: Tomato puree (Water & Tomato Paste), High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Sugar, Carrot Fiber, Guar Gum, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Dried Garlic, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid.

    I don't know about you, but my homemade ingredient list using real ingredients looks a lot more appetizing!

    Bowl of sloppy Joe meat and buns.

    How to make Homemade Sloppy Joes

    I find it is best to make this in a deep-sided skillet like a saute pan your sloppy Joes. You can use nonstick or stainless, but if given the choice I would recommend using stainless because you will get more flavorful fond building up on the bottom of the pan that will incorporate into the sauce.

    To begin, we are going to brown the ground beef in the skillet set over medium high heat until it is well browned and crumbled.

    Once the ground meat has browned, all of the remaining homemade Manwich ingredients can be added and simmered together for 25 minutes. They are ready to serve when the liquid has reduced into a thick and sloppy sauce.

    Serve the meat mixture on hamburger buns with your favorite sloppy Joe fillings, alongside potato chips, French fries, thick-cut steak fries, or baked beans.

    Serving tip: Sloppy Joes are perfect for serving a crowd, and the easiest vessel to use when serving a crowd is your slow cooker. These sloppy Joes can be made in advance and kept warm in the slow cooker, just follow the recipe as written and pour into a crockpot for serving.

    Homemade Sloppy Joes on bun shown close up.

    Storing Leftovers

    This homemade Manwich recipe can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week in an airtight container. Leftover sloppy Joe meat can be reheated in the microwave until warmed through.

    Close up Sloppy Joes

    Homemade Sloppy Joes - Better than Manwich

    Homemade Sloppy Joes are not only easy to throw together, the rich zesty flavor is better than Manwich!
    4.94 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 339kcal
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    Equipment

    • Large skillet

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds extra lean ground beef
    • ½ onion (diced)
    • 1 green pepper (small diced)
    • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 ¼ cup ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
    • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoons dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • fresh ground black pepper to taste
    • 8 hamburger buns for serving

    Instructions

    • Add ground beef and onions to a large skillet set over medium high heat and cook until beef is browned.
    • Add all remaining ingredients (except for buns) and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until beef is crumbly and liquid has formed a thick sauce.
    • Serve on a toasted bun.

    Notes

    Note: The longer the mixture cooks, the thicker it will get. You want the sloppy joes to be thick enough to stand up on a wooden spoon so they don't ooze out of the hamburger bun.
     
     

    Nutritional Information

    Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1235mg | Potassium: 616mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 337IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @FoxValleyFoodie or tag #foxvalleyfoodie!

    This recipe was originally published April 8, 2020.

    More Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipes

    • BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
      BBQ Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
    • Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
      Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
    • Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
      Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
    • How to Make Sausage Pizza Sloppy Joes
      Sausage Pizza Sloppy Joes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Trina A.

      August 10, 2024 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe.

      This was a great balance of flavors and "sloppiness". My only change next time (and there will be a next time!) will be to slightly reduce the brown sugar.

      Served it with a slice of sharp Cheddar cheese on a lightly toasted sesame brioche bun and served steamed broccoli as a side. Delish!

      Reply
    2. Susan

      June 04, 2024 at 10:20 pm

      I can't make Sloppy Joes without dill pickle relish. It might take the place of your vinegar. The amount varies with the volume I'm making; just start smaller and keep adding to taste. You'll know when you know!

      Reply
    3. Judy

      October 17, 2023 at 6:31 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is a winner. Husby loved it. I cut the recipe in half and added one clove of garlic. Instead of cider vinegar I used regular vinegar. Another great recipe from Fox Valley Foodie for sure!

      Reply
    4. Mac

      March 05, 2023 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      Good recipe only issues way to much garlic 2 cloves is plenty

      Reply
    5. Susie

      February 19, 2022 at 3:18 pm

      Will be our dinner tonight - Made per recipe minus a tablespoon less of brown sugar and it is delicious !

      Reply
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    4.94 from 16 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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