“Food should be fun.” Thomas Keller
Sloppy Janes
When I was a girl scout trying to earn my cooking badge, my troop leader had us create a cookbook. I remember going to my friends’ moms, grandmas, aunts and anyone I knew who cooked to ask for their favorite recipes. The recipe that became a big hit in our house was the Sloppy Joe. My mom made it at least once a week. It was quick to make and fun to eat. We didn’t have to worry if the filling dripped all over us.
Since this is a truly busy and hectic time of year, I thought I would share an updated version of a childhood favorite.
Here are some fun facts that I found on Foodimentary about Sloppy Joes.
- The Sloppy Joe is known by many names, such as manwich, slush burger, dynamite and Sloppy Jane.
- History says that the Sloppy Joe originated in Havana, Cuba in the early 1900’s at a café known as “Sloppy Joe’s.”
- Several movies, such as It’s a Wonderful Life and Citizen Kane, refer to the Sloppy Joe.
- In 1969, Hunts introduced its Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce.
- March 18th is National Sloppy Joe Day.
Sloppy Joes

By December 6, 2013
Published:- Yield: 4 Servings
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Ready In: 35 mins
“Food should be fun.” Thomas Keller Sloppy Janes When I was a girl scout trying to earn my cooking badge, my troop leader …
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground sirloin
- 1/2 large onion, diced
- 1/2 large red pepper, diced
- 1/2 large green pepper, diced
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 10 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Heat olive oil, on high, in a large skillet. Add the ground sirloin and sauté the beef, breaking it into small pieces, until brown. Remove the browned meat from the pan.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and sauté the onion, peppers and garlic until soft.
- Add the brown sugar, the cumin, the cinnamon and the cloves to the pan and cook for one minute.
- Combine the tomato sauce, vinegar and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Pour over the sautéed mixture and cook 5 minutes.
- Add the browned sirloin to the pan and cook on low for 15 minutes.
Serve on a nice crusty bun.