Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (2024)

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (1)

Whether your family calls this a sloppy joe or the brand name most people know of, Manwich, we can all agree that it's a quick and easy way to make some ground beef taste a lot better!

Not only is this Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix recipe less expensive than purchasing a packet of McCormick's or a Manwich can but you are leaving out all the additives, preservatives, and you have control over the sodium. I think the Sloppy Joe Sauce tastes way better too!

As you are reviewing the recipe below, you can choose to 2x or 3x the recipe. It's no more work to make a double or triple batch of the seasoning mix and you won't use all the spices required for the mix. It's definitely a staple we keep on hand for weekly meal planning.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (2)

Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning

A long time ago, I began to make my own seasoning mixes for lots of pantry staples. This recipe uses basic seasonings we always have in the pantry. I consider it a McCormick's seasoning packet copycat. I don't remember the last time we purchased seasoning packets at the store.

Now, the seasoning mix alone doesn't make a Sloppy Joe. You'll need wet ingredients for the Sloppy Joe Sauce, and those are listed below. All of the ingredients combined will turn the seasoning mix and ground beef into that Manwich or Sloppy Joe.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (3)

Recipe for Sloppy Joe Mix

  • 2 Tbsp, Paprika
  • 1 Tbsp, Onion Flakes
  • 1 tsp, Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp, Dry Crushed Basil Leaves
  • 1 tsp, Dry Mustard
  • ½ tsp, Salt
  • ½ tsp, Pepper
  • ¼ tsp, Celery Salt or Seed
  • 1 tsp, Cornstarch
Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (4)

How to Make Sloppy Joe Seasoning

  1. Combine all dry ingredients and stir well.
  2. Store in a glass container.
Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (5)

I mixed mine right in the container I was going to store it in.

The above measurements make one recipe, I usually triple or quadruple the recipe so I have enough for a month or so on hand.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (6)

Recipe for Sloppy Joe Sauce

To turn this into a homemade Manwich sauce, you'll need the sloppy joe seasoning mix above along with these ingredients:

  • ½ cup, Water
  • 1 Tbsp, Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 cup, Ketchup
  • 1/3 cup, Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix
Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (7)

Sloppy Joe Mix from Scratch

Stir the seasoning mix along with the wet ingredients together in a bowl. This makes the equivalent to one can of Manwich.

Add directly to pan with 1 pound browned ground beef. Let simmer until thickened.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (8)

What to add to Manwich to make it taste better?

With this homemade version, some people like chopped onions and bell peppers but my kids don't like those added so we don't add them. We just use the homemade seasoning mix and the sloppy joe sauce ingredients and that's it.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (9)

As I mentioned at the start, consider making a double or triple batch of the seasoning mix and you will still have plenty of the other spices remaining for other things. The cost for the spices and the wet ingredients for the Sloppy Joe Sauce is going to be a lot less than a can of Manwich at the store. Not to mention you don't need to run to the store and grab it when it's on the meal plan for the week!

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Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recpe

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (10)
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  • Author: Andrea Deckard

Ingredients

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Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix

  • 2 Tbsp, Paprika
  • 1 Tbsp, Onion Flakes
  • 1 tsp, Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp, Dry Crushed Basil Leaves
  • 1 tsp, Dry Mustard
  • ½ tsp, Salt
  • ½ tsp, Pepper
  • ¼ tsp, Celery Salt or Seed
  • 1 tsp, Cornstarch
  • ½ cup, Water

Sloppy Joe Sauce

  • 1 Tbsp, Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 cup, Ketchup
  • 1/3 cup, Seasoning Mix

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dry mix and store in a glass container.
  2. Combine all ingredients for the Sloppy Joe Sauce and mix together in a bowl.
  3. Add sauce directly to pan with 1 pound browned ground beef.

  4. Let simmer until thickened.

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Sloppy Joe seasoning made of? ›

A sloppy joe seasoning packet is just a combination of spices like chili powder, paprika, dry mustard, garlic powder, and minced onion. They also include dried green pepper flakes, cornstarch, and (¼ teaspoon) celery seed.

How do you make Sloppy Joe mix better? ›

15 Ways To Upgrade Canned Sloppy Joe Sauce
  1. Salsa brings a spicy twist. ...
  2. Try gochujang for Korean-inspired Sloppy Joes. ...
  3. Experiment with Worcestershire sauce. ...
  4. Red pepper flakes bring the heat. ...
  5. Miso provides the umami your Sloppy Joe sauce is missing. ...
  6. Liquid smoke enhances the meat's flavor.
Feb 19, 2024

What is in Mccormick Sloppy Joe seasoning? ›

POTATO STARCH, SUGAR, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, ONION, SPICES, GARLIC, GREEN BELL PEPPER, FD&C YELLOW NO. 6, FD&C RED NO. 40, AND NATURAL FLAVOR.

What's the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joe mix? ›

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 are the ingredients in Del Monte Sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Green and Red Bell Peppers, Salt, Modified Food Starch (Corn), Worcestershire Sauce Concentrate (Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor), Spices, Dehydrated Onions, Garlic Powder, ...

What is the origin of the Sloppy Joe recipe? ›

Some attribute the original Sloppy Joe to a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, where, many years ago, in 1930 a cook named Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. Voila: a new between-the-bread offering, and the sandwich's official name.

How do you thicken up sloppy joe sauce? ›

  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

What can I use instead of tomato paste for Sloppy Joe? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Should I drain hamburger meat for sloppy joes? ›

Do you drain the meat for sloppy joes? We suggest draining the browned beef, because excess grease serves as a barrier to sloppy joe seasonings. You'll want the beef to absorb these wonderful flavors as it cooks.

Does sloppy joe seasoning go bad? ›

To maintain the freshest flavor and color, Lawry's® Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix should be stored in a cool, dry place away from exposure to heat, humidity, moisture, direct sunlight and fluorescent light. Unopened Lawry's® Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix packages are shelf stable and can be held for use for up to 720 days.

Why are sloppy joes so sweet? ›

Most Sloppy Joe recipes call for lots of ketchup—1/2 cup to 1 cup—which makes the sandwiches overly sweet.

What is sloppy joe meat called? ›

Ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning, hamburger bun.

What is the fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.

Are you supposed to drain sloppy joes? ›

Nicole doesn't like to drain the meat after she cooks it (she likes to use the rendered fat to saute the onions and bell peppers), so she prefers using a lean meat. "When it comes to the bun," Nicole says, "the cheaper the better." For the classic Sloppy Joe experience, you want it to absorb all the excess liquid.

What is bold Sloppy Joe? ›

Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe Sauce kicks up the tangy taste of everyone's deliciously messy favorite. Made with a tomato base and bold seasonings, not only is Manwich Bold Sloppy Joe Sauce perfect for your next sloppy joe sandwich, but it's also great with tacos, meatloaf and party dips.

What exactly is a sloppy joe? ›

At its core, the Sloppy Joe consists of three basic elements — ground beef, tossed with a sweet, tomato-rich sauce (made with ketchup, chili sauce, or actual tomato sauce), and piled on a squishy white bun.

What does sloppy joe sauce taste like? ›

Once you've gathered the ingredients, it's basically like making Bolognese. And the flavour is somewhat reminiscent of it too, except Sloppy Joes taste a bit more like BBQ Sauce. The one big difference is that the sauce is cooked right down so it's really thick and not saucy at all.

What is sloppy joe taste like? ›

A Sloppy Joe is a beloved American sandwich made from ground beef cooked in a tangy and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce and served on a hamburger bun. The name “sloppy” aptly describes the sandwich's messy nature, as the filling tends to spill out of the bun.

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