The Old School Sloppy Joes Recipe is still the best, consisting of ground beef, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and other spices. The simplest version has stood the test of time, d-lish!

The Best Old School Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are tasty and sloppy. It takes two hands to eat the yummy piles of loose meat between two buns or slices of bread.

The Old School Sloppy Joe Recipe is still the best, consisting of ground beef, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and other spices.

The name of this beloved sandwich says it all.

The simplest version of Sloppy Joe's Sandwiches is how it all began in the United States during the early 20th century.

They are as tasty as they are sloppy. The name comes from piling so much meat sauce on a giant hamburger bun, a tiny slider bun, or between two slices of your favorite bread that you cannot help but need a napkin.

Did I say they were messy?

Do you remember the last Sloppy Joe you had? I am guessing the last time your mother made them or a school cafeteria lunch, as I recall, was usually on the same day of the week.

For some reason, this humble sandwich has lost its favor with sandwich lovers in the last few years.

I used to make these sandwiches on game night and serve them with French fries. It was a quick meal, and my children loved it.

When my daughter was in college, she would stop by the local Bodacious Bar-B-Q and buy a soppy joe sandwich for $1. Now, those were the days.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE? TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR OLD SCHOOL SLOPPY JOES

Below, under the next heading, I give a list of preferred ingredients, tips, and cooking instructions for Old School Sloppy Joes and similar recipe ideas you can have.

You can also scroll down to the bottom, where you will find a full printable recipe card with the amounts of the ingredients, complete instructions, and notes.

TIPS AND TIDBITS TO PREPARE THE BEST OLD SCHOOL SLOPPY JOES

Hamburger. I like to cook the lean ground meat along with avocado oil to help keep it from being too greasy. This will cut the calorie count.

Vegetables. The vegetables may be cooked first, and then the meat may be added and cooked. The vegetables will be soft and translucent.

Substitutions. Red wine vinegar can be substituted for the Dijon mustard.

Seasonings. McCormick Steak seasoning may be substituted with your favorite combination of seasonings.

Taste. Adjust the taste of the sloppy joe mixture by adding more brown sugar, salt, or pepper.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE OLD SCHOOL SLOPPY JOES

Large skillet
Wooden spoon or a meat separator
Lean ground beef
Avocado oil
McCormick's Steak Seasoning
Onion
Bell pepper
Brown sugar
Tomato sauce
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce
Mustard
Salt and Pepper

HOW TO MAKE OLD SCHOOL SLOPPY JOES

In a large skillet on medium low heat, add the avocado oil and the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon or a meat separator, break up the meat into small pieces. Cook until all the ground beef has browned, 6-8 minutes.

Tilt the skillet slightly and spoon off excess liquid and fat.

Add the onions and bell pepper. Cook the vegetables with the meat until they soften, stirring occasionally to keep them from browning too much, for 3-4 minutes.

Stir in the brown sugar and steak seasoning and mix until well combined.

Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard; mix well.

Turn the heat to a simmer and let the sauce thicken for 4-5 minutes.

Taste and add more brown sugar, salt, or pepper if desired.

Generously add the sloppy joe sauce onto the bottom side of the bread of your choice and top the other side of the bread on top of the sloppy joe sauce.

Serve the sloppy joes hot.