There is something very cozy about Sloppy Joes, especially when served in the winter. It’s a meal that brings me back to my childhood and I assume will someday be one that brings my kids back to theirs! This sloppy joes recipe has that classic taste but in the convenience of a freezer meal.
This make-ahead sloppy joes recipe has a bit of zip in it from the chili sauce. These can be heated either in the slow cooker or on the stovetop.
There’s no reason that Sloppy Joes can’t be enjoyed by people who eat gluten-free if they are served on gluten-free buns. I’ve included gluten-free instructions in case. Of course, if you are not on a gluten-free diet, you can make this the same way and use your favorite buns.
You can double, triple, or quadruple this recipe and separate them into freezer bags to have Sloppy Joes on hand for busy days.
Where did Sloppy Joes get their name?
The “Joe” part of the Sloppy Joes is a bit of a mystery, but it’s easy to see where the “sloppy” part came from! Be sure to have napkins on hand. These are messy to eat, but that’s part of the fun!
Some say that the name derived from a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa with a cook named Joe who added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwiches way back in the 1930s, while others insist that the name came from the famous Key West, Florida restaurant, Sloppy Joe’s Bar.
A smaller percentage of people insist that the name was born in Havana at Sloppy Joe’s Saloon. It’s hard to know for sure, but all agree that loose meat plus tomato sauce and sometimes other fillers served on a bun has earned the moniker “Sloppy Joes”. Based on an ad campaign from back in the 70s or 80s, they also became known by their nickname, the “Manwich”!
Sloppy Joes Freezer Meal Recipe:
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup onion, chopped finely
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped finely
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 14 oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce*
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- buns for serving
*If you are making this sloppy joes recipe gluten-free, be sure to use a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
To put this meal together, brown the ground beef. Mix the ground beef and all the other ingredients in a bowl and put them into a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal. Lay flat and freeze.
On cooking day, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Cook in a crockpot for 2-3 hours on low or cook in a pot on the stovetop until heated through. Serve on regular or gluten-free buns, sliced in half.
Our family’s preference for gluten-free buns is Udi’s whole grain gluten-free hamburger buns. They are a great size and consistency for Sloppy Joes.
There are lots of ways you can dress up or personalize this family-favorite meal. You can add pickles to the buns or top with cheese. You can butter the buns or leave them plain. You can even top these with potato chips (yes, really!). However you choose to serve them, this is one recipe your kids are sure to enjoy.
Other Easy Family Recipes:
This recipe is included in our Kid-Friendly Freezer Meal Menu Plan. The other recipes are also kid-pleasers and the plan includes printable shopping lists, prep lists, and printable labels making it easy to fill your freezer with meals your family will actually eat.
- 1 1/2 Â pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup onion chopped finely
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 cup green pepper chopped finely
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1/2 cup chili sauce
- 14 oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce*
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- buns for serving
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To put this meal together, brown the ground beef.Â
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Mix the ground beef and all the other ingredients in a bowl and put them into a large resealable freezer bag. Remove the excess air and seal. Lay flat and freeze.
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On cooking day, take the bag out of the freezer to thaw. Cook in a crockpot for 2-3 hours on low or cook in a pot on the stovetop until heated through.Â
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Serve on regular or gluten-free buns, sliced in half.
*If you are making this sloppy joes recipe gluten-free, be sure to use a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and serve on gluten-free buns.
Hi SHarla
I was wondering where do you buy you worshwire sauce that’s gluten free? Thanks Nicole 🙂
Nicole,
According to their website, Lea & Perrins is gluten free and since it is available at most grocery stores, that is what I use. This is the link to their website with the gluten free information. http://www.leaperrins.com/products/the-original-worcestershire-sauce.aspx
Thanks Sharla
I will be sure to pick some up I miss using it and didnt know where to get it gluten free 🙂
Is there something I can use in place of the chile sauce? It is not something I would use often and would probably go to waste…
I googled it and apparently seafood cocktail sauce or ketchup mixed with a bit of pickle relish will work as substitutes for chili sauce. Let me know how it turns out!
Most of the jars are 8oz. You could make a double batch. Honestly I’ve put it on/in meatloaf before. It’s not spicy. I’ve made a version very similar from an old once a month freezer cookbook. I did find I preferred to use white sugar. Brown sugar was too sweet for me.
I’m a literal cook, no instincts whatsoever so this may be a silly question but…
When you brown the meat, do you use the onion and spices or brown it plain and just add those things in the bag before you freeze?
I brown it plain and add those into the bag before freezing but you could do either.
It was too sweet for me, I only had orange pepper and that may have added to sweetness, I added about 1/4 tsp of liquid smoke . That seemed to help