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Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce

Make sloppy joe sauce from scratch with this yummy, easy, and flavorful recipe. Never reach for the can again!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 236kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup water divided in 1/2
  • 2/3 cup ketchup
  • 2 dashes worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha

Instructions

  • In skillet, on med-high heat, saute meat and onions until meat is in small bits and onion is transparent about 6 minutes.
  • Add garlic and continue to saute until garlic is fragrant, a minute or two.
  • Pour in the first half of the water, scrape the pan, and add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 3 min on med-high heat.
  • Add the additional water, turn heat down to medium and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until thickened. Stir often.
  • Stir in the sriracha and vinegar.  Let stand a couple of minutes. Serve.

Video

Notes

Slow Cooker Version:

Adjusted Ingredients for Slow Cooker

  • 1/2 cup water (reduced from 3/4 cup to account for less evaporation in a slow cooker)

Slow Cooker Instructions

  1. Brown the Meat and Onions:
    • In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the ground beef and onions until the beef is well browned and the onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. 
    • Drain any excess fat from the beef and onion mixture to avoid greasiness in your recipe.
  2. Transfer to Slow Cooker:
    • Move the browned meat and onions to your slow cooker.
  3. Add Most Ingredients:
    • Add the garlic, 1/2 cup of water, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
  4. Cook:
    • Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. This long cooking process allows the flavors to get all squished together and get delicious!
  5. Final Seasoning:
    • About 30 minutes before the cooking time is complete, stir in the cider vinegar and sriracha. Adding these ingredients towards the end preserves their bright and spicy flavors and they don't lose their tang.
  6. Thicken if Necessary:
    • If the sauce is too thin for your liking at the end of the cooking time, you can thicken it by mixing a tablespoon of cornstarch with a little cold water and stirring it into the slow cooker. Increase the heat to high and let it cook for an additional 30 minutes to thicken that cornstarch addition.
  7. Serve:
    • Once the dish is ready, give it a final stir, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve hot. 

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 700mg | Potassium: 307mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.6mg