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darn good homemade sloppy joes (*or bbq sauce)

(4 ratings)
WildfloursCottageKitchen avatar
Recipe by
Kelly Williams
@WildfloursCottageKitchen
Forked River, NJ

I used to buy "those cans" of sauce and kept thinking, what a waste of money! I make them homemade now, they're even better, so easy, and cost less, too! And I imagine healthier minusing all the additives and preservatives in those mystery cans... *This recipe can also be used as a bbq sauce for chicken, pork chops, burgers, ribs, etc.) This recipe is VERY good, hope you give it a try! Enjoy!! :D Photo by me.

(4 ratings)
yield 8 sloppy joes or 16 mini sliders
prep time 5 Min
cook time 15 Min

Ingredients For darn good homemade sloppy joes (*or bbq sauce)

  • 2 lb
    hamburger or 1 lb. hamburger and 1 lb. mild ground italian sausage
  • salt & pepper lightly
  • 1 1/2 c
    ketchup, i use heinz
  • 1/8 tsp
    garlic powder
  • 1/4 c
    dark brown sugar, can sub light brown
  • 1/4 c
    lemon juice concentrate
  • 1 Tbsp
    worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp
    vinegar
  • 2 tsp
    mustard, french's yellow table mustard
  • 1 tsp
    dried minced onions, *add for sloppy joes but not if using for bbq sauce
  • americam cheese slices, optional
  • 8
    hamburger buns, or 16 hawaiian bread mini buns/rolls for sliders

How To Make darn good homemade sloppy joes (*or bbq sauce)

  • 1
    In frying pan, brown ground beef til no longer pink, breaking up into very small pieces as you cook. (If you leave it in larger pieces/chunks, the meat won't all get coated as much, and won't be as good. Will also fall off the bun more easily.) Drain grease.
  • 2
    Add rest of ingredients, stir well to mix. Simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Serve on warmed hamburger buns or Hawaiian rolls with a little American cheese if desired.
  • 3
    *If using as a bbq sauce, simmer ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Grill meat (chicken, etc.) til just done or almost done. Baste well with sauce and cook 3-5 minutes longer. Turning and basting.
  • 4
    **If baking instead of grilling, the bbq-style sauce can be added to the raw meat and baked the entire time at 350 degrees til done. (*Boneless skinless chicken breasts from Walmart take 30 minutes at 350. Uncovered.) I like the ones from Walmart the best, they seem to be the juiciest for whatever reason!
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!

Categories & Tags for Darn Good Homemade Sloppy Joes (*or BBQ Sauce):

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