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!

Easy Recipes Family Dinner

If you want to see how meal plan and prep weekly can save you lots in your budget, check more meal plan ideas with easy recipes. Our family loves the restaurant copycat recipes too!

Walking Tacos in a Bag

Chipotle Black Beans Recipe

Chipotle Burrito Bowls

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo

Panera Bread Mac and Cheese

Homemade Bread Machine Bread Recipe

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe

Copycat Buffalo Wild Wings Recipe

Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe

Easy Homemade Brownies

Menu Planning Printables

Print

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recpe

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix and Sauce Recipe (10)
Print Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Andrea Deckard

Ingredients

Scale

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.

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 are the ingredients in French's Sloppy Joe mix? ›

INGREDIENTS: Spices (Dried Onion, Dried Garlic, Paprika, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper), Sugar, Modified Starch, Salt, Acids (Sodium Diacetate, Citric Acid), Natural Flavouring, Herbs (Oregano, Rosemary), Anti-caking Agent (Calcium Silicate), Rapeseed Oil, Colour (Paprika Extract).

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, ...

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.

Do you drain Sloppy Joe meat? ›

Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes or until crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally; drain. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce; heat through.

Can I use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste for sloppy joes? ›

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.

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 will thicken Sloppy Joes? ›

If you follow this homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, you should have the perfect consistency, but if it comes out too watery, try adding a small slurry of cornstarch with water.

What's the difference between Sloppy Joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

Unlike traditional can Sloppy Joes, which are often loaded with unhealthy additives and preservatives, Sloppy Janes are made with lean meat, low-fat ingredients, and a variety of fresh vegetables. They are easy to make and require only a few simple ingredients.

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 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.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6169

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.