This Sloppy Joes Recipe is a classic comfort food dinner that’s ready in a total of 20 minutes! Tender and juicy ground beef is simmered with peppers and onions in a sweet and spicy tomato sauce.

Serve plain on a toasted bun or load it up with your favorite toppings!

Our favorite dinner recipes are ones that are made with simple ingredients, a hit with the whole family, and quick to make!

This sloppy joes recipe checks all of my “perfect meal” boxes! It’s made with ground beef, a few veggies, a simple sauce made up of pantry staples, and a few basic seasonings. It’s also always a favorite at our house AND it’s ready in a total of 20 minutes!

I mean, a messy, hearty, flavorful ground beef and tomato sauce piled onto a golden-brown, toasty bun? Easy dinner doesn’t get better than that!

If I made these every day (and threw in the odd pan of Spaghetti and Meatballs, Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper, The BEST Oven-Fried Chicken or Teriyaki Chicken), my kids would be ecstatic.

What is a sloppy joe?

A sloppy joe is an American sandwich made up of ground beef simmered in a sweet tomato sauce and served on a toasted bun.

Sloppy joe sandwiches supposedly originated in Sioux City, Iowa in the 1930s when a chef named Joe added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwiches, thus creating what is now a classic comfort food dinner!

Ingredients for sloppy joes:

• Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef so the mixture isn’t overly greasy. If you use a fattier meat, you’ll want to drain the oil before adding the sauce.
• Red Bell Pepper and Onion: sloppy joe filling is a great way to sneak veggies into your kids’ meals. Bell pepper and onion are the classic additions, but feel free to add other veggies if desired.
• Garlic: use freshly minced or pre-minced garlic. Garlic powder will work, but fresh is always my first choice!
• Salt, Chili Powder, and Black Pepper: a simple trio of seasonings to take the flavor of an already flavorful sauce up a notch.
• Ketchup, Brown Sugar, Worcestershire Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar, Tomato Paste, Mustard, and Red Pepper Flakes: makes up the sweet, tangy, slightly spicy sloppy joe sauce. 
• Water: used to thin out the filling, if necessary.

How to make sloppy joes

1. Cook the beef: brown the beef with the onion and pepper. Stir in garlic, salt, chili powder, and pepper.
2. Make the sauce: To the beef mixture, add the remaining ingredients. Stir well, then add water to thin it out if needed.
3. Simmer and serve: Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer to thicken. Serve in buns with the toppings of your choice!

Sloppy Joes FAQs

Tips and tricks

• Play with flavor. Sloppy joe filling is very forgiving. Prefer a sweeter sauce? Add more brown sugar. Love the spice? Add a drizzle of hot sauce or sriracha!
• Add more veggies. Sloppy joe filling is a great way to sneak some veggies into a meal…especially if you have picky kiddos. Try adding mushrooms, peas, carrots, celery, zucchini, spinach, you name it. Make sure you chop any extra veggies pretty small so they incorporate well into the sauce.
• Double the recipe. Sloppy joes store beautifully either in the fridge or in the freezer. Get ahead on meal planning and double the recipe!
• If the sauce is too thin, simmer it longer to allow it time to thicken. Keep in mind that the sauce will also thicken as it sits.
• If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to thin it out. Don’t add too much water though because you don’t want to dilute the flavor!

Other ways to use sloppy joe filling

There are so many ways to use sloppy joe sauce, which means you should have no issue using up leftovers! Here are some ideas:

• On grilled cheese. Check out my sloppy joe grilled cheese recipe. It’s even better if it’s made with homemade Whole Wheat Bread!
• Mixed into pasta. It’s delicious in homemade mac and cheese!
• Over nachos or fries. Serve it over nachos with melted cheese or use it in place of the ground beef in BBQ bacon cheeseburger nachos.
• On baked potatoes. Turn Air Fryer Baked Potato into a heartier meal by topping them off with a scoop of sloppy joe sauce.

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Sloppy Joes

This Sloppy Joes Recipe is a classic comfort food dinner that's ready in a total of 20 minutes! Tender and juicy ground beef is simmered with peppers and onions in a sweet and spicy tomato sauce.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, canadian

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 264cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 red bell pepper (diced)
• ½ medium onion (diced)
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¾ cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons water

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Cook ground beef, onion and pepper in a large skillet over medium high heat until meat is browned and onion is translucent.
• Stir in garlic, salt, chili powder and pepper and cook 1 minute.
• Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, mustard and red pepper flakes and stir well. Add water to thin sauce if desired.
• Bring to a simmer over medium high heat and then reduce to medium low. Simmer until vegetables are tender and sauce has thickened slightly.
• Serve over buns.

Video

Notes

Notes:

• Play with flavor. Sloppy joe filling is very forgiving. Prefer a sweeter sauce? Add more brown sugar. Love the spice? Add a drizzle of hot sauce or sriracha!
• Add more veggies. Sloppy joe filling is a great way to sneak some veggies into a meal…especially if you have picky kiddos. Try adding mushrooms, peas, carrots, celery, zucchini, spinach, you name it. Make sure you chop any extra veggies pretty small so they incorporate well into the sauce.
• Double the recipe. Sloppy joes store beautifully either in the fridge or in the freezer. Get ahead on meal planning and double the recipe!
• If the sauce is too thin, simmer it longer to allow it time to thicken. Keep in mind that the sauce will also thicken as it sits.
• If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to thin it out. Don’t add too much water though because you don’t want to dilute the flavor!

 

Storage:

Leftover sloppy joe filling will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3-4 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then warm on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of water to thin, if necessary.

Nutrition

Serving: 178grams | Calories: 264cal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1238mg | Potassium: 803mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1449IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 4mg

The post Sloppy Joes appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

If there’s any meal that brings everyone to the table in record speed, it’s these crispy little turkey nuggets!

There’s so much to love about them:

• They are perfectly seasoned: savory, a bit salty, and a hint of spice.
• A boneless turkey breast filet makes these a cinch to whip up, and we love our turkey around here!
• They are a healthier option than those store-bought frozen nuggets, and the kids love them just as much (or more!)
• There are lots of different ways to make them your own — I’ve included a list down below.

These Air Fryer Turkey Nuggets cook quickly, so they are perfect for a weeknight meal when you need an easy win with the kids (or the husband, or the girlfriend, or your mom…. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love these!).

We love our sauces and dips in this family, so I’ve included two recipes for dipping sauce options: a sweet and sour sauce (my personal favorite, and my 8 year old I’m sure would drink this from a cup!), and a honey mustard dipping sauce, which goes well with so many things.

Feel free to serve with whatever you’ve got on hand that your family loves!

The Chefman Air Fryer:

I’ve partnered with Chefman and Turkey Farmers of Canada to bring you this easy Turkey Nuggets recipe, made irresistibly crispy in the Chefman Air Fryer.

I love how it makes these homemade nuggets a quick and foolproof weeknight meal, and it leaves no temptation for buying store-bought nuggets ever again!

It’s true that you could make turkey nuggets in the oven, but they are nothing like air fryer turkey nuggets!

These little bites are so incredibly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and they don’t dry out in the air fryer like they would in the oven.

Variations on these air fryer Turkey Nuggets:

• You can easily bump up the spice in these nuggets by adding a pinch of cayenne to the breading, or add a big squeeze of hot sauce or sriracha to the eggs before coating.
• Add an Italian spin and serve with marinara sauce for dipping. For the coating, add ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• Swap out the Panko bread crumbs for crushed Cheez-Its or another favorite cracker or chip for a fun flavor twist

What to serve with these Turkey Nuggets:

These air fryer Turkey Nuggets make a great simple meal, snack or appetizer on a large plate with a few different dipping options (included below!). Add a few fresh veggie slices for a quick, healthy lunch!

These nuggets also go well with these simple Roasted Potatoes and a big bowl of our favorite Broccoli Salad.

And of course, I’ll never say no to a big bowl of mashed potatoes topped with crispy chicken bites à la KFC.

What to do with leftover Turkey Nuggets:

Got leftovers? No problem!

Although leftover nuggets (and other breaded things) don’t reheat well in the microwave, there are ways to make them taste just as good as they did fresh!

Stovetop:

Preheat a large pan over medium heat and coat lightly with non-stick spray (this helps to crisp the nuggets back up).

Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until warmed through and crispy on both sides.

Oven:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and lightly grease a baking sheet with non-stick spray (you can use parchment, too, but I find they get crispiest right on the baking sheet).

Place the leftover nuggets on the pan and cook for 6-10 minutes, until hot.

*This post is generously sponsored by Chefman and Turkey Farmers of Canada and I was compensated for my time in creating this recipe. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Recipe Rebel possible!

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Air Fryer Turkey Nuggets

These Air Fryer Turkey Nuggets are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! The perfect easy dinner or snack, pair them with one of two different dipping sauces!

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 28 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 433cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 lb turkey breast filet (boneless, skinless)

Dredging Mixture

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder

Egg Mixture

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (or substitute any milk)

Coating

• 3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs (fine)
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

• 1/4 cup dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup honey (clear)
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Sweet and Sour Sauce

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1.5 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)

Instructions

• Preheat Chefman Air Fryer to 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut turkey breast into "nuggets", roughly half inch thick and 1.5-2 inches long. (I usually get about 25-30 nuggets per turkey breast filet)

Dredging

• Combine flour, paprika, salt, garlic powder, pepper and onion powder in a large zip top bag.
• Add raw turkey nuggets. Seal the bag and turn and toss until all are coated.

Coating the nuggets

• Gather two medium but shallow dishes.
• In one dish, whisk together egg and milk.
• In the other dish, stir together bread crumbs, flour, salt and pepper.
• Working one by one, remove turkey nuggets from bag and dip each in egg mixture, then coat in bread crumb mixture. Place on a large plate until all are coated and ready to cook.
• Place 8-10 nuggets on rack in Air Fryer and spray with non-stick or oil spray. Set the timer for 8 minutes at 400 degrees F. Flip nuggets at the 4 minute mark and spray the other side with non stick spray before continuing to cook.
• Turkey Nuggets are done when a meat thermometer reaches and internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

• Whisk together mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

• Whisk together sugar, vinegar, ketchup, corn starch and soy sauce in a medium skillet.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 433cal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 978mg | Potassium: 123mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Air Fryer Turkey Nuggets appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

We love, love, love this recipe.

I wish I could remember where I found this recipe…. possibly in a Taste of Home magazine that I stole from my mom. We have been enjoying this recipe for years, whenever we have some ham kicking around and need a super kick and flavorful meal! (Which is often when you have a 2 and a 4 year old in the house, tugging at your leg and not so patiently awaiting their lunch.) Just don’t forget the napkins — you’ll need them!

It is such an easy recipe! And the sauce is perfectly sweet and sour and would be great on just about anything. You can make it on the stovetop just like this, or you can throw everything in the slow cooker and let it cook on low for 3-4 hours until hot and thickened.

I know that our minds are onto summer and way past Easter, but this would also be a great recipe for using up leftover Easter or Christmas ham. Throw in some veggies and serve over rice or mashed potatoes for a full meal deal!

Feel free to smother these with any toppings you prefer on a barbecue ham sandwich: cole slaw, pickles, cheese, lettuce, etc. Me? I’m a meat-on-a-bun kind of girl. No interference (although I’m slowly coming around )

And might I recommend you slap your leftover barbecue ham between two slices of bread with a nice thick layer of cheese for the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich? I promise you won’t regret it.

Recipe and photos updated from June 30, 2014

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10-Minute BBQ Ham Sandwiches

Perfectly sweet and sour ham sandwiches, ready in 10 minutes! How can you go wrong?

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 sandwiches

Calories 370cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1-2 tablespoons corn starch prepared with equal parts water as needed
• 1 1/2 lbs shaved deli ham

Instructions

• Combine water through mustard in a large pan over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer 3-4 minutes to bring flavours together.
• Stir in corn starch and water mixture until you reach desired thickness.
• Add ham and heat through, 3-4 minutes.
• Serve on your favourite bun or roll.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 370cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1834mg | Potassium: 554mg | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1.8mg

The post 10-Minute BBQ Ham Sandwiches + VIDEO appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.