8 Family-Friendly Sloppy Joe Recipes

Sloppy Joes aren't just for kids. These Sloppy Joe recipes are easy to make, and tasty enough that kids and adults alike will love them. Whether you make them for weeknight dinner, or game day gatherings, enjoy these ideas for sandwiches, burgers, and casseroles with that classic, saucy meat filling you remember from childhood.

01 of 08

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

Diana Rattray

Have you jumped onto the instant pot bandwagon? Use the do-everything kitchen appliance to cook up a delicious batch of Sloppy Joes for the family to dig into. You can make this recipe in only 45 minutes, and scale it up as needed for parties. Serve the meat mixture on toasted potato rolls or burger buns, with French fries or chips.
02 of 08

Sloppy Joe Sandwiches With Ground Beef and Sausage

Diana Rattray

Adding sausage to the usual ground beef mixture is a great way to boost the flavor of saucy Sloppy Joe sandwiches. With diced green bell pepper, onion, and celery, plus a little steak seasoning, they make a tasty, nutritious hot meal for kids and adults on cold winter days.
03 of 08

Sloppy Joe Biscuit Cups

Diana Rattray

Kids are sure to gobble up these mouth-watering, meaty biscuits that make an easy, filling lunch or dinner idea. Use a muffin tin to bake up warm buttermilk biscuits (using the kind of dough that comes in a tube). Top with sauteed ground beef in barbecue sauce, plus melty shredded cheese, and serve at once.
04 of 08

Crock Pot Sloppy Joe Sandwiches for a Crowd

Brian Macdonald/Photodisc/Getty Images

Please a hungry crowd on game day, or at family parties, with this easy crockpot recipe for a large quantity of rib-sticking Sloppy Joe sandwiches. Simply brown some ground beef, add it to your slow cooker with a few other ingredients, and leave to cook hands-free for 4-5 hours. Ladle it onto toasted burger or slider buns for serving.

Continue to 5 of 8 below
05 of 08

Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes

Getty Images

Love Sloppy Joes, but trying to eat more meatless meals? Vegan Sloppy Joes made with TVP (textured vegetable protein) are a healthful, meat-free alternative. TVP has a texture that mimics ground beef, and soy sauce, chili powder, and optional Sriracha are clever, tastebud-tantalizing additions to the sauce.
06 of 08

Sloppy Joe Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Earn cheers when you show up at potlucks and parties with this mouth-watering mash-up of two family-favorite casseroles. Line a casserole dish with seasoned ground beef. Then add a layer of rich and creamy macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle with buttery breadcrumbs, and bake to tender and crunchy perfection.
07 of 08

Baked Bean Sloppy Joes

Lauri Patterson/Getty Images

Stretch a pound of ground beef by adding canned baked beans, and classic Sloppy Joe sauce ingredients, for a budget-conscious family meal. Serve ladled over toasted kaiser buns topped with American cheese slices. Or use the mixture for topping waffles, for a unique breakfast-for-dinner idea.
08 of 08

Pork Barbecue Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

Brian Macdonald/Getty Images

The pulled pork sandwich meets the childhood-favorite Sloppy Joe in this tasty stove top recipe that swaps beef for ground pork, and is quicker to make than pulled pork barbecue. In just 30 minutes, your family can be biting into tasty, BBQ-style sandwiches, with no grill required. Top with cole slaw, and serve with pickles and chips.