Chili Beef Sloppy Joes
Bold twist on classic sloppy joes using hearty chili beef with tangy tomato sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire. The chunky beef delivers bigger flavor and better texture than traditional ground beef. Ready in 20 minutes.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring spoons
- Serving Plates
Ingredients
Sloppy Joe Sauce
- 2 lb Batch Chili Beef thawed
- 1 can Tomato Sauce 15 oz
- ¼ cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Yellow Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ cup Beef Broth if needed to thin
For Serving
- 8 Hamburger Buns toasted
- Pickles sliced
- Cheese shredded, optional
- Onions diced, optional
Instructions
Cook
- Add the thawed chili beef to a large skillet over medium heat.
- Break up any large chunks and heat through, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- Stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
- If the mixture is too thick, add beef broth 1-2 tablespoon at a time until the sauce is thick enough to stay on the bun without running off.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more brown sugar for sweetness or more Worcestershire for tanginess.
Assemble and Serve
- Toast the hamburger buns in a skillet or under the broiler until lightly golden.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture generously onto the bottom buns.
- Top with pickles, cheese, or onions if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Making sloppy joes with chili beef is a bold twist on a classic. The hearty chunks of beef live up to the flavor upgrade. Traditional sloppy joes use fine ground beef that can get mushy—chili beef gives you better texture and more satisfying bites. The sauce balances tangy, sweet, and savory with tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and mustard. Toast the buns to keep them from getting soggy under the saucy beef. Serve with pickles for crunch and acidity. This recipe comes together in 20 minutes using your batch chili beef. It's comfort food that kids and adults both love. Leftovers reheat well—store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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