Best Sloppy Joes Recipe Without Ketchup

Last Updated on May 7, 2025

Sloppy Joes recipe without ketchup is an easy, homemade version without using Manwich or packets of spices. And no ketchup is used, and it is generally too sweet and contains high fructose corn sugar.

This easy sloppy joe recipe contains natural ingredients that you may already have on hand. It is a really swell weeknight meal that comes together really quickly.

Not only that, you can double or triple the recipe for a group on game days, picnics, or potlucks. It’s a hamburger bun sandwich that sloppy joe fans will love.

Sloppy Joes Recipe Without Ketchup 

For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card. The photo below shows most of the items you will need to make the sloppy joes.

Breakdown of the Ingredients

Let’s start with the proper ground beef to use. I prefer to use ground beef that has a bit of fat in it for flavor.

85% lean and 15% fat is a natural for hamburgers and this is what I use. This contains around 65 calories per ounce.

If you would like to use lean ground beef like 93% lean and 7% fat, you would be saving about 10 calories per ounce of beef consumed.

When counting calories this could affect which blend you would like to use.

Using ground sirloin, the calories would be similar to standard ground lean.

If you use ground beef chuck it generally has more fat in it and you are looking at around 70 calories per ounce.

The key ingredient for the flavoring of the sloppy joes is the steak seasoning. Montreal steak seasoning is one that is used a lot.

It contains a blend of black pepper, coarse salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper, coriander, and dried dill.

If you have a favorite steak seasoning, by all means, use it. Or mix up your own blend. Chili powder might be a nice flavor to try.

For the onion and red bell pepper, give them a medium to coarse chop. I like to keep the chopped bits a little larger so that they add their own flavor when bitten into.

And if you prefer, you could use a green pepper if you’d like.

The brown sugar should be added according to your taste. I used 1 ½ tablespoons, but you may want your sloppy joes to be a little sweeter.

Start out with a lesser amount and taste, and add more as desired.

The type of sandwich buns that you use is your choice. MaryJo made some Kaiser rolls for us to use that were really good. Also, a brioche bun would be a good choice. 

I toasted the buns on the stove using a griddle pan and coated the buns lightly with butter.

Turn the heat up to high and that should toast the buns in a minute or less.

One more thing is that you may want to substitute a tablespoon of Dijon mustard for the red wine vinegar.

The Dijon would have less of a tangy flavor than the vinegar.

How To Make the Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

Start with a large skillet and add the olive oil. Keep your stove on medium heat and add the onion and pepper.

Let these sweat for 3 or 4 minutes to soften, stirring them around to avoid browning.

I prefer to have softer peppers and onions in the finished sloppy joe mixture. If you prefer to have a little crunch from the pepper and onions, add them after the beef has been browned.

Then, add the ground beef. Break the meat up into small pieces as it browns.

A wooden spoon is a good tool to use for this. 

Once the sloppy joe meat has browned, it may have let off a few tablespoons of excess grease.

The best way to remove it is to tip your skillet slightly to let the liquid pool on one side and use a spoon to remove most of it.

Then, stir in the steak seasoning and brown sugar at this time and mix to combine.

Finally, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar or Dijon mustard.

Stir this together and turn your heat down to a simmer, and cook for 4 or 5 more minutes to thicken.

Taste and add salt, pepper, or additional brown sugar as desired. Serve on toasted buns.

Recommended Side Dishes To Serve With the Sloppy Joes

• Cold Pasta Salad
• Baked Beans
• Pan-Fried Potatoes and Onions
• Crispy Oven Fries
  
• Healthy Potato Salad

Leftovers, Freezing, and Reheating the Ground Meat

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheat in a saucepan on the stove by adding a bit of water if necessary. Or, reheat in a microwave oven.

Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container such as a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Thaw frozen leftovers by placing them in your refrigerator overnight, or place your sealed freezer bag into a pan of room temperature water until thawed.

You may have to replace the cold water with more room-temperature water.

Reheat as mentioned above.

Try this easy dinner idea of sloppy joes made without ketchup and keep it in mind for upcoming games, potlucks, and picnics.