Quick 3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes - Fast, Comforting, and Crowd-Pleasing
If you need a warm, satisfying meal on the table in under 20 minutes, this is the recipe to keep in your back pocket. These Quick 3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes deliver classic, saucy comfort with almost no effort. They’re weeknight-friendly, budget-conscious, and reliably tasty.
Ingredients
- Ground beef (1 pound) – 80/20 or 85/15 works best for flavor and tenderness.
- Sloppy Joe sauce (about 1 can or 15 ounces) – A classic canned sauce keeps it simple and consistent.
- Hamburger buns (4 to 6) – Soft, sturdy buns hold the saucy filling.
Instructions
- Preheat your pan. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Give it a minute to warm up so the beef sears instead of stews.
- Brown the beef. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spatula and cook until no pink remains, about 5 to 7 minutes. If you like, season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Drain excess fat. Tilt the pan and spoon off extra grease, or drain carefully into a heatproof container. Leaving a little fat adds flavor, but too much makes the sauce greasy.
- Add the Sloppy Joe sauce. Pour in the canned sauce and stir to coat the beef evenly. If you’re using optional add-ins like a teaspoon of mustard or a splash of ketchup, add them now.
- Simmer briefly. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture should thicken slightly and become glossy.
- Toast the buns (optional but great). While the filling simmers, lightly toast the buns in a dry skillet or under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes. This helps them hold up to the sauce.
- Assemble and serve. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the buns. Serve hot with pickles, chips, or a simple salad.