Three Ingredient Sloppy Joes

There’s something nostalgic about Sloppy Joes, right? They remind me of childhood dinners, especially around Halloween. My mom would whip them up before we ran out the door in our costumes, and somehow they always hit the spot.

Now, they’re a hit in my own house too! My kids devour them, my husband tops his with pickles, and I sometimes ditch the bun altogether for a Sloppy Joe salad (trust me, it works!).

Instead of cracking open a canned sauce, you just need salsa and barbecue sauce! Stir it all into cooked ground beef, and dinner’s done!

Before You Get Started

These are meant to be easy, but a few smart choices will help you get the best flavor and texture.

• Choose your salsa wisely. Picante-style salsa works great here. Use your favorite kind! Chunky, smooth, mild, or spicy. Just make sure it’s not too watery.
• Use lean ground meat. 93–95% lean ground beef keep things light.
• Double it! This is a great recipe for meal prep! Leftovers freeze and reheat beautifully.
• Choose the right bbq sauce. Whatever you love! You can use sweet, tangy, smoky, or spicy. Each gives the Sloppy Joes a fun twist!

How to Make 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes

Here’s how I pull this together even on the busiest weeknights!

1. Brown the Beef

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and cook until it’s fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.

2. Add the Sauce

Stir in salsa and barbecue sauce. Let it simmer for a few minutes over medium heat until everything is hot and well combined.

3. Serve It Up

Spoon onto toasted buns, over a salad, or into a bowl. Top with green onions, cheese, pickles, or whatever you love!

Tips and Tricks for Next-Level Sloppy Joes

For such a simple dish, there are lots of ways to take it up a notch! These are my favorite easy upgrades.

• Simmer the sauce a little longer. Give the flavors 2–3 minutes to meld for a richer, more “from-scratch” taste.
• Stretch the filling with beans or lentils. Add canned lentils or mashed white beans to bulk it up without more meat.
• Create a "sloppy joe bar." For picky eaters or gatherings, set out toppings like shredded cheese, jalapeños, pickles, and buns so everyone can build their own.
• Add some veggies to the mix. Consider mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, or you can stir in some spinach at the end.

How to Serve Sloppy Joes

To keep these Sloppy Joes light you have several options. We actually really love to serve Sloppy Joe Salads, omitting the buns and enjoying the meat over a bed of crispy romaine. You can also serve over cauliflower rice, or as an open face sandwich. You can also beef up the mixture by adding some sauteed mushrooms or vegetables to the meat. Have fun experimenting to find which variation your family will enjoy the most!

• Make a sandwich: Any hearty bun will work and you can use a reduced calorie bun if you are looking to cut back on calories. Top the sandwich with some sliced onions, cheese, and in our house we like to throw on some pickles as well.
• Make a salad: Choose crispy lettuce that can stand up to the weight of the meat. Romaine lettuce is one of the best options for this. The sauce of the sloppy joes works as the dressing and you can throw in any other veggies you like.
• Make a bowl-style meal: Start with a bed of rice or cauliflower rice. We also like starting with some mashed cauliflower or polenta.

Storage and Freezing

This recipe is a freezer hero! Here’s how to store and reheat for future meals.

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Let the mixture cool completely, then freeze in portions. Thaw overnight in the fridge or reheat directly from frozen.
• Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet or microwave with a splash of water if needed.
• Leftover idea: Use Sloppy Joe filling in stuffed peppers with cooked rice and cheese or stuff into baked potatoes or sweet potatoes!