Homemade Hot and Spicy Jalapeno Sloppy Joes

Last Updated on August 5, 2024 by Carne Diem

Protein:

Origin: North American, American

Method: Stovetop

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Calling all spice lovers and busy parents!  Do your taste buds crave a kick, but your weeknights demand quick and easy meals? Look no further than these Spicy Sloppy Joes! This recipe is a flavor explosion packed into a familiar, family-friendly dish with that classic sloppy Joe taste, only with spicy tomato sauce and jalapenos.

Why you will love these Jalapeno Sloppy Joe's

-The beauty of this recipe is its customizability.  Love the heat?  Bring it on with extra chili powder, red pepper flakes, or even a dash of cayenne pepper. Craving a milder option?  No problem!  Reduce the spice level to suit your family's preferences.

-Quick and Easy: Making the spicy sloppy joe recipe at home takes less that 30 minutes, making it the perfect recipe for those busy weeknights.

Making the Homemade Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe

To make these homemade spicy sloppy Joe's you just need to cook the beef, make an easy spicy sloppy joe sauce, and then top your sandwiches.

Ingredients for the Jalapeno Sloppy Joes

Here's What You'll Need to make the homemade jalapeno sloppy joes:

Ground Beef: Use your family's favorite ground beef. We prefer 80:20, but you can use leaner if you desire. We have also made the homemade sloppy Joes with ground bison, which also turned out really good.

Spicy tomato sauce: For the spicy tomato sauce we typically use Arrabbiata sauce, which we make from scratch, and you can find the recipe for here. Store bought versions also work well.

Tomato paste: Who will need about 1 tablespoon of tomato paste for the sloppy joe meat sauce.

Onion and Jalapenos: We prefer using sweet onions in the recipe to balance out a bit of the heat, but you can use your favorite. Yellow onions or red onions work well.

Brown sugar: A touch of sweetness from some brown sugar also helps to balance out the spiciness from the jalapenos and spicy pasta sauce.

Mustard: Traditionally yellow mustard is used, but we often swap this out with spicy mustard for some added kick. Either are perfectly fine.

Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds some umami flavor to the sauce and helps to balance the sweet and spicy notes in the sauce.

Seasonings and Spices: The sloppy Joe sauce is simply seasoned with salt and pepper. If you really want to kick up the heat you can add a little cayenne pepper as well.

Cooking the Hot Sloppy Joe Meat Sauce

We're ditching the overly sweet, mystery-ingredient filled store-bought sauce and making our own homemade sloppy joe sauce from scratch. It's surprisingly simple and delivers a depth of flavor that will leave you wondering why you ever settled for anything less.

Prep your ingredients by dicing your onions and jalapenos. It also helps to pre-measure the other ingredients, so they are all ready to go when you need them.

Heat the Oil: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat.

Sauté the Veggies: Add the diced jalapeno pepper and onion to the skillet and cook until just softened, about 3-4 minutes. 

Brown the Beef: Next, add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks (2-3 minutes). Drain any excess fat.

For more great sandwiches made with ground beef, give some of these recipes a try:

• Dutch Oven Crumbly Burger: Maid Rite Style Loose Meat Sandwich
• Stuffed Mexican Chorizo Burger
• New York Chopped Cheese Sandwich
• Brisket Burger Sliders with Horseradish Aioli
• Chris Madrid's Inspired Tostada Burger

Simmer the Sloppy Joe Meat Sauce: Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet. Stir well to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

Assemble and Devour: While the sauce simmers, prepare your hamburger buns. Toast them lightly if desired. Spoon the warm sloppy joe mixture onto the buns and pile high with your favorite toppings.

The best toppings for spicy sloppy joes

One of our favorite sloppy joe toppings is coleslaw. Use your favorite recipe or try or Jalapeno Coleslaw With Bacon Aioli.

To add a little bit of crunchy texture to the spicy sloppy joe recipe we top them with crispy fried jalapenos or substitute crispy fried onions for a milder option.

Tips and Tricks:

• Leftovers? No Problem! This recipe makes a generous amount of sloppy joe filling. Let it cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
• Slow Cooker Option: For a truly hands-off approach, brown the ground beef and sauté the vegetables in a skillet as directed in steps 1 and 2. Then, transfer everything to your slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
• Spice it Up Further: For an extra kick, add a dollop of your favorite hot sauce to the finished sloppy joe mixture or serve sriracha on the side for individual customization.
• Beyond Buns: Thinking outside the bun? This delicious sloppy joe mixture can also be served over tater tots, hot dogs, or even a bed of rice.
• Smoked Sloppy Joes: For a little bit of smoky flavor, we also love making the sloppy joe recipe on a smoker. Use a cast iron pan and cook the meat sauce directly on your grill or smoker. You will need to set up for direct and indirect heat.

So ditch the bland and embrace the bold!  This easy homemade spicy sloppy joe recipe is sure to become a weeknight favorite for busy families who crave a little heat.

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