Ultimate Homemade Bacon Sloppy Joes: Easy, Flavorful & Family-Friendly Dinner
Craving a classic comfort food with an irresistible twist? These Homemade Bacon Sloppy Joes are packed with savory flavor and can be on your table in under 40 minutes, making them an ideal choice for busy weeknights or casual game day gatherings. This recipe elevates the beloved sloppy joe by incorporating crispy bacon, adding an incredible depth of flavor and a delightful textural contrast that your family will absolutely adore.
Why This Bacon Sloppy Joe Recipe Is a Must-Try
While we cherish our classic Sloppy Joe recipe for its timeless appeal, the addition of bacon in this version truly transforms this humble dish into something extraordinary. Bacon brings a smoky, salty, and utterly delicious dimension that takes the comfort food experience to an entirely new level. It’s not just an ingredient; it’s a flavor enhancer that makes every bite more satisfying.
Sloppy Joes are universally loved, and for good reason! They’re quick, easy, and undeniably delicious. This bacon-infused version is a definite family favorite in our home. Everyone loves sinking their teeth into a big, messy bun overflowing with this rich, savory meat mixture. It’s the kind of meal that evokes nostalgia and creates new, fond memories around the dinner table. What’s more, on those rare occasions when there are leftovers, they reheat beautifully, making them perfect for lunch the next day or a quick grab-and-go meal. The flavors deepen overnight, making the second serving arguably even better than the first!
RELATED: To perfect your bacon game for this recipe or simply for a snack, you might also like our easy recipe for Air Fryer Bacon.
Essential Ingredients for Your Bacon Sloppy Joes
Crafting the perfect Bacon Sloppy Joe starts with quality ingredients. Below, we’ll detail what you need and offer some helpful tips for substitutions and considerations. For all precise measurements and detailed instructions, remember to refer to the printable recipe card located at the end of this comprehensive guide.
GROUND MEAT – This recipe is designed to shine with lean ground beef, which provides a robust and satisfying base for the sloppy joe sauce. However, its versatility allows for easy substitution. You can confidently use the same amount of your favorite ground meat. Ground turkey or chicken are excellent choices if you’re looking for a lighter alternative, offering a milder flavor profile that still perfectly absorbs the delicious sauce. For those seeking a richer, gamier taste, ground bison or venison would also integrate beautifully into this recipe, bringing their own unique characteristics to the dish.
BACON – The star of this elevated sloppy joe! We recommend using regular pork bacon, sliced into 1-inch pieces to ensure you get crispy, flavorful bits throughout your sandwich. The sizzle and aroma of the bacon cooking lay the foundation for the entire dish. If you’re aiming for a leaner option, turkey bacon can be used. Keep in mind that turkey bacon has a different fat content and a slightly distinct flavor and texture compared to traditional pork bacon, but it will still contribute a lovely smoky essence to your sloppy joes.
AROMATICS AND VEGGIES – Finely chopped yellow onion and diced green bell pepper are crucial for building a flavorful base. They soften and sweeten as they cook, adding depth and a subtle freshness to the meaty mixture. Don’t skip these! Garlic powder provides an underlying savory warmth that complements the other ingredients without overpowering them.
THE SIGNATURE SAUCE – The magic of sloppy joes lies in their tangy, sweet, and savory sauce. Our blend includes:
- Ketchup: The backbone of the sauce, providing sweetness and a classic tomato tang.
- Yellow Mustard: Adds a distinct zesty kick that balances the sweetness of the ketchup and brown sugar.
- Light Brown Sugar: Contributes a subtle molasses flavor and balances the acidity, giving the sauce its signature sweet and savory balance.
- Soy Sauce: A secret weapon! Soy sauce introduces a fantastic umami depth, enriching the overall flavor profile. It’s a wonderful addition that sets these sloppy joes apart.
- Water: Used to thin the sauce to the perfect consistency during simmering, allowing all the flavors to meld beautifully.
SEASONING – Simple salt and freshly ground black pepper are all you need to finish the dish. Remember to season to taste, adjusting after the sauce has simmered and the flavors have fully developed.
FOR SERVING – Classic hamburger buns are essential for holding all that delicious sloppy joe goodness. For parties or smaller appetites, slider buns are a fantastic alternative.
Crafting Your Delicious Bacon Sloppy Joes: A Step-by-Step Guide
These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are provided to help you visualize each stage of making this incredible recipe. For a complete printable version, including all precise measurements and ingredient quantities, you can effortlessly Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.
- Crisp the Bacon: Begin by cooking your bacon pieces in a large skillet over medium-high heat. You want them to become beautifully crisp and evenly cooked through. This initial step is vital for rendering the fat and achieving that perfect crunchy texture. Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon, placing it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease. Importantly, leave the rendered bacon grease in the pan. This flavorful foundation will be used to cook the meat and vegetables, infusing them with an irresistible smoky essence.
EXPERT TIP: While completely optional, we highly recommend cooking the lean ground beef and vegetables in the reserved bacon grease. This step adds an unparalleled depth of smoky, savory flavor that truly enhances the entire dish. If you prefer a lighter option or wish to reduce the fat content, you can certainly drain the grease completely before proceeding. However, for maximum flavor, embrace the bacon fat!
- Brown the Meat and Sauté Vegetables: To the skillet with the bacon grease, add your ground beef, chopped yellow onion, and diced green bell pepper. Cook this mixture over medium heat, breaking up the ground beef as it browns. Continue cooking until the ground beef is thoroughly browned, and the onion pieces have softened and become translucent. This process creates a rich, aromatic base for your sloppy joes.
- Drain Excess Fat: Once the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender, it’s important to drain off any excess fat from the pan. This prevents your sloppy joes from becoming overly greasy and ensures a cleaner, more balanced flavor profile.
- Build the Sauce: Return the pan to the stove. To the ground beef and vegetable mixture, add the garlic powder, yellow mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Pour in 1/2 cup of water. Using a spoon or spatula, mix all these ingredients thoroughly until the beef is fully coated and the sauce is well combined. This is where the signature sloppy joe flavor begins to form.
EXPERT TIP: The addition of soy sauce might seem unconventional for a sloppy joe, but it’s a game-changer. It introduces a deep umami flavor that adds complexity and a delicious savory dimension to the classic sweet and tangy sauce. If you don’t have soy sauce on hand or prefer an alternative, Worcestershire sauce makes an excellent substitute, offering a similar savory depth.
- Simmer to Perfection: Bring the sloppy joe mixture to a gentle boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet and let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes. Simmering allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully, the sauce to thicken slightly, and the meat to become incredibly tender and flavorful. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Season and Taste: After simmering, taste the mixture and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference. Adjust seasonings as needed to achieve your desired flavor balance.
- Fold in the Bacon: Just before serving, stir the crispy bacon pieces back into the sloppy joe mixture. Distribute them evenly throughout.
EXPERT TIP: Adding the crisp bacon at the very end is key! This ensures that the bacon retains its wonderful crispness, providing a fantastic textural contrast to the soft, saucy sloppy joe mixture. If you were to simmer the bacon with the rest of the ingredients, it would likely become chewy or rubbery, losing its desirable crunch.
- Serve and Enjoy: Spoon the hot and flavorful Bacon Sloppy Joe mixture generously onto toasted hamburger buns. For a fun party appetizer or a lighter meal, you can also serve them on slider buns. Prepare for a delicious, slightly messy, and incredibly satisfying meal!
Frequently Asked Questions About Bacon Sloppy Joes
Absolutely! This Bacon Sloppy Joe recipe is incredibly versatile. You can easily substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef. Simply use an equal amount of your preferred ground meat. Keep in mind that turkey and chicken are generally leaner and have a milder flavor profile than beef, so you might find the bacon’s flavor even more prominent, which is a delicious bonus. Ensure you brown the poultry thoroughly before adding the sauce ingredients.
You have flexibility with the fat content of your ground beef in this recipe. We typically opt for a leaner ground beef, around 85/15 (85% lean, 15% fat). This provides a good balance of flavor without too much grease. If you choose a fattier meat, such as 80/20, you will simply need to drain off more excess fat after browning the meat, which is an easy step. We generally don’t recommend using an excessively lean mixture like 93/7 or higher, as a little fat is crucial for developing rich flavor and moisture in the sloppy joe mixture. The fat carries flavor, and draining off the excess after cooking helps achieve the perfect balance.
Yes, you can certainly use turkey bacon if you’re looking to reduce the fat content in your diet or prefer it. While turkey bacon does have a different flavor and texture compared to traditional pork bacon (it’s often less fatty and has a slightly different crispness), your bacon sloppy joe sandwiches will still be wonderfully delicious and imbued with that smoky bacon flavor. Just cook it until it’s as crispy as you desire before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
Perfect Side Dishes for Your Bacon Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are hearty and flavorful, and they pair beautifully with a variety of classic side dishes. While a big handful of crispy potato chips is always a great go-to, consider these delightful options to complete your meal and add a fresh, vibrant contrast to the rich sloppy joe filling. These sides range from light and refreshing to warm and comforting, offering something for every preference.
- Coleslaw or Broccoli Slaw: The creamy, tangy crunch of coleslaw or the vibrant flavors of broccoli slaw offer a refreshing counterpoint to the rich sloppy joe mixture, cutting through its savory intensity.
- Homemade Baked Beans: A quintessential pairing! Sweet and savory baked beans complement the sloppy joes perfectly, adding another layer of comforting flavor and texture.
- French Fries, Tater Tots, Onion Rings, or Sweet Potato Fries: Crispy fried sides are always a hit. Their salty crunch is an excellent textural match for the soft, saucy sandwich filling.
- Corn on the Cob: Fresh, sweet corn on the cob provides a burst of seasonal flavor and a pleasant sweetness that balances the savory notes of the sloppy joes.
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese: For the ultimate comfort food experience, creamy macaroni and cheese is an unbeatable companion. Its rich, cheesy goodness makes the meal extra satisfying.
- Potato Salad or Macaroni Salad: These classic picnic salads offer a cool, creamy, and often tangy element that beautifully complements the warm, savory sloppy joes, especially during warmer months.
Storage and Reheating Tips for Leftover Sloppy Joes
One of the many great things about Bacon Sloppy Joes is how well they store, making them an excellent candidate for meal prepping or simply enjoying delicious leftovers. If you find yourself with any extra sloppy joe mixture (which is rare, as it’s so tasty!), proper storage ensures you can savor its flavors again.
To store leftovers, allow the mixture to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for 3-4 days. This makes it perfect for quick lunches or another effortless dinner later in the week.
For longer storage, the sloppy joe mixture freezes beautifully. Once cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag, ensuring any air is squeezed out if using a bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw the mixture in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheating is simple:
- Microwave: For individual servings, place the sloppy joe mixture in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
- Stovetop: For larger quantities, or for best results, transfer the mixture to a saucepan. Add a tablespoon or two of water or beef broth to prevent drying out, and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s thoroughly warmed.
The combination of crispy, smoky bacon with the classic sweet and savory sloppy joe sauce creates an absolutely amazing and deeply satisfying meal. Whether you’re serving them for a hearty family dinner, a casual lunch, or as delightful mini-sandwiches on slider buns for parties and get-togethers, these Bacon Sloppy Joes are sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a recipe you’ll return to again and again. Their ease of preparation and incredible flavor make them an instant hit!
Explore More Delicious Sloppy Joe Creations
If you’re as big a fan of sloppy joes as we are, you’ll be thrilled to discover the many creative ways this versatile dish can be enjoyed. Beyond our beloved Bacon Sloppy Joes, here are some other fantastic variations and applications that bring new life to this classic comfort food:
- Classic Sloppy Joes: The original, the timeless, the always-satisfying recipe that started it all. Perfect for when you crave that traditional, hearty flavor.
- Sloppy Joe Cornbread Muffins: A fun and ingenious twist! This recipe combines the savory sloppy joe filling with fluffy cornbread, creating individual, portable portions that are perfect for parties, lunchboxes, or a casual dinner.
- One Pot Sloppy Joe Pasta: A brilliant solution for a quick and easy weeknight meal with minimal cleanup. All the delicious flavors of sloppy joes are mixed into a comforting pasta dish, cooked together in a single pot.
- Crockpot Sloppy Joes: For those days when you need dinner to cook itself, this slow cooker version allows the flavors to meld and deepen over hours, resulting in an incredibly tender and flavorful sloppy joe mixture with almost no effort.
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Bacon Sloppy Joes
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon sliced into 1 inch pieces
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped yellow onion
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- ½ cup water if needed
- Ground black pepper and sea salt to taste
- 6 sesame seed hamburger buns
Things You’ll Need
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Large skillet
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Slotted spoon
Before You Begin
- The crisp bacon is a delicious contrast to the sloppy joe mixture. Stirring it in at the end guarantees that it retains that crispness instead of becoming chewy or rubbery by simmering with the rest of the sloppy joe mixture. While this is optional, we like the added flavor from cooking the lean ground beef and vegetables in the bacon grease. If you prefer, you can drain the grease completely.
- Note that the nutritional calculation DOES include the bun.
- The soy sauce adds just a little bit more dimension to the sloppy joe flavor. If you prefer, you can substitute Worcestershire sauce.
Instructions
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Saute bacon pieces over medium high heat until crisp and evenly cooked through. Remove cooked bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel lined dish to drain. Leave the bacon grease in the pan to add flavor while cooking the meat and vegetables.
EXPERT TIP: While this is optional, we like the added flavor that comes from cooking the lean ground beef and vegetables in the bacon grease. If you prefer, you can drain the grease completely.
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Add ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to the pan and cook over medium heat until the ground beef is browned and the onion is soft and translucent.
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Drain all of the excess fat from the pan.
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To the ground beef mixture, add garlic powder, yellow mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce, along with 1/2 cup water. Mix thoroughly.
EXPERT TIP: The soy sauce adds just a little bit more dimension to the sloppy joe flavor. If you prefer, you can substitute Worcestershire sauce.
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Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
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Season with salt and pepper.
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Stir the bacon back into the mixture to distribute evenly.
EXPERT TIP: The crisp bacon is a delicious contrast to the sloppy joe mixture. Stirring it in at the end guarantees that it retains that crispness instead of becoming chewy or rubbery by simmering with the rest of the sloppy joe mixture.
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Serve on hamburger buns.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.