Salsa Sloppy Joes

When I started elementary school, I was introduced to school cafeteria classics like shepherd’s pie, French toast sticks and, of course, sloppy joes. Made of beef smothered in a slightly sweet tomatoey sauce and served on a squishy hamburger bun, sloppy joes are among the ultimate comfort foods for lunch and dinner, and one of my all-time favorites.

These days, I like to make upgraded sloppy joes, jazzing up the basic dish with salsa and other flavor ingredients. This recipe for salsa sloppy joes is so perfect alongside some gooey mac and cheese and crisp veggies that it might just become your new go-to weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Salsa Sloppy Joes

• Ground beef: Since the recipe suggests draining the cooking juices from the pan, try starting with a lower-fat beef, such as 90% lean, so that you have less waste. You can stock up when beef is on sale then store the excess in the freezer. Just make sure you know how to defrost ground beef safely.
• Salsa: Use store-bought salsa or homemade salsa. Either will work in this recipe.
• Condensed tomato soup: Because it’s so thick, undiluted condensed soup adds rich tomato flavor without making things too sloppy. If you don’t have a can on hand, use around 4 ounces of tomato paste and a cup of water instead.
• Brown sugar: Sloppy joes have a sweet and tangy flavor profile, which comes from the combination of tomato and brown sugar.
• Hamburger buns: If you’re up for it, don’t hesitate to make some 40-minute hamburger buns to hold your sloppy joe recipe with salsa.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the beef

In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles as you stir. Drain off the fat and juices.

Editor’s Tip: I hate wasting the flavorful fat and juices from the meat, so I skip the draining step and cook the meat with the sauce for an extra couple of minutes. You could also save the juices to add to a soup, or to another casserole.

Step 2: Make the sauce

Stir in the salsa, canned tomato soup and brown sugar. Cover and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes or until it’s heated through. Serve it on buns.

Salsa Sloppy Joes Variations

• Change up the salsa: For a different flavor profile, consider using tangy salsa verde, chipotle salsa, avocado salsa or even a black bean and corn salsa. There are endless possibilities when you use homemade salsa.
• Add veggies: Sloppy joes are great with some creamy coleslaw piled on top. Sauteed mushrooms, mixed peppers or baby spinach would be tasty, healthy additions to the sauce.
• Top with herbs: Add some fresh chopped cilantro or basil to the filling after it’s done cooking to lighten up the overall flavor.
• Try a different meat: Sloppy joes are generally made with beef, but they’re just as good with ground pork, turkey or chicken. You could also use bulk chorizo sausage.

How to Store Salsa Sloppy Joes

It’s better to store the meaty filling separately from the buns, rather than storing whole sandwiches. Scoop the leftovers into an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge.

How long do salsa sloppy joes last?

The filling will be good for around four days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze sloppy joes?

Yes, sloppy joe filling is fine to store in the freezer. Put it into a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag, and for best quality, use it within three months.

Salsa Sloppy Joes Tips

What else can you do with sloppy joes?

There are tons of ways to use sloppy joe mix other than putting it on hamburger buns. You could stir in canned kidney or pinto beans to make a short-cut chili, use the meaty mixture to top hot dogs, or put it in a hard taco shell with cheese.

It could also be dolloped onto nachos, baked potatoes or fries, or used to make walking tacos.

What can you serve with salsa sloppy joes?

This dish is best served with mac and cheese and some veggies. Try a light green salad, sauteed green beans or steamed peas. For something heartier, whip up a batch of roasted carrots or pan-fried mushrooms.