Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce
Classic homemade sloppy joe sauce, upgraded with fennel + cozy spices, tucked inside a warm, crusty bread bowl. Zero regrets.
Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce Quick Links
🍔 Homemade Sloppy Joes Just Leveled Up
Alright, friends. We’re shaking things up with a bold, new take on classic sloppy joes. I’ve been on a bit of a fennel obsession lately (seriously, can’t stop), so I decided to sneak it into this recipe — along with zucchini and other sneaky veggies. Today we’re ditching the buns and going full-on comfort mode with crispy, homemade bread bowls. Once you dive into this flavor-packed upgrade, there’s no turning back.
Why I’m Obsessed With This Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce:
- First off, the filling is totally flexible. Ground beef? Classic. Ground turkey or chicken? Amazing. Got venison in the freezer? Even better. I’m rolling with canned tomato sauce for now, but next summer, my fresh San Marzano tomatoes are going in.
- But the real magic? Fennel. If you’ve never cooked with it, fennel has this subtle, licorice-like flavor that turns sweet and caramelized when sautéed with onions. I threw in bell peppers and zucchini for extra veggie power, but honestly, you can toss in whatever you’ve got — sweet potatoes, jalapeños, or even squash would be fire in this.
- Oh, and pro tip: A tiny dash of cinnamon in your sloppy joe mix adds this cozy, warm vibe that takes the flavor to another level. Trust me on this one.
No need for giant bread bowls here — medium-sized ones are perfect for holding all that sloppy joe goodness. And yes, homemade bread bowls are 100% worth it. I like to make mine the day before (because fresh bread bowls > store-bought every time). Plus, you get to control the ingredients.
Wanna make your own? Here’s my go-to Bread Bowl recipe.
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Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespooons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespooons Light Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder (or cayenne powder or hot sauce)
- 30 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 tablespooon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 finely chopped medium onion
- 1 chopped fennel bulb
- 1 finely diced red bell pepper (seeded)
- 1 chopped medium zucchini
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms (brown, baby bella or white are all fine choices)
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (85%-90% lean)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 4 minced garlic cloves
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine, 2 tablespooons Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, 2 tablespooons Light Brown Sugar, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder and 30 ounces tomato sauce. Set aside.
- Chop 1 finely chopped medium onion, 1 chopped fennel bulb and 1 finely diced red bell pepper. Chop the fennel fronds and add them to the tomato sauce.
- Preheat Dutch Oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespooon extra-virgin olive oil. Add the vegetables and cook until tender.
- Add 1 chopped medium zucchini and 1 cup chopped mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until slightly softened. Don't overcook it. Remove vegetables to a bowl.
- Add 2 pounds lean ground beef to the hot dutch oven and cook until no longer pink, breaking up with spatula or meat chopper. Drain. Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper to the pot with the ground beef. Stir and cook for one minute or until garlic is fragrant. Add vegetables back to the pot.
- Pour in sauce and stir. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer mixture for 10-15 minutes or until the sloppy joe sauce is hot and the flavors have melded. Give it a try and add salt and pepper. Adjust consistency with hot water if you prefer a sloppier sloppy joe.
- Fill your hollowed out bread bowls or buns with sloppy joe sauce.
Notes
Substitutions
- Make it Low-Carb: Skip the bread bowl and serve the sloppy joe filling over cauliflower rice or in lettuce wraps.
- Spice it Up: Want more heat? Add extra chipotle powder or your favorite hot sauce to the sauce.
- Bread Options: If you don’t want to make your own bread bowls, store-bought dinner rolls or sourdough bread work great too!