The original post (inspired by Chef Chamberlain and his cookbook noted below) was updated in July 2020 with new photographs and recipe tips.

Sloppy Joes from scratch is one of those traditional quick & easy dinner ideas for kids – and adults, too. Who can resist the incredible flavor and the slightly messy experience of them? They fit family life to a tee!

This special sloppy joe recipe is a new twist on a classic sloppy joes recipe. This sweet & tangy version has a slightly spicy chipotle flavor with a crunchy coleslaw topping.

Serve the coleslaw right on top, or put it on the side. Either way, it’s a winning combination and family favorite.

How to Make these Amazing Sloppy Joes from Scratch

Ingredients needed for the crunchy coleslaw topping:

You can quickly put together homemade coleslaw by whisking the following ingredients in a bowl:

• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1 T light mayonnaise
• 2 t cider vinegar
• 1/4 t hot pepper sauce (I used Frank’s Red Hot Sauce)
• 1/8 t salt

Then you simply stir in:

• 1 1/2 cups packaged coleslaw mix
• 1/2 red bell pepper cut into 1/8-inch-thick strips
• black pepper as desired

Or if you want a super quick alternative to making your own dressing, just pour bottled coleslaw dressing over packaged coleslaw mix and call it done!

Refrigerate the coleslaw (covered) while you cook up the sloppy joe filling.

How to make sloppy joes from scratch filling:

1. Brown 1 pound ground beef and 1/4 cup chopped onion in a frying pan. Use a spatula and break up the meat as it browns. Cook until the meat is no longer pink inside and the onions are translucent in color. Drain off any fat drippings from the bottom of the pan.

I prefer my cast iron skillet for things like this, but any non-stick skillet will do.

2. Add the rest of the sloppy joe ingredients and stir to combine.

• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1-2 t minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1/2 t ground cumin
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/4 t black pepper

3. Simmer together on low for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

To serve Chipotle Sloppy Joes:

Place hot filling on the bottom of a hamburger bun and top with a spoonful of creamy, crunchy coleslaw.

Sides for sloppy joes:

So many yummy things go with sloppy joes! Here are a few options:

• coleslaw on the side (instead of the top, if you prefer)
• potato chips
• tater tots
• dill pickles
• jello with bananas (my mom used to make this!)
• baked beans
• potato salad
• pasta salad
• macaroni and cheese
• corn on the cob
• macaroni salad

Looking for more dinner ideas:

• Here’s another twist on classic sloppy joes.
• Dinnertime doesn’t need to be a mess with these no mess sloppy joes!
• Yes, there are kid friendly beef recipes, and this one can be done in the slow cooker.
• The whole family will agree that this tator tot casserole is a hit.
• This cheesy broccoli casserole is so delicious, your kids may not notice the veggies.

This recipe was inspired by Richards sloppy joes and his cookbook The Healthy Beef Cookbook.

Yield: 4

Chipotle Sloppy Joes & Crunchy Coleslaw Topping

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This special sloppy joe recipe is a new twist on a classic sloppy joes recipe. This sweet & tangy version has a slightly spicy chipotle flavor with a crunchy coleslaw topping.

Serve the coleslaw right on top, or put it on the side. Either way, it’s a winning combination and family favorite.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• For the Crunchy Coleslaw:
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1 T light mayonnaise
• 2 t cider vinegar
• 1/4 t hot pepper sauce (I used Frank’s Red Hot Sauce)
• 1/8 t salt
• 1 1/2 cups packaged coleslaw mix
• 1/2 red bell pepper cut into 1/8-inch-thick strips
• black pepper as desired
• For the Sloppy Joe Filling:
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1-2 t minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1/2 t ground cumin
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/4 t black pepper

Instructions

How to Make Crunchy Coleslaw:

You can quickly put together homemade coleslaw by whisking the following ingredients in a bowl:

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1 T light mayonnaise

2 t cider vinegar

1/4 t hot pepper sauce (I used Frank’s Red Hot Sauce)

1/8 t salt

Then you simply stir in:

1 1/2 cups packaged coleslaw mix

1/2 red bell pepper cut into 1/8-inch-thick strips

black pepper as desired

How to Make Sloppy Joes from Scratch

1. BROWN 1 POUND GROUND BEEF AND 1/4 CUP CHOPPED ONION IN A FRYING PAN. USE A SPATULA AND BREAK UP THE MEAT AS IT BROWNS. COOK UNTIL THE MEAT IS NO LONGER PINK INSIDE AND THE ONIONS ARE TRANSLUCENT IN COLOR. DRAIN OFF ANY FAT DRIPPINGS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.

I prefer my cast iron skillet for things like this, but any non-stick skillet will do.

2. ADD THE REST OF THE SLOPPY JOE INGREDIENTS AND STIR TO COMBINE.

3. SIMMER TOGETHER ON LOW FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, STIRRING FREQUENTLY.

TO SERVE CHIPOTLE SLOPPY JOES:

Place hot filling on the bottom of a hamburger bun and top with a spoonful of creamy, crunchy coleslaw.