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 into a tee!

let’s make Sloppy Joes Recipe

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.

This article contains affiliate links.

Sloppy Joes ingredients

Crunchy coleslaw topping

• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1 Tbsp light mayonnaise
• 2 tsp cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce (I used Frank’s Red Hot Sauce)
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups packaged coleslaw mix
• 1/2 red bell pepper cut into 1/8-inch-thick strips
• black pepper

Filling

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1-2 tsp minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

instructions to make crunchy coleslaw topping

Step 1

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

Step 2

Then 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!

Step 3

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

instructions to make sloppy joes filling

Step 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 dripping from the bottom of the pan.

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

Step 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

Step 3

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

how To serve 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

more dinner ideas recipe

• 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.

Have you tried this sloppy joe from the scratch? Let us know in the comments section!

This recipe was inspired by Chef Chamberlain’s sloppy joes and his cookbook The Healthy Beef Cookbook.