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 make this creamy, crunchy coleslaw dressing from scratch – or if you’re in a hurry, just used bottled coleslaw dressing!;)
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
Cole slaw is the classic side dish for sloppy joes from scratch. The flavors of this dressing match perfectly with the chipotle sloppy joes.
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.
Cook up your sloppy joes recipe filling in whatever non-stick skillet you prefer.
- 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.
Potato chips are my favorite side dish for sloppy joes when we need to have dinner in a hurry!
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
Chipotle Sloppy Joes & Crunchy Coleslaw Topping
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.
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.
So apparently you TOTALLY Know where the beef is. 😉
That does look dee-licious!
Hope all is well with you and your crew, Holly!
online cooking school with videos? That’s what I’m talking about! I’m always needing some help. 🙂
This really sounds wonderful! My guys love anything with coleslaw.
Yum…. It looks amazing Holly…
I’m so proud of you. *sniff* I’m sure Richard is proud. Sam Houston looks kinda proud to be associated with you too.
Yummy! My crew will love these! Thanks for sharing.
I just found you through DFW Bloggers. I have been looking for fellow bloggers here in DFW area. I think my husband would love these! We love anything with Chipotle. We will have to give these a try.
Here is one we just recently made… who doesn’t love Pizza?
First, I want share a secret that will save you moms a lot of time ¦Trader Joe's pizza dough. I have tried many types of dough, even have tried to make my own on a few occasions but I always come back to Trader Joe's. It is fast and simple, you can get whole wheat, plain or even gluten free and it really tastes great. The key to this dough is to make sure you roll it in flour or cornmeal and let it sit a room temperature for 20 minutes before you use it.
Sauce:
1 ½ cup of Pumpkin Puree
2 cloves of garlic crushed
½ cup of sweet onion chopped
2 tablespoon olive oil
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan.
Add 2 cloves of garlic crushed and ½ cup of sweet onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the pumpkin and simmer for about 7 minutes.
Pizza Toppings:
¢ Mozzarella Cheese
¢ Sliced Prosciutto
¢ Parmesan Cheese
¢ Arugula
Heat oven to 475 degrees and place pizza stone in oven, let it heat up for at least 15 minutes.
Roll out pizza dough add the pumpkin pizza sauce and ½ cup of mozzarella cheese place on the heated pizza stone in the oven. Cook for 7 minutes, take out and top with ¦
¢ Sliced Prosciutto
¢ ¼ cup of Parmesan Cheese
Cook for another 3 minutes, take out and top with ¦
2 big handfuls of Arugula and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of arugula ¦ slice it up!
Wow…that looks really good. I’m trying it. Thank you for sharing!
Holly,
That was the recipe my team made at the Austin event. OH. MY. GOSH. it was my fave too. I just wish my hubs and kids liked cole slaw. Love it!!