Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

 Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are a delicious, easy, meat loaded sandwich that comes together so quickly. These beef sandwiches are great for feeding the family or a large crowd. If you don’t have a pressure cooker follow the stove stop method! (I first shared this recipe on Lil Luna where I was a contributor.)

Sometimes you need a quick stick-to-your-bones type dinner and these Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are just that. Messy? You bet! But that just makes it even better. And trust me, you’ll want to be licking your fingers clean anyway. For more easy Instant Pot dinners, check out my Instant Pot Chicken Curry, Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup, and Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken.

Homemade Sloppy Joes

Have ground beef and looking for an easy recipe the whole family will love? This is it! Yes, it gets a little messy but the “slop” is so flavorful you could just eat it on its own by the spoonful! Really, it’s kind of like a beanless chili. 

Serve this yummy meat sauce on a toasted hamburger bun (I used a challah buns), add a side salad or steamed vegetables, and call the kids down for dinner.

How to Make Sloppy Joes in the INSTANT POT (PRESSURE COOKER): 

1. Pour oil into the Instant Pot and rotate it so it coats the bottom of the pot. Press the “Sauté” button. Add the ground beef and seasoned salt. Break meat apart with a wooden spoon, meat chopper, or potato masher and cook until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off fat.
2. Add the onion and pepper and saute for 2 minutes and then add in garlic and cook 1 more minute.
3. Add the water and deglaze the bottom of the pot by scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon to remove the brown bits stuck to the bottom.
4. Stir in the remaining ingredients (except for the buns!).
5. Cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes followed by a 10 minute natural release. Turn knob to vent and release remaining pressure. Give the mixture a stir. If you’d like it thicker, press “Sauté” and cook for a couple more minutes.
6. Serve on buns.

How to make Sloppy Joes on the STOVE TOP:

1. Chop up all the vegetables and toss them in a large pot along with the ground round and cook until the meat is browned. Be sure you drain off the fat. I find the easiest way is to dump everything in a mesh strainer. 
2. Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, and chili sauce. Typically, Joes have a sauce made up of mostly ketchup but it was a little too much for my taste. You can use whatever barbecue sauce you want but I think the spicier, the better.
3. Once everything is mixed together, bring it to a boil, cover, turn to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the meat is nice and tender. Now you’re ready to eat! Slice up your buns and spoon on the savory tender meat sauce.
4. Now, let’s talk buns. You want a soft bun because it helps make things a little less sloppy. Regular hamburger buns work great but I wouldn’t recommend pretzel buns. The buns pictured in this post are Challah buns. So light and soft and have that beautiful shiny golden crust. Your local grocery store bakery is the place to look.

How to make (SLOW COOKER) CROCK-POT Sloppy Joes: 

1. Place meat and vegetables in a large stock pot. Cook and break apart meat over medium high heat until browned. Drain off the fat and transfer contents to a slow cooker.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, stir together, and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-5.

How to Toast Buns:

Spread butter on the inside surface of each bun half. Place on the grill or a pan heated over medium high heat. Cook for 1-2 minutes until edges are golden.

LOOKING FOR MORE GROUND BEEF RECIPES? CHECK OUT THESE:

• Southwest Cornbread Sloppy Joes are so sloppy you need to eat them with a fork!
• Easy Beef, Spinach, and Cheese Manicotti is one of my favorite meals to make for company.
• Easy Skillet Shepherds Pie is a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes
• Looking to up your chili game? Make Texas Chili for a flavor packed meal that will stick to your bones.
• 30-Minute Teriyaki Meatballs can be served as an appetizer or over rice as a meal.
• Dorito Casserole is a fun dish for taco Tuesday!
• Cuban Picadillo is a unique, hearty, and budget friendly meal.

TOOLS USED TO MAKE INSTANT POT SLOPPY JOES:

• Instant Pot Pressure Cooker– As much as I love my slow cooker, you can make things way faster (1/8 the time!) in the pressure cooker. It’s truly amazing! You can make anything in it from soup to rice to fall-off-the-bone tender ribs.
• Slow Cooker– This is very similar to the one I use but it has the addition of a lockable lid which is awesome for when you are transporting food for a party or pot luck, especially soup.
• Pot & Skillet Set– These are the skillets and pots I use. They have a heavy bottom making them sturdy and cook the food evenly. I use the large pot for cooking things like soup, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce…
• Knife Set– I got this when I got married almost 8 years ago. I use them multiple times a day and they’re still going strong!

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

 Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are a delicious, easy, meat loaded sandwich that comes together so quickly! These beef sandwiches are great for feeding the family or a large crowd. If you don't have a pressure cooker follow the stove top or slow cooker method.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings: 8

Calories: 413kcal

Author: Garnish and Glaze

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon oil
• ▢ 1 1/2 pounds ground round
• ▢ 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
• ▢ 3/4 cup onion, diced
• ▢ 3/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1/2 cup beef broth , or water and bouillon
• ▢ 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• ▢ 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• ▢ 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• ▢ 1/2 cup ketchup
• ▢ 2 tablespoons chili sauce
• ▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• ▢ 8 Buns, (toasted-optional)

Instructions

Instant Pot Method:

• Pour oil into Instant Pot and rotate it so it coats the bottom of the pot. Heat pot by pressing "Sauté". Add the ground beef and seasoned salt. Break meat apart with a wooden spoon, meat chopper, or potato masher and cook until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off fat.
• Add the onion and pepper and saute for 2 minutes and then add in garlic and cook 1 more minute.
• Add the water and deglaze the bottom of the pot by scrubbing the bottom with a wooden spoon to remove the brown bits stuck to the bottom.
• Stir in the remaining ingredients (except for the buns!) Cook on HIGH pressure for 5 minutes followed by a 10 minute natural release. Turn knob to vent and release remaining pressure. Give the mixture a stir. If you'd like it thicker, press "Sauté" and cook for a couple more minutes.
• Serve on buns.

Stove Top Method:

• Place ground beef, onions, pepper, garlic, and seasoned salt in a large pot over medium high heat. Cook and break up meat until it is browned. Drain off fat and add the remaining ingredients. 
• Bring to a simmer, turn to low, cover, and cook for 20-30 minutes or until meat is tender and sauce has thickened. Serve on buns.

Slow Cooker Method:

• Place meat and vegetables in a large stock pot. Cook and break apart meat over medium high heat until browned. Drain off the fat and transfer contents to a slow cooker.
• Add the remaining ingredients, stir together, and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

Amount Per Serving

Calories 413 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 55mg18%

Sodium 1082mg47%

Potassium 430mg12%

Carbohydrates 50g17%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 18g20%

Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 194IU4%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 34mg3%

Iron 13mg72%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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