I ate my share of Manwich Sloppy Joes as a kid. I am quite sure I never ate enough of them. I sure asked for them often. Well, I can certainly make up for lost time (and meals) now by making this copycat Manwich Sloppy Joes at home. And you know what? It’s even better than I remember. Perfectly thick tomatoey sauce. Just a hint of onion and green bell pepper. And the light tang of mustard. And messy. The messier the better!
Nothing Else Required
I do not add garnish to my copycat Manwich Sloppy Joes. Nothing. Nada. No pickles. Skip the extra mustard. And no cheese. Nothing needs to come between me and my Sloppy Joes.
If you think of Sloppy Joes as ‘kid food’, this will change your mind. Sloppy Joes are great for lunch or dinner, adults and kids alike! If you want to ‘adult-ize’ them you can use fancy hamburger funs. Me, I think they’re great on the cheapest hamburger buns I can find in the store. That’s how I had them as a kid.
Bell What?
You don’t have to get ‘fancy’ and use fresh bell pepper and onion when making the meat mixture. I usually grab some out of the freezer since it’s going to end up being cooked. If I was making say, a salad, I would use fresh. But here, it doesn’t really matter.
Whenever I cut up peppers or onions, I seem to always have just a little bit left over. Maybe it’s odd-shaped pieces. The ends. Or I just didn’t need all of it. Well, those leftover pieces go into containers in the freezer. They’re perfect for dishes like this one. And I hate wasting food, so it appeals to the saver in me!
- One 15.5 oz can of Manwich Thick and Chunky Sloppy…
- Enjoy a thicker, chunkier, more delicious version…
Also try my Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes.
Copycat Manwich Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounce tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 tablespoon green bell pepper chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon celery seed
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 4 hamburger buns
- Your favorite toppings optional. shredded cheddar cheese, dill pickles, more prepared mustard
Instructions
- Crumble the beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat and saute until browned.
- Drain any fat and add the remaining ingredients except the buns and garnishes.
- Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a slow simmer and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Toast the buns as desired.
- Serve buns topped with Sloppy Joe mixture and garnishes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.
