Our 30-Minute Bison Sloppy Joes are a messy and delightful twist on a timeless favorite. They're made with simple ingredients, are naturally sweetened, and use an easy and sneaky tip that gives these Sloppy Joes a flavor better than you can imagine. They're a breeze to whip up, requiring only 30 minutes, and will bring you right back to childhood. Taste the nostalgia without the hassle!
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Jump to:
- 💫 Mika's Highlight
- why these sloppy joes are better
- ingredients and substitutions
- recipe testing notes
- how to make this - step-by-step
- watch how to make this - step by step
- helpful tips
- common questions
- Sloppy Joe topping ideas
- storage tips and how to meal prep it
- how to enjoy leftovers & serving ideas
- what to serve with sloppy joes
- Recipe
💫 Mika's Highlight
I grew up on sloppy joes made with Ketchup and have tried to recreate that classic taste many times without using Ketchup. It never worked until now! This recipe tastes just like the sloppy joes I grew up with but made with only natural sugar!
why these sloppy joes are better
- Classic sweet & savory flavor with hidden veggies and only natural sugar
- Ready in 30 minutes
- Made with pantry staple ingredients
Most of us have a point of reference to our favorite homemade sloppy joes. Whether it’s ones grandma made or maybe dad threw them together when no one felt like cooking. They're known for being a quick, flavorful, and hearty meal.
And I also have a core memory of enjoying messy and delicious sloppy joes but I was never keen on them being made with Ketchup and all the sugar that goes along with that. So, over the years I’ve set out to perfect sloppy joes that are made with natural sugar, less sugar, more veggies, and still have that nostalgic sweet and savory taste I crave!
And by golly, I did it. So, let me show you how to make this playful twist on this nostalgic and easy weeknight meal!
ingredients and substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Ground bison: You can also use lean ground beef or turkey. Meatless crumbles will also work. Bison can be used in many of the same ways beef can, like in chili, spaghetti, or tacos. Get our full list of ground bison recipes.
- Veggies: We use a combination of yellow onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. The yellow onion and bell pepper add a natural sweetness. Yellow or red bell pepper can be used in place of green.
- Spices: Salt, chili powder, and smoked paprika add a great depth of flavor and spice.
- Tomato sauce: Use plain tomato sauce that has no other added flavorings. Crushed tomatoes will work but then these won't be as sloppy.
- Maple syrup: Two tablespoons of brown sugar can be used in place of pure maple syrup.
- Honey mustard: Dijon or yellow mustard can be substituted. You may need to add more sweetener if not using honey mustard.
- Pickling liquid: This extra secret ingredient gives these sloppy joes an umami flavor thanks to the vinegar base. You can use the pickling liquid from pickles, jalapenos, banana peppers, or anything else you have in the fridge.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato paste
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
recipe testing notes
Throughout our testing of these bison sloppy joes, we learned what worked and didn't work. Here are the key takeaways!
- Adjusting the sweetness: We tested these sloppy joes with varying amounts of maple syrup. I liked them with less and Dan liked them with more. For this reason, we recommend starting with the lower amount of maple syrup and then adding 1 tablespoon additional until you've reached your preferred sweetness level.
- Brown sugar vs maple syrup: We tried these with both brown sugar and maple syrup. Both were delicious but the brown sugar was sweeter when replaced at a 1:1 ratio with the maple syrup. To account for this, we've included appropriate substitution quantities for the brown sugar.
- Using green bell peppers: These sloppy joes were good both with and without green bell peppers. But, we found that using them added more sweetness so we could decrease the amount of maple syrup.
how to make this - step-by-step
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full sloppy joe recipe!
Step one: brown the bison
Brown the bison for 5-7 minutes until mostly cooked through over medium-high heat in a large saute pan or heavy bottom pot (like a Dutch oven).
Step two: add the vegetables
Add the chopped onion, green peppers, and minced garlic to the pan. Saute until softened (about 3 minutes).
Step three: add everything else
Add the remaining spices, tomato sauce, paste, pickling liquid, and other sauces. Mix to combine.
Step four: simmer
Reduce to low heat and let this mixture simmer for 10 minutes for the flavors to meld. Then plate up the sloppy joe mixture on your favorite hamburger bun and enjoy!
watch how to make this - step by step
helpful tips
- Dice the vegetables small: It really helps to finely chop the onions and bell pepper and mince the garlic (with a knife or food processor). This ensures they incorporate fully into the meat and makes it so people won’t even realize they're there. This is especially great when trying to get the kids to eat more vegetables.
- Preparing to make these: Bison meat browns fairly quickly so I find it very helpful to measure out and mix the sauces and spices before I start the bison. Then while the bison cooks, I finely chop the vegetables.
- Speed them up: If you're worried you won’t have the time, energy, or mental capacity to make these during busy weeknights, try this prepping tip.
- Whenever you have the time or energy (no more than 3 days prior to making the bison sloppy joes), dice the vegetables, add them to an airtight container with the spices, and store them in the fridge. Then add all the sauce ingredients to a jar, mix, and store in the fridge. When it’s time for dinner, just brown the bison and then add the rest of the ingredients!
common questions
These sloppy joes aren't very spicy but if you're concerned about the spice level, start by not using the chili powder. Let it simmer for 5 minutes then taste the mixture and add chili powder 1 tablespoon at a time until you've reached the desired spice level.
Sloppy joes are fairly sweet for a savory dish (that’s why they're so great). But, if you don't like sweetness as much, start with half the amount of maple syrup. Let it simmer for 5 minutes and then taste and adjust, adding 1 tablespoon of maple syrup at a time until you reach the desired sweetness level. You can also use yellow mustard instead of honey mustard to reduce the sweetness.
If using ground beef instead of bison, make these as the recipe describes. Except, you'll need to drain any excess fat from the pan prior to adding the vegetables and after browning the beef. The leaner the beef (and 90/10 ratio or greater is the best option), the less fat you'll have to drain.
Yes, bison sloppy joes are awesome for the crockpot or slow cooker. Just brown the bison first and then transfer to the slow cooker with all the other ingredients. Mix to combine and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
You can definitely make these easy sloppy joes vegetarian by swapping the bison for cooked lentils and adding in some additional veggies like spinach and carrots.
Sloppy Joe topping ideas
My favorite way to doctor up sloppy joes is to top with potato chips. This adds a salty crunch to every bite! Here are a few more ideas:
- Coleslaw
- Avocado
- Fritos
- Pickles (maybe dill pickle chips?!)
- Saurkraut
- Hot sauce (I am from California after all, see avocado idea above)
- Cheese (Does anyone listen to the Splendid Table podcast about their sloppy Joe burgers topped with extra sharp cheddar?)
Want more ideas? Check out our post with 17 toppings for sloppy joes!
storage tips and how to meal prep it
To meal prep: Sloppy joes only get better with time so they make great meal prep! Simply make them as described and store them in the fridge.
Fridge: These sloppy joes will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for 5 days.
Freezer: To freeze these, place them in a zip-top freezer bag or freezer-safe tupperware. Store for up to 3 months.
Reheating: To reheat from the fridge, use the microwave or add to a saucepan to heat through on the stove. To reheat from frozen, let them thaw overnight in the fridge the day before. Or use the defrost setting on the microwave to use low power to thaw them quickly.
how to enjoy leftovers & serving ideas
You can enjoy fresh sloppy joes and leftovers much the same. Try them with any of these:
- Cornbread
- Rice
- Potatoes (crispy or baked potato)
- Buns to make it a sandwich
- Loaded fries
- Potato chips
what to serve with sloppy joes
Did you try this and love it? Leave us a ⭐️ rating, we would love to hear from you!
Recipe
30-Minute Bison Sloppy Joes Recipe (a bite of nostalgia!)
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or heavy bottom stock pot
- or crock pot for an alternative method
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground bison (or lean ground beef, turkey, or meatless crumbles)
- 1 yellow onion (medium, finely diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 green bell pepper (red or yellow will work too)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ tablespoon chili powder (see notes for adjusting spice level)
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (sweet paprika will work too)
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 ½ cup tomato sauce (unflavored, 1 can)
- 1 tablespoon pickling liquid (liquid from pickles, pickled jalapenos, banana peppers, or other)
- 2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoon honey mustard (or yellow or dijon mustard)
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup (100% pure or 2 tablespoon brown sugar, see notes for adjusting sweetness)
Serving Suggestions
- 1 hamburger buns (gluten free if needed)
- 1 cornbread
- 1 potato chips
- 1 coleslaw
- 1 pickles
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Brown the bison over medium-high heat in a large saute pan or heavy bottom pot (like a Dutch oven) for 5-7 minutes until mostly cooked through.
- Add the chopped onion, green peppers, and minced garlic to the pan. Saute until softened (about 3 minutes).
- Add the remaining spices, tomato sauce, paste, pickling liquid, and other sauces. Mix to combine.
- Reduce to low heat and let this mixture simmer for 10 minutes for the flavors to meld. Then plate up the sloppy joe mixture on your favorite hamburger bun and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Dice the vegetables small: It really helps to finely chop the onions and bell pepper and mince the garlic (with a knife or food processor). This ensures they incorporate fully into the meat and makes it so people won’t even realize they are in the meat. This is especially great when trying to get the kids to eat more vegetables.
- Preparing to make these: Bison meat browns very quickly so I find it very helpful to Measure out and mix the sauces and spices before I start the bison. Then while the bison cooks, I finely chop the vegetables.
- Speed them up: If you're worried you won’t have the time, energy, or mental capacity to make these during busy weeknights, try this prepping tip.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
These sloppy joes are amazing! Finally a yummy and flavorful sloppy joe recipe without tons of ketchup (that gets expensive)! I'm so glad I discovered your recipes.