Sloppy Joe Seasoning

By
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.
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Updated on 07/23/21
Sloppy Joe Seasoning in a glass container

The Spruce / Loren Runion

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 3 tablespoons

Just about every American has had Sloppy Joes—and loves Sloppy Joes. They gained popularity as comfort food in the 1950s and even made their way into school lunchrooms.

Legend has it that a cook named Joe at Floyd Angell's Cafe in Sioux City, Iowa got creative and added tomato sauce to what were then called "loose meat" sandwiches, which were ground beef and onions mixed and browned, served on a bun and sometimes topped with mustard and ketchup.

So this iconic American sandwich was born. The ingredients vary depending on personal taste, but they nearly always include ground beef and onions, plus tomato sauce or ketchup, mustard, and seasonings.

This recipe was taken from "The Complete Make-A-Mix Cookbook" by Karine Eliason.

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion

  • 1 teaspoon dried green pepper flakes

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic

  • 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed

  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Sloppy Joe Seasoning ingredients

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

  2. Combine the onion, green pepper flakes, salt, cornstarch, garlic, dry mustard, celery seed, and chili powder in a small bowl and mix until evenly distributed.

    mix the Sloppy Joe Seasoning ingredients together in a white bowl

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

  3. Spoon the mixture onto a resealable airtight bag or container. Store in a cool, dry place and use within 6 months; this recipe can be multiplied easily. 

    Sloppy Joe Seasoning in a glass container

    The Spruce / Loren Runion

How Do I Use Sloppy Joe Spice Mix?

There are many ways to make sloppy Joes. Here's one version that includes many ingredients. If you have seasoning mix, you can skip most of the seasonings listed. Serve on warmed hamburger buns; buy the larger size since these sandwiches are not named "sloppy" for nothing.

It's handy to have homemade spice mix for sloppy Joes on hand for a super quick dinner on a weeknight. Add a green salad or steamed vegetables, and everyone will be satisfied with very little effort on the cook's part. 

Recipe Variations

  • Additions include vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and green bell peppers.
  • Some people prefer to use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef, and those who are vegetarians who don't want to miss out on this old standby use vegetable protein made to mimic the texture of ground beef.
  • Use your imagination and consider your family's taste preferences. It's all up to you.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
7 Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 7
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 356mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 25mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)