Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning Recipe

Growing up, my dad wasn’t a fan of pretty much any spice- so salt and maybe pepper was about the extent of what we used. But now that I’m the grown up and the one in the kitchen, I use all kinds of spices!

​Spice blends from the grocery store are super convenient, but in some of my cooking I prefer to make my own. There are so many benefits to making your own spice blends, but the biggest one for me is being able to customize them to exactly my liking!

A great quick dinner that my whole family loves is Sloppy Joes, and having a batch of this Homemade Sloppy Joe Seasoning on hand at all times makes that even easier on a busy night! If you have this in your pantry, dinner can be on the table in just minutes- so make a batch of this easy recipe now and keep it on hand for when you need it!

How spicy is this recipe? How can you tone down the spice for kids?

This recipe has a lot of flavor and a bit of spice- I wouldn’t call it outright spicy but it might be a lot for younger kids! 

You can definitely make this less spicy by reducing the amounts of the hotter spices: in this recipe, that’s chili powder, paprika, and cumin. You could also try swapping the smoked paprika for sweet paprika, or even add in a little bit of sugar {brown sugar is best in this} if you aren’t opposed to the idea.

Find an alteration that works for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Is this recipe for one dinner’s worth?

No! Definitely not, this spice blend recipe is a large batch that will get you through MANY dinners! This recipe is to make a whole batch of seasoning, this is not the serving amount for one dinner! I have seen a few comments on Pinterest who thought the quantities were a typo, but it’s because they didn’t realize it was for a whole batch of seasoning that you can use over & over again!

What should you serve with sloppy joes?

There are so many side dishes that go great with sloppy joes! When I’m in a super big hurry, I just throw together a side salad {sometimes from a bag!} or add some potato chips. But if I have more time or am hitting the grocery store, these are other options we enjoy:

• Cole Slaw
• Potato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• French Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Corn on the Cob
• Pickles
• Baked Beans
• Roasted Bell Pepper

Can this blend be used for vegan or vegetarian sloppy joes?

Absolutely! This blend is perfect for any type of sloppy joe meat- even if that’s not even ground meat!

Some of my favorite meatless options for this recipe include using mushrooms, pea-based protein, meatless crumbles or even tofu. The recipe doesn’t change, just cook your protein and then add the ketchup or tomato sauce along with the seasoning blend at the end and warm until heated through. It’s that easy!

What are some benefits of making your own spice blend versus just buying it at the store?

Buying spice blends or cans of sloppy joe sauce at the store can be super convenient- but I prefer to make my own when it comes to Sloppy Joe Seasoning. That’s because:

You can customize it: If the store brand is a little too spicy {or not spicy enough!} you can make it exactly how you like it! Add or change ingredients, and even switch it up from batch to batch to keep it fresh!

It’s cost-effective: While you’ll need a handful of spices up front to make this recipe, you likely have them all in your pantry already without having to buy an extra packet to make dinner. This batch makes enough for several dinners so even if you have to buy an extra bottle or two, you’ll be saving money!

It’s versatile: This blend is delicious in way more than just sloppy joes! Like I shared above, you can throw this blend into many different dishes to keep dinner fun and delicious, even in a pinch. Having this in your pantry helps keep dinner exciting!

Can you use this blend to make Sloppy Joes in the Crock Pot?

Yes! This would be great for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes. Here’s how to make those: 

1. Brown the meat: Brown meat in a skillet on the stovetop. Drain any excess fat.
2. Transfer to the slow cooker: Once the meat is browned, transfer it to the slow cooker.
3. Add the seasoning blend: Sprinkle the homemade sloppy joe seasoning blend over the cooked meat in the slow cooker. The quantity will depend on the amount of meat you’re using and your desired level of flavor. Start with a couple of tablespoons per pound of meat and add a little more if you like it extra flavorful.
4. Add other ingredients: Totally optional, but you can add other ingredients like diced onions, bell peppers, garlic, green pepper and tomato paste or ketchup. You can also include Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, or any other additional ingredients that you typically use in your sloppy joe recipe.
5. Stir well: Mix all the ingredients in the slow cooker until well combined, ensuring the seasoning blend is evenly distributed throughout the meat and other ingredients.
6. Cook on low heat: Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on low heat for 4 to 6 hours or on high heat for 2 to 3 hours. The exact cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker.
7. Adjust consistency: If the mixture appears too thick during cooking, you can add a little water or broth to achieve the desired consistency. Stir well to incorporate.
8. Taste and adjust seasonings: Before serving but when cooked, taste the sloppy joe mixture and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more of the homemade seasoning blend, salt, or other spices to suit your preferences.

What supplies do you need to make Sloppy Joe Seasoning?

To make this seasoning blend, you’ll need:

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• Mason jar
• Funnel

Step by Step Guide

Ready to make it? Grab the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post and come back here to get started!

To make the seasoning: Combine all ingredients in an airtight container and mix well.

To use the seasoning: Cook your protein of choice {ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken or a meatless alternative as listed above} in a large skillet until cooked through. Add 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup of ketchup and 2 TBSP of seasoning mix per 1 lb. of protein. Heat until warmed through and enjoy! 

To enjoy: Combine 2 tbs. of Sloppy Joe Seasoning with 1 lb of ground beef or turkey and 1/2-3/4 cup of ketchup. Heat through and enjoy!

Hungry for More?

Want more delicious seasoning recipes? Try these:

Chili Seasoning Mix
Homemade Guacamole Seasoning

What’s your favorite spice to use?