Easy Sloppy Joes in the Ninja Foodi

Easy one pot dinners are essential for the busy homesteader and parent. That is why these easy Sloppy Joes in the Ninja Foodi are a lifesaver midweek. The kids love how fun and messy they are and I love how was they are to clean up!

Baseball, gardening, and construction are really ruling our lives right now. Couple that with my husband traveling some and dinner is the last thing I have on my mind until little ones start asking my least favorite question…. “What’s for dinner?”

When that question pops up I know it is time to spring into action. I have really leaned into using my Ninja Foodi even more than before because it really is a one pot wonder. I can brown meat over the sear function, slow cook or pressure cook, and air fry! It really is amazing and makes such a difference when you are in a hurry.

One of our kids’ favorite dinners are Sloppy Joes. I am not talking about the canned version that you get at the store. I am talking about a simple to throw together tangy sauce that is made with stuff you have in your pantry!

Why do they call it Sloppy Joes

The truth is that we don’t really know why they are called Sloppy Joes. Some speculate an Iowa cook named Joe began “fancying up” the famous loose meat sandwiches in a little cafe in Sioux City. However there is no proof that a cook named Joe actually ever existed.

There is also the theory that the Sloppy Joe name started in Cuba of all places! It is said that a small seafood restaurant owner ran a “sloppy” establishment earning him the name of Sloppy Joe. This naming paved the way for the sandwich to gain the same name based on its sloppy and messy appearance.

Wherever the name or invention is credited we know that this sloppy loose meat sandwich is a perfectly easy weeknight dinner that kids seem to really love!

Seriously what kid doesn’t like to get a little messy with their food!

What is in Sloppy Joe Sauce

You may have seen Manwich and other Sloppy Joe sauces filling the shelves of your canned goods aisles at the grocery store, but the truth of the matter is they truly do not make making sloppy joes any easier. Sloppy Joe Sauce in and of itself is a pretty simple concoction.

What exactly is in Sloppy Joe Sauce?

Sloppy Joe Sauce is a tomato based sauce sweetened with a bit of brown sugar, deepened with a bit of Worcestershire, and spiced up with additional aromatics and spices. To give the sauce its signature tang a bit of mustard and vinegar are added.

I use ketchup as my base. I like that it is already perfectly balanced which helps to cut down on the other ingredients that I add.

How to Make Sloppy Joes in the Ninja Foodi

This Sloppy Joe Recipe is so simple. I like to use my Ninja Foodi because it is easy clean up and so simple. If you don’t have a Ninja Foodi, no worries! You can make this recipe in a dutch oven on the stove or in a crock pot as well.

First you brown the meat. Set the Ninja Foodi to sear/sauté. Add ground meat, chopped onions and garlic over medium high heat. Salt and pepper to taste. Once meat is browned, drain off excess fat.

Now time for the sauce.

In all transparency, I eyeball these ingredients nine times out of ten. Your measurements don’t have to be exact and it will still taste delicious as long as you don’t go overboard.

To meat mixture add in ketchup, mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire, and brown sugar. Stir until well combined.

Set the Foodi to slow cook high and let the flavors marry as long as you like. At a minimum you need the sauce to be heated through which takes about 20 minutes, but I typically make this in the morning on baseball game days and just let it sit until the kids get off the bus.

What side dishes go with Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are a pretty versatile main course. Essentially anything you would eat with a burger or pulled pork sandwich would be great. Our favorite sides are:

• Crispy French Fries or Tater Tots (I love to do loaded Sloppy Joe fries. Just skip the bun and load up the meat of your bed of fries. Top with cheese and jalapeños!
• Cole Slaw- this creamy crispy side is perfect paired with messy Sloppy Joes
• Root Vegetable Medley– this combination of savory root vegetables is the perfect accompaniment to the tangy sweet sauce.
• Mac and Cheese- I am not a big fan of pasta, but my kids are and they love Mac and Cheese with Sloppy Joes!
• Dill Pickles and Plain Chips- Give your sandwich a deli feel with a crisp dill pickle and salty plain Lays chips

Explore Our Other Ninja Foodi Recipes

We really do love our Ninja Foodi and use it all the time. Check out some of our other recipes that we think will have you falling in love with your Ninja!

• Sourdough Discard Biscuits
• White Chicken Chili
• Indian Stew
• Tasty Zucchini
• Baked Potatoes in the Ninja Foodi
• Black Eyed Peas (our most popular Ninja Foodi Recipe! Y’all it is dang delicious!)

We hope you enjoy this simple weeknight meal and spend some time checking out our other Farmhouse Recipes.

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Sloppy Joes in the Ninja Foodi

A sweet and tangy tomato sauce meets a loose meat sandwich to make a perfectly messy Sloppy Joe

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 5 people

Equipment

• Ninja Foodi

Ingredients

  

• 1½ lbs Ground Beef
• 1 Onion Diced
• 1-2 cloves of Garlic chopped
• 1 cup Ketchup
• 1 tbsp yellow Mustard
• 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

 

• Sauté meat, onions, and garlic in the Ninja Foodi pot over medium high heat breaking up the meat. Cook until meat is browned.
• Drain off excess fat
• Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined
• Set Ninja Foodi to Slow Cook, Hi, for 2 hours. (meat is ready to serve as soon as it is warmed through, but flavors are best when it can be left to cook for a while. Stir occasionally)

Keyword Sandwich, Sloppy Joe

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