Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Creamy, savory, and messy are all the good things that make this sweet and spicy sloppy joe recipe, with white cheddar, what they should be. Serve with a cold Coleslaw or Cucumber Salad.

Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe | With White Cheddar

Give this Sweet and Spicy Sloppy Joerecipe a whirl tonight. Very minimal ingredients go into these bad boys and the longer they cook the better they get. When I first married my husband, he was ADAMANT that he hated sloppy joes so I rarely made them. Buuuuut, a few weeks ago, I got the brilliant idea to make this version and whaddaya know. One bite and he loves sloppy joes.

Main Ingredients Needed

Here is everything you’ll need to make these tasty sweet and spicy sloppy joes!

• Lean Ground Beef – I used 93/7. Feel free to make this healthier by using ground turkey instead.
• Onion + Garlic – two basic but flavorful ingredients that make a great base for any meal.
• Ketchup, Mustard + Worcestershire Sauce –these three condiments create a lovely blend of flavors.
• Brown Sugar –this is where the sweet comes in.
• Red Pepper Flakes –this is where the spicy comes in, add more if you like it hot hot hot.
• Salt + Pepper –season to taste.
• Hamburger Buns –we like to toast our buns for a crunchy soft bite.
• White Cheddar Cheese –this adds creaminess and a softer flavor to the sandwich.

How to Make Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joes

This Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe is based on my sweet and sour meatball sauce recipe, with a few modifications. And, because cheese is its own food group at my house, I grated a little white cheddar over the top of the whole thing and let it melt. For full recipe details check out the recipe card below.

1. Brown the Meat

Start browning meat, breaking apart as you go. Add in onion and garlic and cook to soften.

2. Make the Sauce

Stir in all ingredients to create the sauce and bring it to a bubble. Reduce heat immediately to low, cover, and cook. {The longer the better}

3. Toast Buns

Toast open sides of hamburger buns spread generously with softened butter and rub with the cut side of a garlic clove if desired. This is totally optional.

4. Serve with White Cheddar Cheese

Spoon filling onto the bottoms of each bun and sprinkle with grated white cheddar cheese. Top with other bun and enjoy!

Storing Sweet & Spicy Sloppy Joes

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5 days!

This Sweet and Spicy Sloppy Joe recipe is great for meal prepping for the rest of the week.

Freezing Instructions

The beauty of this recipe is that you could even store the leftovers in thefreezer for up to 4 months!

Cool completely, then transfer sloppy joe mixture into an airtight container. To use, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Sloppy Joe Recipes to Try!

• *BEST* Sloppy Joe Recipe
• Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
• Taco Sloppy Joes

Sweet, spicy, creamy, savory and very very messy. All good things that makes sloppy joes what they should be.

Here’s the printable. Try this easy one-pot dinner out tonight 🙂 Have a great day, friends!