Name: Cajun Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds lean ground beef; 1 cup white onion (diced); 1 small green bell pepper (seeded and diced); 16 ounces tomato sauce; 1 cup ketchup; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard; 2 teaspoons brown sugar; 2 teaspoons Kickin' Cajun Seasoning Mix ((or store bought Creole or Cajun Seasoning)); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper ((adjust amount as needed)); 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper; 8 Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns (toasted)

Skip the store-bought sloppy Joe mix and cook up your own, made from scratch Cajun Sloppy Joes. The flavor will knock your socks off and they’re ready in 30 minutes!

A Cajun Sloppy Joe on a brown serving plate with tater tots

This recipe came about when Boy #3 requested sloppy Joes for dinner. I kind of groan a little at a request like this. On one hand, opening a can of Manwich and calling it a night definitely has its appeal, but there’s got to be a better way! This recipe is not much more difficult and only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. A fantastic choice for a busy weeknight. Easy, quick, and tasty. The bell pepper and seasonings take it from the kid realm into something the adults will love too.

How Spicy are Cajun Sloppy Joes?

The level of heat in these Cajun Sloppy Joes is easy to control and completely depends upon you.

Kickin' Cajun Seasoning Mix in a mason jar

There are several different brands of Creole or Cajun seasoning out there but I am never without a jar of my homemade Kickin’ Cajun Seasoning Mix in my pantry. Whether you’re using a store-bought mix or your own, you’ll need to check your mixture for the level of heat before determining if you want to add a little (or a lot) of crushed red pepper to this recipe for some additional kick.

As my boys have gotten older, I’ve slowly increased the amount I use as they’ve grown to love spicy foods. If you’re group is sensitive to heat, you can leave the crushed red pepper out altogether.

How to Make Cajun Sloppy Joes

It all takes place in one skillet and is ready to serve in 30 minutes.

Cook a couple of pounds of lean ground beef, diced onions,and bell pepper all together in a large skillet until the meat crumbles and no pink remains. Drain as much grease off as possible and return the skillet to the heat.

Side by by side process photos of cooking the sloppy joe mixture in a skillet.

Add tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, the Cajun seasoning mix, garlic powder, the optional crushed red pepper, and fresh ground pepper. Stir well to combine and reduce the heat under the skillet to LOW.

Let the mixture simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

A close up of the finished sloppy joe mixture in the skillet

And that, my friends, is it!

This rich, flavorful Cajun Sloppy Joe filling is ready. Pile it on to toasted buns and serve.

Try and find the best bakery type hamburger or kaiser rolls you can get your hands on and put plenty of napkins out. They ain’t called Sloppy Joes for nothing.

Spooning some of the sloppy joe mixture on to a bun

Great Side Dish Choices

For some reason when I think Sloppy Joes, I think tater tots. Must be my classy upbringing and high level of sophistication.

But seriously, it’s a great match-up. And, easy-peasy. And, your family will love it!

Crispy Oven Baked Fries are also a great choice.

An overhead shot of a Cajun Sloppy Joe on a serving plate with tater tots with the skillet behind it.

You could also toss together some 5 Minute Broccoli Kale Slaw or California Cole Slaw to add a little crunch to the menu.

A closeup of a sloppy joe on a wooden plate.

This post was originally published on September 7, 2011. It has been updated with new text and images.

Adapted from The Complete Southern Cookbook

A two image vertical collage of Cajun Sloppy Joes

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