I loved eating sloppy joes as a kid – so fun and messy! Today, I’m sharing a delicious recipe for sloppy joe meat sauce – you can make this so easily in an instant pot!
This recipe is likely a bit more sophisticated in flavor than the traditional sloppy joe meat you ate as a child – thanks to the addition of smoked paprika, molasses and a touch of cayenne. I’m sure you’ll love the sauce!
Once the meat is done cooking in your instant pot, you can hit the “sauté” function to reduce some of the liquid. That’ll keep the sloppy joes from becoming a bit too sloppy. Meat tends to release a lot of water – so I usually do this with most meat dishes that I make in the instant pot. It helps concentrate the flavors without too much extra liquid.
This recipe calls for two pounds of meat – I usually freeze half the batch for a rainy/lazy day. You can halve the recipe if you want. Also, if you don’t have an instant pot, you can make my sloppy joe boats instead!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 onions diced
- 8 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 15 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne adjust to taste!
- Cilantro garnish – optional
Instructions
- Press the “sauté” button on the Instant Pot. Add the oil and onions and and saute for 4-5 minutes.
- Next, add the garlic, spices and ground beef. Cook until the beef is mostly browned.
- Add the remaining ingredients, then cover the lid and close the pressure valve. Cook for 10 minutes at high pressure.
- Naturally release pressure (or use the quick release if short on time).
- Open the pot and if the meat released a lot of liquid, press the “saute” button to boil off any extra liquid. Reduce the sauce according to your desired level of thickness.
Notes
Jenn says
This was delicious! Perfectly sweet and reminiscent of having sloppy joes as a kid…just healthier. 🙂 Might have to try it without cumin next time because for some reason my fiance hates the spice and can taste even a small hint of it. More for me this time. 🙂
My Heart Beets says
Jenn, I’m so glad you liked it! It’ll be good even without the cumin! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out for you 🙂
hotmail says
This recipe was crazy easy and DELICIOUS! Thanks so much for sharing! I can’t wait to try it again with the coleslaw!
My Heart Beets says
So happy to hear that! Thank you for letting me know how the recipe turned out for you 🙂
Vanessa says
Love this recipe! I’ve made a few subs and adjustments to my family’s tastes but we have used it 3 or 4 times since we got our instant pot.
My Heart Beets says
Vanessa, I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know how you guys like it 🙂
Amy says
I’m sorry, but this recipe tasted more like chili than sloppy Joes. That’s even with using 1\4 the cayenne pepper called for in the recipe.
Eric says
The recipe calls for 2 teaspoons Paprika AND 2 teaspoons smoked paprika. Is this a typo?
Thanks,
Eric
My Heart Beets says
Hi Eric, nope – not a typo. Paprika and smoked paprika are very different in flavor…
Valerie Jacobs says
Hi I’m trying this today. I’ve always added kidney beans to my sloppy joes and worchestshire sauce to my ground meat dishes. I’m hoping that using diced tomatoes and tomato paste will make a good consistency.
My Heart Beets says
Hi Valerie! Let me know how it turns out for you! 🙂
Nazahah says
Hi!
Excited to try this next week! I’m meal prepping so I wanted to ask, is there an substitute to molasses?
Hannah says
I love that you have a ‘jump to recipe’ button!!!
My Heart Beets says
Thanks, Hannah! 🙂
Ashley says
I used honey the last time as a substitute and it turned out really good. My family liked it.