Instant-Pot Sloppy Joe

Make your weeknight easier by whipping up this easy and delicious Instant-Pot Sloppy Joe recipe for dinner.

Savory beef and vegetable sandwiches on soft buns, perfect for healthy meal options and quick dinners. Made with ground beef, diced onions, and bell peppers, served on fresh, fluffy bread.

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This sloppy joe recipe instantly takes me back to my school cafeteria lunches and those busy weeknight dinners at home when my mom wanted to whip up something easy. My favorite part of this recipe is how it uses the Instant Pot rather than the stovetop, transforming a classic recipe into something even better. It delivers all those familiar flavors in a fraction of the time it would take to bubble away on the stovetop. The Instant Pot pressure cooking setting intensifies all those savory, sweet, and tangy flavors from the veggies and seasoning, while keeping the ground beef perfectly tender and juicy. The combination of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and a hint of Dijon mustard creates a delectable, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor profile that’s a tad better than the canned sauce versions my mom used to make it with.

In just 35 minutes, you can have a hearty, delicious meal that can feed your whole family or group of friends without spending hours in the kitchen. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity, with most of the ingredients being pantry staples you probably already have on hand. Whether you’re feeding hungry kids after school, hosting a casual dinner party, or just craving some good old-fashioned comfort food, these Instant Pot sloppy joes deliver every single time. Serve them on toasted buns with your favorite sides, and you’ve got a meal that’s guaranteed to become a regular in your dinner lineup.

Fresh burger buns, ground beef, chopped onions, celery, pickles, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic butter, and seasonings laid out for burger preparation.

What is an Instant Pot?

For those unfamiliar, an Instant Pot is a brand of electric multicooker that combines the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, and yogurt maker all in one convenient appliance. It uses pressurized steam to cook food much faster than traditional cooking methods. What would normally take hours in a slow cooker can be done in minutes with the pressure cooking function. It’s an absolute lifesaver to have, whether you’re a busy parent, college student, or just need a kitchen appliance that helps get dinner on the table faster. You can find it being sold online or at various department stores.

Savory homemade sloppy joe sandwich with seasoned ground beef and diced green peppers on a soft sandwich bun, served on a white plate for a nutritious, filling meal.

How do I store leftovers?

If you have any leftover sloppy joe meat, you can store it in an airtight container and leave it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the cooked meat for up to 2 months. To defrost it, I recommend transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator and allowing it to thaw overnight. Once defrosted, reheat the sloppy joe mixture in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. If your mixture seems too thick, try adding a splash of water or beef broth. You can also reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval.

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Serving suggestions

These sloppy joes would go wonderfully with these Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries or a batch of these Homemade French Fries. You can serve it with a side of veggies like some Steamed Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Broccoli And Cauliflower, or Roasted Zucchini. For a complete comfort food experience, consider adding a crisp Coleslaw or pickles on the side to cut through the rich, savory flavors of the sloppy joe mixture.