Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

By Amy Dong
Published Dec. 6, 2023
Updated Dec. 12, 2023

Sweet, savory, and tender, these Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are always a crowd-pleaser! Like so many of our favorite Instant Pot meals, they’re great for busy weeknights.

finished instant pot sloppy joes on buns with sides. — Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are so simple and delicious: perfect for crazy weeknights and picky eaters.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

These Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are the easier, quicker version of our classic Sloppy Joes Recipe. It’s a life-saver for crazy weeknights. Here’s some more reasons why we love this recipe:

Quick and Easy: These Sloppy Joes are one of our many delicious 30-minute meals, meaning you can keep this in your recipe arsenal for the days when you just don’t have time to cook.
Flavorful: Thanks to the Instant Pot and some key spices and condiments, these Sloppy Joes are bursting with sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.
Versatile: Sloppy Joes are so versatile. There’s dozens of ways you can adjust them to your preferences.
Family-Friendly: This is a classic family meal, because most everyone (including picky eaters) loves it.
Make-Ahead: Sloppy Joes keep really well making them a perfect meal-prep dinner.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Ground Beef – We use 93% lean ground beef for this recipe, but you can also totally use a higher fat percentage.
Green Bell Pepper – Green bell pepper adds a pop of color and freshness to these sloppy joes.
Tomato Paste – One of the main ingredients in sloppy joes, tomato paste thickens the mixture and helps bring all the flavors together nicely.
Ketchup – We add some ketchup in addition to the tomato paste to bring even more sweet tomato flavor.
Brown Sugar – We love the sweet, molasses flavor that brown sugar brings to this dish.
Mustard – The sharp, tangy flavor of mustard balances the sweeter ingredients perfectly.

Substitutions And Variations

We love how versatile this warm, comforting dinner can be. Check out some of our favorite variations for Sloppy Joes:

Swap the Meat: You can always swap the ground beef in this recipe for ground chicken or turkey. If you really want to get creative, try using half beef or turkey and half sausage for an added burst of flavor.
Switch or Omit Veggies: If you aren’t a fan of green bell peppers, feel free to omit them or swap them with another veggie. We think celery, carrots, and colored bell peppers would all be great options!
Play with the Flavors: Try adding cumin, paprika, and fresh jalapeños to make Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes. You could also play around with adding fresh ginger, soy sauce, and sesame seeds for an Asian spin on this recipe.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

sloppy joes ground beef being browned in instant pot.

sloppy joes vegetables being cooked in instant pot.

Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add ground beef, 1 tsp kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook until browned. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Continuing in sauté mode, heat oil until very hot. Add onions, garlic, green peppers, and remaining 1 tsp kosher salt. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add the browned beef back into the pot.

instant pot sloppy joes served on buns with sides.

Stir in the ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, and mustard to combine well. Cover tightly and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Let pressure cooker “natural release” for 12 minutes. Manually release the remaining pressure.
Stir and serve warm on hamburger buns, brioche buns, or pasta. Enjoy!

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes keep wonderfully. Here’s how to meal prep:

Refrigerate: Sloppy Joes will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. So, feel free to make this recipe in advance (or double it) and have it as an easy lunch or dinner throughout the week!
Freeze: This recipe also freezes really well. Just let the mixture cool completely and throw it in the freezer for up to a month. You can either thaw it in the microwave or on the stovetop when you’re ready to eat.
Veggies and Aromatics: As always, to make this recipe super quick, you can always chop up the bell pepper, onions, and garlic in advance and store them in the fridge for a few days.

instant pot sloppy joes in buns with sides.

What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

Breads and Rice

If you have more time on your hands and are craving a homemade bun for these sloppy joes, check out this recipe for Easy Dinner Rolls. We also think these Parmesan Garlic Pull-Apart Bread Rolls would be an amazing addition.
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes go amazing with pasta or even rice too! Check out these recipes for Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice.

Vegetables

Try making this Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing or this Fresh Corn Avocado Salad for a fresh, vibrant side.
We also love the tried-and-true combo of sloppy joes with coleslaw and extra crunchy pickles.

Desserts

For a sweet finish to your meal, check out these Refined-Sugar Free Honey Cornbread Muffins. We also love this classic Sweet Honey Cornbread with lots of butter on top.
To satisfy that sweet tooth, try making these super thick and chewy Monster Cookies or these Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long do instant pot sloppy joes keep?

Store sloppy joes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it, and it’ll keep really well for a month.

Do you have to brown the beef?

You don’t have to brown the ground beef for this recipe, but we highly recommend it. It brings out really nice flavors that you won’t get otherwise. Especially if you’re using a higher fat beef, it’s a good idea to brown it first so you can strain some of the excess fat.

Can I make these sloppy joes without an instant pot?

Yes! For an amazing stovetop sloppy joe recipe, check out our recipe for Easy, Hearty Sloppy Joes.

What do I do if my instant pot gives me the “burn” notice?

If you end up getting the burn notice from your instant pot, try mixing up to 1/2 cup of water or broth and give everything a stir, making sure nothing is sticking to the bottom. If you need to thicken the Sloppy Joes due to the extra liquids you can always add a bit of cornstarch dissolved in water to the mix.

Are instant pot sloppy joes gluten-free?

Yes! The actual Sloppy Joe mixture is completely gluten and dairy free. So, get yourself some gluten-free buns and you’ll be all set!

Did you make this?

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