Italian Sloppy Joes

Italian Sloppy Joes are a quick meal idea that the whole family will love. Add them to your meal plan now!

Italian Sloppy Joes are a simple meal that is super fun to eat and full of hidden healthy veggies.  Perfect for kids and parents! We like to serve this with a quick spinach salad and some fresh French bread. Finish the meal off with our easy Nutella cookies!

Italian Sloppy Joes

Italian Sloppy Joes, Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Spaghetti sauce, 24 ounces
• Garlic
• Vegetables
  • Zucchini
  • Summer Squash
  • Eggplant
  • Mushrooms
• Italian bread
• Optional: mozzarella cheese slices

How do you make Italian Sloppy Joes

⭐ First, in a deep skillet, brown and drain ground beef.⭐ Next, return beef to skillet and add diced vegetables, and minced garlic. Pour in spaghetti sauce and mix well.⭐ Then, bring to a light simmer. Continue to simmer on low uncovered for about two hours, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and clinging to the meat and vegetables rather than pooling in the bottom of the pan when you stir.⭐ Finally, serve on Italian bread with mozzarella cheese, or just slop it into a bowl (seriously, so good).I never had Sloppy Joes as a kid (I know, right?  It’s like I wasn’t even raised in the 80’s).So, when I went off to college and one day decided I wanted some Sloppy Joe action, I grabbed a can of spaghetti sauce and some ground beef.  And it was delicious.And I went on my merry way thinking that’s how you made Sloppy Joes.  Until fifteen *ahem* years later, my sweet mother-in-law (no, I mean that, she really is sweet) broke the news that I’d been doing it all wrong.Wait, what?!  All this time… all those Joes.Not to worry, I just renamed them Italian Sloppy Joes. Which is fitting, I guess, since I’m 50% Italian.So, all’s well ends well because it turns out I don’t really like the regular kind anyway.  Happy accidents abound.This recipe is supremely easy to make, but does take time.  It’s one of our go-to Sunday afternoon meals.  My kids absolutely love it.Turn on some music and relax while the food simmers on the stove top for a couple hours filling the house with all the yummy smells, and allowing the flavors to blend and meld while the sauce thickens.Yes, mmmm.  It’s a good thing I’m typing rather than talking, because it’s rude to talk with your mouth full.P.S. If your kids will squawk at the sight of vegetables, you can totally puree them!For this recipe I used a jar of Francesco Rinaldi’s Tomato Garlic and Onion Spaghetti Sauce that I found at Walmart.  I was only recently introduced to the Francesco Rinaldi line, but have to say that I am impressed.Aside from the great flavor (which, let’s be honest, I wouldn’t be telling you about it if it didn’t taste good), it’s gluten free, has no preservatives, and carries an extensive product line for a really great value.

Tools We Love

• 12 inch cast iron skillet – This one’s a classic. Every kitchen should have a good skillet. 
• Wooden spatula – I love a wooden spatula for breaking up ground beef in the pan. 

Other great sloppy joe recipes

• Classic sloppy joes recipe
• Beef Stroganoff Sloppy Joes Recipe
• Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
• Nacho Sloppy Joes Recipe
• Mississippi Sloppy Joes Recipe
• See all our easy sloppy joe recipe variations!

What to Serve with Italian Sloppy Joes

• French Bread
• Dinner Rolls
• Garlic Knots
• Spinach Salad

How to make Italian Sloppy Joes