Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

By Krista Teigen

Published Mar 25, 2024

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are a fun family dinner that’s super quick and easy, but doesn’t sacrifice any of that classic flavor that my family loves! Simple ingredients come together to make my favorite messy sandwiches in just about half an hour. I love to make these for sandwiches game days and busy weeknight dinners alike!

an instant pot sloppy joe sandwich with pickles. - 4

What’s in This Instant Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe?

Sloppy Joes are an absolute staple at our house. I’ve tinkered with all sorts of fun flavors and creative versions in the past, but this super simple and classic Instant Pot version is one I come back to time and time again. When I’m stressed about busy nights and need to get dinner on the table, this recipe is a winner.

Beef: Ground beef is the base of this sloppy joe recipe.
Veggies: Finely chopped onion and green bell pepper add an earthy and sweet flavor to the meat. If you’re not a fan of green peppers, you can leave them out, or use a red, yellow, or orange bell pepper instead.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds a rounded earthy flavor to the meat.
Broth: Low-sodium beef broth helps keep the meat moist and tender as it cooks. You can use vegetable or chicken broth instead of beef broth.
Ketchup: Adds a touch of sweetness and acidity to the meat. Instead of ketchup, you can use barbecue sauce .
Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds extra acidity to the meat to balance the sweetness. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar will also work.
Tomato Paste: Adds a savory and umami flavor to the meat.
Sugar: Brown sugar adds a rich sweetness to the meat and helps it brown.
Worcestershire Sauce: Adds depth of umami flavor to the meat. In a pinch, you can use soy sauce in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
Chili Powder: Adds a touch of spice to the meat.

Notes from the Test Kitchen

I make sloppy joes in an Instant Pot for a quick recipe you can make any night of the week! The savory and sweet balance of flavorful ingredients in the ground beef and sauce makes for a delicious meal that’s perfect for feeding a group of people.

Variations on Pressure Cooker Sloppy Joes

I love to switch things up from time to time. These quick and easy sloppy joes can easily be made with ground turkey, pork, or chicken instead of beef!

a spoon lifting a scoop of sloppy Joe meat out of an instant pot - 5

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Instant Pot sloppy joes meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave on full power for 1 minute, stirring halfway through.

How to Freeze

Freeze Instant Pot sloppy joes in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and assembling.

Serving Suggestions

I love to make it a meal with some of my favorite simple sides like 15 minute mac and cheese , potato salad , and creamy coleslaw . They also taste great with classic potato chips and some homemade refrigerator pickles on the sandwiches, or on the side.

close up view of 2 sloppy joe sandwiches on a wooden cutting board with pickles. - 6

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 2 pounds ground beef
▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
▢ ½ onion finely chopped
▢ 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
▢ ¾ cup low-sodium beef broth
▢ ¾ cup ketchup
▢ 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
▢ 2 tablespoons tomato paste
▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
▢ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder

For Serving

▢ 6 hamburger buns
▢ Pickle slices
▢ Sliced red onion

Video

Instructions

Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot. Add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once heated, add in the ground beef and salt. Brown the meat until cooked through. Drain excess liquid from the pot if needed. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 pounds ground beef, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Add in the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook for a few minutes until softened. ½ onion, 1 green bell pepper, 2 cloves garlic
Add in the beef broth, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder. Stir. ¾ cup low-sodium beef broth, ¾ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder
Place the lid on the pot. Press the Cancel button. Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button and cook for 5 minutes.
Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Then release the remaining pressure by flipping the pressure release valve.
Give the meat a stir and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken up.
Serve on hamburger buns, pickles, and red onion. 6 hamburger buns, Pickle slices, Sliced red onion

Equipment

Instant Pot

Becky’s Tips

You can use any neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola, or avocado oil, instead of the olive oil.
Feel free to substitute some or all of the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken!
If you’re not a fan of green peppers, you can leave them out or use a red, yellow, or orange bell pepper instead.
You can use chicken or vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
Instead of ketchup, you can use barbecue sauce.
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar will also work.
In a pinch, you can use soy sauce in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
Feel free to drain the beef fat or leave it!
If you’re short on time, you can skip browning the beef.
To avoid the burn warning, make sure there is enough liquid in the Instant Pot, and scrape up any browned bits after cooking the beef.
To thicken your sloppy joes, stir in a slurry made from 1 teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with 1-2 tablespoons of cold water. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté and let simmer for 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Instant Pot Sloppy Joes Step by Step

Sauté the Beef: Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot. Add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once heated, add in 2 pounds of ground beef and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Brown the meat until cooked through. Drain excess liquid from the pot if needed. Add in ½ of a finely chopped onion, 1 finely chopped green bell pepper, and 2 minced cloves of garlic, and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add in ¾ cup of low-sodium beef broth, ¾ cup of ketchup, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 1 teaspoon of chili powder. Stir.

overhead view of ingredients for instant pot sloppy joes. - 7

Cook the Beef: Place the lid on the pot. Press the Cancel button. Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button and cook for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Then release the remaining pressure by flipping the pressure release valve. Give the meat a stir and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to thicken up.

a spoon lifting a scoop of instant pot sloppy joes from an instant pot. - 8

Assemble the Sandwiches: Serve on hamburger buns with pickles and sliced red onion.

overhead view of 2 sloppy joe sandwiches on a wooden cutting board with pickles. - 9

A sloppy joe is a sandwich made from ground beef cooked in a tomato sauce. It’s served on a burger bun.

No, you don’t have to brown the meat first, but I recommend it because it adds a ton of flavor! It also doesn’t take too much extra time, and you can do it right in the Instant Pot!

It’s totally up to you whether or not you drain the fat. I like to leave some in to add flavor the sauce, but you can drain out any excess if you prefer.

More Sloppy Joe Recipes to Try

Crockpot Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
Classic Sloppy Joes from Scratch

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe

Equipment

Instant Pot