Instant Pot Sloppy Joes | Easy Sloppy Joe Slider Recipe

Do you love Sloppy Joes but hate how long it takes to develop that rich, hearty flavor that you know and love? This Instant Pot Sloppy Joe recipe makes a rich and flavorful sandwich that the whole family will rave about!

Why You’ll Love Sloppy Joe Sliders

• Fast. Make tasty Sloppy Joes in under 30 minutes with the help of your Instant Pot!
• Easy. Dice some veggies, brown your hamburger, pressure cook, and serve.
• Inexpensive. The perfect dish for feeding a large crowd or to help stretch your budget.
• Kid-Friendly. The perfect combination of sweet and savory to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Why Make Them In The Instant Pot?

If you’re familiar with my recipes, you know I’ll find any excuse to use my kitchen gadgets. If you can dream up a recipe, I’ll figure out a way to make it in my Instant Pot or Air Fryer. So any time someone asks me why you should make something in the Instant Pot instead of just cooking it on the stovetop, my response will always be “Why not?”.

The real reason you should make this Sloppy Joe recipe in the Instant Pot is because of how quickly you can build a complex sauce flavor. Cooking the sauce ingredients under pressure helps infuse the flavor into the ground beef without babysitting a pan on the stovetop.

What Is The Difference Between A Sloppy Joe And A Manwich?

Honestly, the difference between a Sloppy Joe and a Manwich is all in the name. Manwich is simply the brand name of one of the most popular canned Sloppy Joe sauces you can buy. Homemade Sloppy Joes taste very similar, if not better than the can of Manwich you may have grown up eating.

Do You Drain The Fat From Ground Beef From Sloppy Joes?

Whether you drain the fat from the ground beef after cooking it is completely up to you. Depending on what type of ground beef you use, you may have more or less grease left in your Instant Pot liner after cooking. If you use an 80/20 ground beef blend or leaner, you likely will not need to drain the fat. If you use a 70/30 blend, you will likely want to remove some of the fat before adding the rest of the sauce ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need For Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

• Ground Beef– this is the body of the sloppy joe filling. I prefer to use a leaner mix of ground beef for this recipe.
• Brown Sugar– Adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce.
• Bell Pepper– Cuts some of the richness of the sauce while sneaking in some veggies.
• Onion– Adds to the richness of the sauce.
• Ketchup– Use whatever variety you want. Choose traditional, spicy, or even sugar-free.
• Hot Sauce– Frank’s Red Hot is my all-time favorite hot sauce and is a great addition to this recipe.
• Worchestershire Sauce– Gives a slightly smoky note to these Sloppy Joes.
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Hawaiian Rolls– We love any excuse to work Hawaiian rolls into dinner time. If you prefer a plain dinner roll or a hamburger bun, go for it. It’s equally delicious.
• Oil

How To Make Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

Step 1: Finely chop your onions and peppers.

Step 2: Turn your Instant Pot to saute and add a tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add your diced veggies. Cook until the onions are translucent.

Step 3: Add the raw ground beef and saute until it is thoroughly cooked. Remove any excess grease from the skillet.

Step 4: Add 1/2 cup of water to the Instant Pot liner to deglaze the bottom. This will prevent the burn notice and help to thin out the Sloppy Joe sauce.

Step 5: Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and additional water on top of the cooked hamburger. DO NOT STIR.

Step 6: Cook on high pressure and quick release all pressure at the end of the cooking time.

Step 7: Turn your Instant Pot back to saute and stir the Instant Pot Sloppy Joe filling until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.

Step 8: Serve on a slider bun and enjoy!

Do You Have To Brown The Ground Beef First?

Technically, no. You don’t have to brown the ground beef before cooking it under pressure. The Instant Pot will cook the hamburger completely in 5 minutes under pressure.

I prefer to brown the hamburger before cooking it so I can make sure the hamburger is crumbled into small pieces. This also allows you to remove any excess grease from the Instant Pot liner before adding the remaining seasonings for the sauce.

Can You Make Them Without An Instant Pot?

If you don’t have an Instant Pot you can still enjoy this Sloppy Joe recipe made on the stovetop. Here are the steps you can follow to make them without a pressure cooker:

Step 1: Finely chop your onions and peppers.

Step 2: Turn your burner to medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil to a skillet. Once the oil is hot, add your diced veggies. Cook until the onions are translucent.

Step 3: Add the raw ground beef and saute until it is thoroughly cooked. Remove any excess grease from the skillet.

Step 4: Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to the cooked hamburger.

Step 5: Cook on low heat for 5-10 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and reaches the desired consistency.

Step 6: Serve on a slider bun and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

• To remove any excess oil from your Instant Pot liner after cooking your ground beef, use a paper towel. It absorbs the liquid without too much hassle.
• If you’re really in a time crunch, use a frozen precut pepper and onion mix.
• If sliders aren’t really your thing, use a full-sized hamburger bun instead.

How Long Do They Last?

These Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are another great meal prep dinner. Not only do they reheat well, but you can also make a double batch and freeze them to warm up the next time you need a quick meal. For the best bite, try to enjoy any leftovers within 3-5 days of preparing them.

How To Store And Reheat Frozen Sloppy Joes

To freeze any leftovers for later use, get a freezer-safe ziptop bag and place the ground beef and sauce inside. Lay the bag flat and distribute the meat inside the bag to make it as thin as possible. Remove any excess air from the inside of the bag. Label the outside of your bag with the contents and the date it was prepared. You can store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

To reheat the Instant Pot Sloppy Joes, remove the ground beef mixture from the freezer bag. Place the frozen contents into your Instant Pot liner and add 1/2 cup of water. Place the lid on your Instant Pot and cook under high pressure for 5 minutes. Quickly release any remaining pressure. Stir the Sloppy Joe filling and serve on your favorite bun or roll.

What Do You Serve With Instant Pot Sloppy Joes?

Sloppy Joes are a great versatile main course that pair well with so many different things. Here are some of my favorites to serve alongside them:

• French Fries
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Air Fryer Corn on the Cob

More Simple Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Ramen Noodles
• Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
• Frito Pie
• Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese

If you love these Instant Pot Sloppy Joes as much as we do, make sure you share them on Facebook and Instagram so your friends can try them too! Don’t forget to Pin them so you can make them again soon.