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    Recipes » Recipes

    Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jul 23, 2018 · Modified: Mar 25, 2021 by Dee

    This Instant Pot Sloppy Joes recipe is made with ground beef and a few other simple ingredients. It's a quick and easy dinner that's kid approved!

    Jump to Recipe -

    instant pot sloppy joes on a plate with potato chips

    Sloppy joes are one of my family's favorite Instant Pot recipes. Actually, they're one of our favorite ground beef recipes if not one of our favorite easy dinner recipes -- period!

    Did you grow up eating sloppy joes? I did, but my mom made them on the stove with a can of sauce mix -- a Manwich! I think everyone ate those back in the day.

    I've been making homemade sloppy joes forever. It's really easy and not much more work than opening a can. Plus, you can control the sodium and other ingredients and customize the recipe to taste how you like it.

    Since I love experimenting in the kitchen, I decided to to try making sloppy joes in the pressure cooker. It's actually a little easier this way since you don't have to stand over a stove. And, I love the softer texture!

    So, this is like an Instant Pot Manwich. My family actually prefers the Instant Pot recipe over the stove top one, and even my picky eaters love it!

    How to make homemade Sloppy Joes in the Instant Pot

    Pressure cooker sloppy joes start out looking a lot like Instant Pot chili. You start out by browning the hamburger meat and draining it. Then, you add the spices, onions and diced bell pepper.

    Most people use green bell peppers, but I like the pop of color you get from yellow bell peppers. Just use whatever you have on hand.

    instant pot sloppy joes with hamburger meat and peppers and onions in pot

    Next, add some tomato sauce, brown sugar and a little bit of mustard. I use Dijon mustard, but again, you can use what  you have.

    Pour in a little bit of water, and pressure cook the hamburger meat mixture for 10 minutes.

    instant pot sloppy joes with ground beef and tomato sauce and brown sugar in pot

    Do a quick release or a gradual quick release, and then stir the mixture once the pressure is fully released.

    At this point, the mixture will still have some liquid, so I like to hit the Saute button and let it bubble away for about 5 minutes. I also like to chant "Double, double, toil and trouble" while the liquid is reducing, but this is completely optional!

    Once the sloppy joe meat is nice and thick, turn the pot off, and toast your buns. This is also optional, but I just hate soggy buns!

    Load the meat onto the buns, and that's it. We like to add cheese to our sloppy joes before serving, but you can also eat them plain -- It's up to you!

    instant pot sloppy joes on a bun on white plate with chips

    Looking for more easy Instant Pot ground beef recipes

    • Instant Pot creamy shells and beef
    • Instant Pot Hamburgers
    • Instant Pot creamy taco pasta
    • Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce

    Recipe for Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

    instant pot sloppy joes on a plate with potato chips

    Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

    Published by Dee
    This Instant Pot Sloppy Joes recipe is made with ground beef and a few other simple ingredients in the pressure cooker. It's a quick and easy dinner that's kid approved and perfect for families!
    5 from 7 votes
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    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    time to pressurize and release 15 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 200 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 pounds lean ground beef
    • 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 cup chopped white onion (about 1 medium)
    • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
    • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • ½ cup water

    Instructions
     

    • Press Saute on the Instant Pot, and when it reads HOT, add the olive oil. Then, add the ground beef, and break up with a wooden spoon or spatula
    • Cook beef until no longer pink, and press Cancel to turn off and remove excess grease, if necessary.
    • Press Saute again, then stir in sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and onions, and cook until onions are slightly soft. Stir in diced bell pepper, then hit Cancel again. Make sure no meat is stuck to bottom of pot. You may have to add a little water to deglaze, if it is.
    • Add the tomato sauce, brown sugar and mustard over the meat mixture, but do not stir together. Pour water around the sides of the meat.
    • Cover with lid, set valve to Sealing position, and hit PRESSURE COOK for 10 minutes.
    • After cook time, do a gradual quick release -- gradually turn the valve to the left to release pressure. When pressure is fully released, and pin drops, open lid, and stir.
    • Hit Cancel to turn pot off, then hit Saute and cook for about 5 minutes to reduce extra liquid, stirring occasionally. Hit Cancel to turn pot off, and allow meat to cool slightly. Then serve on toasted buns.

    Notes

    Recipe was made in a 6-quart Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 200kcal
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    I hope you enjoy these easy Instant Pot Sloppy Joes as much as we do!

     

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. R Vindia says

      November 15, 2019 at 3:05 am

      Made this several times with ground turkey.. so delicious every time with or without buns! Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 19, 2019 at 7:49 am

        So glad you like the recipe! Thanks!

    2. Diana Perry says

      December 02, 2018 at 10:33 am

      I think these were the best sloppy joes I've ever made!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 02, 2018 at 2:16 pm

        That's wonderful, Diana -- thanks! So glad you liked it!

    3. Miz Helen says

      July 30, 2018 at 9:40 am

      Just pinned your awesome recipe! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and sure hope you have a great week!
      Miz Helen5 stars

      Reply
    4. Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says

      July 28, 2018 at 6:45 am

      It looks delicious and really easy to make!!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Barry says

      July 24, 2018 at 11:11 pm

      We found a new family favorite. Made this tonight.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 25, 2018 at 12:49 am

        Awesome, Barry! I'm so glad you liked it. 🙂

    6. Demeter says

      July 24, 2018 at 6:35 am

      Such a great, family friendly meal! So easy in the Instant Pot!

      Reply
    7. Toni | Boulder Locavore says

      July 24, 2018 at 3:57 am

      This is a must-make!! Love how easy it is!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Abeer says

      July 23, 2018 at 10:39 pm

      This is the easiest weeknight dinner! I love it!5 stars

      Reply
    9. Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says

      July 23, 2018 at 7:41 pm

      These Instant Pots are so handy!! It is becoming my go to kitchen appliance! These looks so great!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 23, 2018 at 8:57 pm

        I'm pretty sure I would be lost without mine! Thanks, Dorothy. 🙂

    10. Amanda says

      July 23, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      I will be making these this week! Amazing recipe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 23, 2018 at 8:58 pm

        Thanks so much, Amanda. I hope you like them!

    11. TidyMom says

      July 23, 2018 at 10:11 am

      Adding this to our meal plan for next week!!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 23, 2018 at 12:16 pm

        Awesome! I hope you them as much as we do! 🙂

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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