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Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are slightly sweet, slightly tangy and very meaty (beef and pork). They’re served on a soft, toasted oniony bun for a satisfying comfort meal.
A childhood favorite that never gets old, few meals provide the instant comfort of a sloppy joe. This easy version shaves some cooking time off by using the Instant Pot. The aromatics and meat saute in the pot, and then the sauce pressure cooks for a mere 5 minutes before it’s ready for prime time — either lunch or dinner.
Is your Instant Pot out of the box yet from when you got it as a gift? If not, what are you waiting for?
If it is, plug it in and let’s get dinner on the table!
This simple Instant Pot Sloppy Joe recipe will have your eyes rolling back in your head…that’s how good it is. If you need to get dinner on the table in 30 minutes, this is your recipe. And it’s faster (and healthier) than calling in a take-out order and waiting for delivery. Have I convinced you yet? Do not let this handy kitchen gadget intimidate you. It is very easy.
How to make Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Saute the meats in the Instant Pot. We’re using ground beef (the smaller grind here) AND ground pork (the larger grind), for a great meaty combo.
Add the aromatics and veggies (onion, bell pepper, celery, carrots, garlic).
Add the thyme (I used fresh sprigs since I had it in my garden, but you can use dried with no problem so don’t sweat it).
Cook on pressure for 5 minutes, and when time is up, manually release the pressure. I put a towel loosely over the steam vent so I don’t run into a problem in the future with steam droplets collecting on my ceiling. I’m just thinking ahead, since I am using this pot a lot! (Your mileage may differ if your kitchen ceilings are higher and this isn’t a concern to you.)
Serve on a bun (toasted onion bun for my family)…
…or over a bed of shredded cabbage if you are trying to cut carbs, like me. Either way, enjoy the heck out of it like we did!
This Instant Pot Sloppy Joe version was such a hit with everyone in my family, first for dinner one night, then lunch on the weekend. My son was sniffing around the fridge, hoping to eat it again with crackers for a dipping snack. He was out of luck as the rest of us had finished it off!
Get in line, buddy!
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are slightly sweet, slightly tangy and very meaty (beef and pork). They're served on a soft, toasted oniony bun for a satisfying comfort meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15 preferred, but 90/10 is also fine)
- 1 pound ground pork (95% extra lean preferred)
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, stem, ribs and seeds removed, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, stem removed and finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 (14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes (no-salt-added version preferred)
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme, or a big pinch of dried thyme
- .
- For serving:
- Buns, toasted (onion buns are nice with this!)
- Shredded cabbage (for the lower-carb eaters)
Directions
- Set Instant Pot to saute and when hot, add beef and pork, and cook, using a wooden spoon to stir and separate the clumps. Cook until the meat is browned (not pink); this will take 5-7 minutes or so.
- Add salt, about 10-15 grinds of fresh pepper, onion, bell pepper, celery, carrot and garlic. Cook and stir occasionally for about 5-7 minutes, until onion is translucent. Add chili powder, coriander, mustard, tomatoes with juice, maple syrup, Worcestershire, tomato paste and thyme and stir to combine.
- Fit the lid on the pot, secure it into place, and using the manual mode, set the Instant Pot to 5 minutes on high pressure. When time is up, turn IP off, quick-release the pressure and then remove lid.
- Ladle meat onto toasted buns (or see below for a lower-carb version), and serve!
- Serves 6-8.
Notes
LOWER CARB OPTION: Serve the meat ladled over shredded cabbage (a bagged cole slaw mix works very well). I leave the cabbage raw, but you could give it a quick saute in a skillet if you can't tolerate raw cabbage, or prefer it cooked.
Recipe source: Adapted from a recipe by Martha Stewart.
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Low-Carb version of Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Be sure to use your own low-carb eating tricks if you are avoiding the buns. My idea was to put it over shredded cole slaw mix. What’s your (better?) idea?
Want another Sloppy Joe recipe?
How about Very Sloppy Joels by Kate Gosselin (remember her? She’s the mom from “John & Kate Plus 8.”)
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This post was originally published Jan. 14, 2019, and has been refreshed and republished today.
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Welcome to my kitchen!
At ShockD, you’ll find scrumptious, tried & true, "scary good" recipes, tips and coaching to make YOU a fabulous home cook! Don't blame me if you need a 12-step program to wean yourself away!
E-mail me: Dorothy.Reinhold@gmail.com
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YUMMY!! My kids would LOVE these!
I can’t wait to try this recipe in the Instant Pot!
I just love that you made this in the instant pot! 🙂
Great idea on the towel! I learned that the hard way, lol. Making this in the Instant pot is genius.
Karen,
One person warned me that we aren’t supposed to put a towel over the vent, but I keep it very loose. I just want to catch the big water droplets instead of having them sit on the ceiling.
Oh now this sounds amazing and the Instant Pot makes it easy! I have to make it like this!
I can still get those low carb wraps so that’s another great option besides the bowls.
Sue,
Good idea!
The instant pots really do come in handy. I used mine for our Corned Beef yesterday. Perfect results.
You had me at low carb. Yummy!
I’d be happy to eat this for dinner any night!
Perfect easy meal or game day favorite!
Adding sloppy joes to my must make in my IP.
Love that you used beef and pork together! These look so good!
I love that you served this over shredded cabbage! My husband recently requested sloppy joes and I got queasy thinking about the super greasy sloppy joes I was served in grade school. I just couldn’t bring myself to make them. But this recipe has me intrigued and I am going brave bad memories to try this delicious looking dish.
Cathy,
This is definitely NOT the super greasy version from school, I promise!
Yay looks so good! I love this specially when we need something quick and easy, need to make this!
Great suggestion to serve over cabbage! I love a good sloppy Joe!
I want to try this Sloppy Joes asap. This looks incredible!
I’ve made these Sloppy Joes! They are so easy to make and so flavorful! Everyone loved them!
Catalina,
Yay! I’m so glad your family loved them!
I love the combo of beef and pork! So tasty! Thanks for sharing.
What else can I say but thank you for another great recipe.
I made this for lunch today and besides being easy to make the final product was amazing. The taste was fantastic and also not too “sloppy” as it stayed on the bun perfectly. Once again thank you for all the testing that you do to make your recipes perfect.
Chrissie,
Thank you for coming back to tell me how well it worked for you! YAY!
Such a yummy classic, love this Instant Pot version!
I love instant pot meals this looks so amazing !!