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Sassy Sloppy Joes Recipe (Freezer-Friendly)

Name: Sassy Sloppy Joes Recipe (Freezer-Friendly)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup onion (chopped); 1 tablespoon butter; 2 lbs. ground beef; 7 oz. ketchup; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup celery (chopped); 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vinegar (I like apple cider vinegar); 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

4.89 / 5 ( 9 Reviews )

6 Comments Jump to Recipe

Easy, delicious, and convenient freezable sloppy joes.

Dec 11, 2018 The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

Freezer meal sloppy joe recipe

Easy Freezable Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are a classic meal. They’re fun to eat, taste great, and they fill you up nicely. Since my family and I really enjoy them, I try to make them pretty often, but some nights I’m simply too busy or just don’t feel like doing the prep for sloppy joes.

That’s where this recipe comes in handy because it’s freezable! You probably already know, but I am a big freezer meal fan. They can be a lifesaver when you’re short on time or not in the mood to cook.

This Sassy Sloppy Joe recipe has now become a favorite of mine because it’s so convenient! I got it from Don’t Panic, Dinner’s In The Freezer, a recipe book full of excellent make-ahead freezer meals!

Don't Panic, Dinner's In The Freezer Cookboo, Amazon

Don’t Panic – Dinner’s in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead

Freezer Instructions

To freeze these sloppy joes, I use something called the freezer bag method. It’s really simple and it helps to make sure nothing goes wrong during the freezing process. Here’s how it works:

Place your cooked sloppy joe meat into a freezer-safe resealable bag, remove as much air as possible, then seal it
Find a pan with sides (I use a cake pan) and lay the bag(s) flat, stacking them on top of each other (this helps shape the bag and makes leaks less messy)
Place the pan in the freezer
Once the bag is frozen just enough to hold its shape you can remove it from the pan and put it in your freezer however you want

Serving Tips

I like to serve these sloppy joes on a warmed whole wheat hamburger bun. If you want to go homemade, you could try serving them on these quick dinner rolls. Enjoy!

Learn More About Freezer Meal Cooking:

Sassy Sloppy Joes Recipe (Freezer-Friendly)

Easy, delicious, and convenient freezable sloppy joes.

4.89 / 5 ( 9 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 40

Serves: 15

Adjust Servings: 15

Ingredients

½ cup onion chopped
1 tablespoon butter
2 lbs. ground beef
7 oz. ketchup
½ cup water
¼ cup celery chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vinegar I like apple cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon dry mustard

Instructions

Saute the chopped onion in butter. Add ground beef and brown lightly. Drain off any excess fat. Add all of the remaining ingredients and simmer covered for 30 minutes. Cool mixture and freeze using the freezer bag method.
For those new to the freezer bag method...
When using the freezer bag method for freezing, you place your meal in a freezable bag, (like a Ziploc or FoodSaver bag) then remove as much air as you can, and seal. Then take a cake pan, or a pan that has sides, and lay the bags flat, stacking them on top of each other. The cake pan will freeze your meals in a nice flat shape giving you more freezer room and also ensure that any leaks stay within the pan. You then place the pan in the freezer. Once it has been flash frozen, (frozen just enough to hold it's shape) remove the items from the pan and store it however you like in your freezer. It is also a good idea to place your meal back in a pan in the fridge while thawing so you don't have leaks then either.
To Prepare After Freezing:
Remove from freezer and let thaw. Heat mixture slowly in a skillet or saucepan until warmed all the way through and ready to serve. (We like to eat it on fresh warmed whole wheat hamburger buns!)

Nutrition

Ingredients: Brown Sugar, Butter, Celery, Ground Beef, Ketchup, Lemon Juice, Mustard, Onion, Salt, Vinegar, Water, Worcestershire

Meal Type: Main Dish

Categories: Sandwiches and Burgers, Make Ahead/Freezer Meal, Stove Top

Comments & Reviews

Bernadette Oliver

January 20, 2013 at 12:20 pm

Reply Reply

I love this book, I have it!
- Jessica
  
  January 20, 2013 at 11:24 pm
  
  Reply Reply
  
  Me too! I love how they give you all the bigger batch measurements!
Melanie

January 20, 2013 at 1:56 pm

Reply Reply

Love the pic, Jessica!
- Jessica
  
  January 20, 2013 at 11:22 pm
  
  Reply Reply
  
  Thanks Melanie!
Jan Swanson

July 20, 2017 at 9:52 pm

Reply Reply

I am trying to find out if you can REFREEZE sloppy jos.
- Becky
  
  July 21, 2017 at 9:42 am
  
  Reply Reply
  
  Hi Jan,
  Yes, you can refreeze them, as long as the meat has been cooked through. What causes concern is when you freeze, defrost, and then re-freeze raw meat. But cooked meat can be re-frozen easily!