Smokey Joes

These barbecue Smokey Joes put the smoke in classic sloppy joes. Ground beef is seasoned perfectly with a kicked-up barbecue seasoning blend and simmered until the ingredients have become full-flavored. It makes a tasty budget-friendly 30 minute meal and for a timesaver it freezes well, too.

Easy Barbecue Smokey Joes Recipe (Sloppy Joes)

When you’re thinking about gourmet dishes, sloppy joes probably don’t come to mind. However, they’re a fantastic and tasty way to feed a family on a budget, and they’re really a taste of childhood, aren’t they? I realize the sauce in a can is inexpensive and easy to find, but I don’t buy it because most of the items you need to make a tasty sauce are already in your pantry. The beauty is, you can also personalize them to your taste. How to make Smokey Joes: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Vegetables – Heat a couple of drizzles of olive oil in a large skillet. Saute the diced onion and pepper for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat until translucent, softened and beginning to brown. Add garlic cooking for one minute longer. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Ground Beef – Add ground beef. Cook until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
• Sauce – To the pan add fire roasted tomatoes, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, liquid hickory smoke flavoring, barbecue seasoning i.e. Barbecue Magic or similar, ground mustard, red pepper flakes, paprika, oregano and flat leaf parsley.
• Cook – Simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and thickened. Use a spoon to break up the tomatoes.
• Serve on toasted kaiser rolls.

How to Make the BEST Smokey Joes Recipe

My family loves barbecue, so it was a natural progression to put a smokey spin on my Sloppy Joes recipe hence the name”Smokey Joes.”

• Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Smokey Joes: Ground beef, onion, olive oil, barbecue seasoning, salt, red or green bell pepper, minced garlic, canned fire roasted tomatoes, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, light brown sugar, paprika, hickory smoke flavoring, ground mustard, crushed red pepper flakes, chopped parsley and oregano.
• Kitchen tools you’ll need: Large skillet, measuring cups and spoons, large spoon or silicone spatula for stirring, sharp knife and cutting board.
• You can use your favorite brand of barbecue seasoning for this recipe. I used Barbecue Magic.
• I really loved the flavor of fire roasted tomatoes in this recipe. That said, you can use any canned tomatoes that you may have on hand. You could even use Rotel tomatoes with chiles for a little heat.
• Smokey Sloppy Joes Serving Suggestions: You can serve smokey joes the same way you would swrve classic sloppy joes. They’re super tasty served on toasted Kaiser rolls or slider rolls with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese. You can also enjoy it as a meat sauce over a steamy bowl of cheddar grits or cooked pasta. It’s honest, down home good eats, that keeps my family happy and my budget on track.
• Store Smokey Joes chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave in single serving portions.
• You can also make an d freeze the filling for up to 2 months.

More Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make

• Chili Mac is terrific for game day snacking or weekday meals.
• Beef Tamale Pie is topped with a cornbread crust.
• Homemade Spaghetti Sauce for Italian night at home.
• Bacon Cheeseburger Pie is made with a shredded potato crust.
• Slow Cooked Cowboy Casserole simmers in your crockpot while you go about your day.
• Instant Pot Beef and Bean Chili topped with sour cream and cheddar cheese.
• Mediterranean Meatball Kabobs from Beef It’s What’s for Dinner.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Set
• Kitchen Utensils