Easy Campfire Sloppy Joes Recipe | Family Camping Food

Sloppy Joe Recipe
Get ready to become the campsite hero with these irresistibly messy, impossibly delicious Sloppy Joes that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds! This one-skillet wonder transforms simple ingredients into pure comfort food magic, making it the perfect solution for hungry families gathered around the fire.

What makes these Sloppy Joes truly special? We’ve cleverly tucked nutritious vegetables right into the savory sauce—your little ones will never know they’re getting an extra dose of goodness with every bite! The secret blend of spices adds just the right amount of excitement without overwhelming young taste buds, creating a flavor that bridges the gap between kid-approved and adult-satisfying.

Whether you’re cooking over an open flame or at your camp stove, this foolproof recipe comes together in just one pan with minimal cleanup—because who wants to spend their outdoor adventure scrubbing dishes? Pile these saucy, hearty Joes onto soft buns and watch as they become an instant camping tradition that’ll have your family requesting them long after you’ve returned home.

Simple ingredients. Big flavors. Unforgettable memories.

👇 Do you have favorite camping recipes? Share them in the comments below, we’d love to hear about them! 👇

Check out the video from our trip up to Grande Isle Vermont where we had these great Sloppy Joes while we talked about Adam Sandler’s song Lunch Lady Land and his ties to the New Hampshire schools that may have inspired the song. 

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

This hearty Sloppy Joe recipe combines seasoned ground beef with a rich, slightly spiced tomato-based sauce that's packed with finely diced vegetables for extra nutrition and flavor. Simply brown the meat in one skillet, add the sauce ingredients, and let everything simmer together until thick and delicious—then serve over toasted buns for a satisfying meal that's ready in under 30 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Garlic Infused Olive Oil
  • 1 /3 cup Bell Pepper Finely Chopped
  • 1/3 cup Sweet Onion Finely Chopped
  • 1/3 cup Celery Finely Chopped
  • 1 lb Ground Beef Or Ground Turkey
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 2/3 cup Ketchup
  • 1/3 cup Water
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar Packed
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Ground Mustard
  • 1/2 tsp Chipolite Chile Powder
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp Mother-In-Laws Chile Flakes

Instructions
 

  • Heat the garlic infused olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Once heated add the bell pepper, onion, and celery. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until the veggies soft and the onions start to caramelize. Remove from pan.
    Sloopy Joes - Sauted Onions, Peppers and Celery
  • Brown the ground beef in the pan, season with salt and pepper. Break the beef down into fine crumbles, 5 - 10 minutes. Drain any the excess fat from the pan.
    Sloppy Joes - Browned Ground Beef
  • Return the cooked vegetables to the pan and add the tomato paste. Mix until the tomato paste is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
    Sloppy Joe Recipe
  • Mix the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, chipotle chile powder and chile flakes. Add the mixture to the ground beef and vegetables. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes.
    Sloppy Joes
  • Serve over hamburger buns and enjoy.
    Sloppy Joes
Keyword Beef, Dinner, Easy, kid friendly

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