Southwest Sloppy Joes are a super hearty, crowd pleasing dinner you can make in just one skillet! Packed with ground beef, black beans, corn, green chiles, and the best southwest flavors, this meal is protein packed and full of flavor.
This post is sponsored by Conagra All recipes and opinions are cooked up right here at the Pinning Mama.
Southwest Sloppy Joes- The EASY Way
With all the time we have been spending at home one of things I have really enjoyed is getting creative in the kitchen with what I have at home in my pantry. Meals using pantry staples don’t have to be tired and boring, they can easily be spruced up by combining new flavors in unexpected ways.
Sloppy Joes have always been a family favorite, and this mash up with Southwestern flavors gives it a new and exciting twist making pantry staples anything but boring.
By making it in one big skillet each person can serve it up how they like it whether it is on a bun, with chips or even as a salad topping.
Whether you need to feed a small family or have a bunch of kids to please, this Southwest Sloppy Joe has got you covered!
-
App or Entree! It is hearty enough for a main dish if you are around mealtime but is just as delicious scooped onto a plate to eat with chips.
-
Couldn’t be easier! With just one skillet and as little 20 minutes including cook time, this dish defines quick and easy!
-
Crowd pleaser! Loaded with southwest flavors, this is a favorite of kids and grown-ups.
Not only is this recipe amazingly delicious, but it is also amazingly simple! The secret weapon is using Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce!
You may be familiar with this classic, family favorite, but if not, Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce is a tangy tomato-based sauce with seasonings already included. It gives us a ton of flavor by just pouring in the can. Since it only has 35 calories and 0 fat per serving, it helps us to pack a punch in flavor while still keeping things light. You really can’t get the same amazing flavor without using Manwich®.
Most importantly, it makes this recipe so quick and easy to make! Even though the whole recipe comes together in as little as 20 minutes, since most of the flavor is already cooked right in the Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce.
You can order Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce for online grocery pick up. It really doesn’t get any easier than that! Ordering with Walmart Online Grocery means that you don’t have to go into the store to get your Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce. Just order online and pickup without having to get into your car. So easy!
Click here for a short cut to the ingredients!!
How to Serve Southwest Sloppy Joe Skillet
If you have been a reader for a while, you probably know that I LOVE recipes that you can use in multiple ways to fit whatever need you have that day/moment/time.
This recipe MASTERS that!
Appetizer Options
If you are using the Southwest Sloppy Joe Skillet as an appetizer you can try a variety of different things to serve it with depending on how hearty you want it to be. From a dip to a sandwich, or anything in between.
Here are some of our favorite serving options:
- Chips
- Slider buns
- Veggies – hollowed out mini peppers, carrot chips, etc
- Sliced baguette
Dinner Options
If game time falls at meal time, or if your family lives this as much as mine and demands it on the regular, you can serve it in a variety of ways.
- In a bowl, topped with lettuce tomato and cheese
- On buns
- In a bread bowl
- Stuffed into avocados or tomatoes
- Wrapped in a tortilla
If this doesn’t make your stomach start to growl… I don’t know what will!
Recipe Tips
Making this recipe is as simple as promised, however, I am going to share a few tips here to help answer any questions that may come up while cooking.
Ingredients
You only need a handful. I am going to go over my preferences and substitutions you can use here.
- Ground beef – the leaner the better! This will make it less greasy and give you better flavor. You can also use ground turkey if you prefer.
- Onion- I use yellow onion, but white or red would both work here too.
- Bell pepper- This gives a bit of the southwest flair. If you are in a pinch you can use red, orange or yellow pepper instead.
- Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce – You want to grab the original variety for this recipe. Also make sure you get the bigger 24 oz can. You have to use Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce for the tangy flavor! It can’t be beat in this recipe!
- Taco seasoning- You can use store bought or try this crazy delicious (and easy to make) homemade taco seasoning.
- Black beans- 1 can drained and rinsed. You can substitute pinto based on preference.
- Yellow corn- I use frozen, but canned corn that has been drained will work well too!
- Chopped green chilis- Just one small can will give you amazing flavor! Don’t worry, these don’t have much heat!
Method
Really this is a cook and dump recipe. It doesn’t get much easier!
The keys here are:
- Cook the ground beef with the onion and pepper to save time. They should take around the same time to cook.
- I recommend chopping the peppers and onions relatively small to make sure they cook evenly, plus it makes it easier to eat when served as a dip or appetizer.
- Drain the beef well. This keeps your sloppy joes nice, thick, and hearty. If you don’t drain it, the sauce will end up more thin and greasy.
- Use a BIG skillet and dump in the rest! Once the meat is done, you can dump in the rest of ingredients. This recipe feeds a crowd so make sure that you use a skillet that is 15″ or larger.
- Simmer to perfection. The last step allows all the flavors to meld together. It only takes a few minutes, but if you need to keep it warm longer, you can cover it and keep it on low for up to 30 minutes.
Scaling the Recipe
This recipe feeds a crowd, so if you need less, you can half the recipe with great results.
If you are having a large party or gathering, you can also make more! I recommend making the recipe in two batches since unless you have access to a commercial kitchen it is hard to cook evenly in a skillet big enough to double the recipe. You can easily make 2 or even 3 batches though side by side on the stove top.
Recipe Short Cuts
The Southwest Sloppy Joe Skillet is already fast, but if you are really in a time crunch before party time, there are a few short cuts you can use to make this recipe come together even faster.
- Precut the veggies. Prep the onions, peppers, corn and black beans ahead of time. Or purchase pre-chopped veggies.
- Pre-cook the beef. You can cook the beef with the onions and peppers up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator.
- Prep the whole meal! To take it a step further, you can actually not only prepare the beef, but mix in the seasonings and veggies, then store in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve it, just simmer for 10-20 minutes and it will be ready to go!
Leftover Ideas
If you end up with leftovers of these sloppy joes, which may be rare, you are in luck! This recipe saves and reheats wonderfully and there are a bunch of delicious ways to eat the leftovers.
To save leftovers, divide into serving sized portions and place in the:
- refrigerator for 3-4 days
- freezer for up to a month
f you end up with leftovers of these Southwest Sloppy Joes, which may be rare, you are in luck! This recipe saves and reheats wonderfully and there are a bunch of delicious ways to eat the leftovers.
To save leftovers, divide into serving sized portions and place in the:
- refrigerator for 3-4 days
- freezer for up to a month
Once you are ready to eat them, you can take out the leftovers and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
RECIPE IDEAS
Here are a few ways to get creative with your Southwestern Sloppy Joe leftovers to make it into a new and exciting meal.
- Sloppy Joe Stuffed Baked Potatoes- Slice pre-baked potatoes and stuff with sloppy joe mixture. Top with cheese and bake for 15-20 min or until heated through. Top with sour cream and green onions.
- Sloppy Joe Quesadillas- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Spread sloppy joe mixture over half of a tortilla, add cheese, and fold. Grill each side on a buttered skillet until golden. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
- SW Sloppy Joe Nachos- Spread tortilla chips over a sheet pan. Sprinkle sloppy joe meat mixture over the chips and top with cheese. Bake at 425˚F for 8-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the meat is heated through.
This recipe is a little bit messy and A LOT of delicious! I sure hope you enjoy these Southwest Sloppy Joes as much as our family does!
Don’t forget… you can grab Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce with your online grocery order at Walmart.
Hungry for more family-friendly recipes? Sign up for my free recipe club to get new family-friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
Southwest Sloppy Joe Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 24 oz Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce (1 large can)
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
- 1 cup sweet yellow corn
- 4.5 oz chopped green chiles (1 small can)
Toppings (optional)
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomato
- colby jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet with the onion and bell pepper over medium high heat. Break up the meat as you cook and continue until it is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat or moisture from the beef and return to skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add in the Manwich® Original Sloppy Joe Sauce, taco seasoning, black beans, corn, and chopped green chiles to the ground beef mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and serve in a bowl or on buns topped with your choice of shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cheese. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Lisa Halsteter says
Another winner! Highly recommend for an easy, filling, and most importantly delicious meal.