Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a family favorite recipe made in under 30 minutes. Homemade Instant Pot Sloppy Joe’s taste way better than any pre-made sloppy joe mix you get out of a can. The Instant Pot gives you the simmered all-day flavor in 30 minutes or less.

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If I haven’t told you already, the sauté function is one of my favorite things about my Instant Pot 6-quart duo. Using the sauté function allows me to cook everything in one pot and ultimately leaving me one dish to wash. Mom win! When using the sauté function allow the pot and EVOO to heat up until the display reads HOT. This helps prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the pot. You may also need to adjust the temperature of the sauté function from high to low depending on what you’re sauteing.
Easy 30-minute weeknight Dinner
You will need:
- Olive Oil
- Grass-Fed Ground Beef
- White Onion Diced
- Minced Garlic
- Red Bell Pepper Diced
- Gluten-Free Tamari or Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- White Vinegar
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Ketchup
- Pint jar Tomato Sauce or 16 oz Can Tomato Sauce
- Ground Mustard
- Brown Sugar
- Water
- Onion Buns
- Shredded Cheese (Optional)
How To Make Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Instructions:
Turn on the sauté function and add olive oil to the instant pot. While you are waiting for the pot to heat up in a small bowl combine tamari/soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and set aside.
When the display reads HOT, add ground beef. Brown beef and drain fat if necessary. Add minced garlic, diced onion, and diced red bell pepper. Continue to sauté for 2 minutes. Add in the brown sugar, ground mustard, salt, and pepper and stir to incorporate. Pour in the water and scrape (deglaze) the bottom of the pot to be sure there is nothing stuck to the bottom of the pot. Select cancel/keep warm.
Next, pour the tomato sauce mixture over top but DO NOT STIR. This is important to avoid the burn message. Lock the lid in place and turn the vent knob to the sealing position. Select the manual/pressure cook function and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
Once the cook cycle is complete NPR for 5 minutes then QR the remaining pressure. Remove the lid and stir to combine the sauce. Most likely the consistency will be thinner than you’d like so turn on the sauté function back on and reduce it for about 5 minutes to reach the desired thickness.
Serve on toasted buns or butter leaf lettuce with cheddar cheese on top. Serve with air-fried broccoli, air fried cauliflower your favorite French fries, and a pickle on the side.
Other easy 30 minute meals you may also enjoy:
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Salad
Instant Pot Garlic Sesame Noodles & Steak
How to Freeze Leftover Sloppy Joes
When the meat mixture has cooled spoon into 1 or 2 cup Souper Cube trays. Place in the freezer. When the meat mixture is frozen remove the trays from the freezer and set out 3-4 minutes before removing cubes from the trays and storing them in freezer bags for 3 months or vacuum seal with Food Saver for 6 months.

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Classic family favorite Sloppy Joes made easy in the pressure cooker in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 Lb. Grass fed ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 Medium white onion diced
- 1 Tbsp. Minced garlic
- 1 Red bell pepper diced
- 1 Tbsp. Tamari or low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. White vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp. Pink Himalayan sea salt
- 1 tsp. Black pepper
- ½ Cup ketchup
- 1 Pt Jar tomato sauce or 16 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Ground mustard
- 1 Tbsp. Brown sugar
- ⅓ Cup water
To Serve
- Spoon on to toasted buns or butter leaf lettuce
- Top with cheddar cheese (Optional)
- Serve with your favorite French fries and a pickle on the side.
Instructions
- Turn on sauté function on and add olive oil to the instant pot.
- While you are waiting for the pot to heat up in a small bowl combine tamari/soy sauce, vinegar, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and set aside.
- When the display reads HOT, add ground beef. Brown beef and drain fat if necessary.
- When there is little to no pink, add minced garlic, diced onion and diced red bell pepper. Continue to sauté for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle in ground mustard, salt and pepper and stir to incorporate. Pour in the water and scrape (deglaze) the bottom of the pot to be sure there is noting stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- Select cancel/keep warm.
- Pour the tomato sauce mixture over top but DO NOT STIR. This is important to avoid the burn message.
- Lock the lid in place and turn the vent knob to the sealing position.
- Select the manual/pressure cook function and set the cook time to 5 minutes.
- When cook cycle is complete let pressure naturally release for 5 minutes,
- Quick Release the remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and stir to combine the sauce.
- If needed return Instant Pot to the sauté function for 2-3 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Serve on toasted buns or butter leaf lettuce with cheddar cheese.
Notes
To freeze let the mixture cool and spoon into 1 cup Souper Cubes. Freezer cubes will keep for 3 months if stored properly. To re heat place cubes in a microwave safe bowl and cover. Microwave on high 4 minutes stirring halfway through or place in a sauce pan and re heat on medium heat until hot.
For a low carb option substitute butter leaf lettuce for buns.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 269Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 78mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 9gProtein: 18g
Nutrition information is an estimate.

Yes, you can substitute ground turkey for lean ground beef for Instant Pot Sloppy Joes.
Yes, freeze in individual portions in Souper Cubes or vacuumed sealed bags for up to 6 months or up to 3 months in a gallon freezer ziplock bag.
For a low carb option, substitute onion bun for a keto bun or butter leaf lettuce.
These look amazing! I grew up on sloppy joes but yours are way better. 🙂