Sloppy Joes stand as a beloved family classic, ready in under 30 minutes. Crafting your very own Instant Pot Sloppy Joes elevates the taste far beyond any store-bought canned mix. Combine quality lean ground beef from Thomas Cattle Company, fresh bell peppers, and a few pantry staples in the Instant Pot for a 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
Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Lean 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)
Where To Buy Quality Ground Beef
Using high-quality lean ground beef from Thomas Cattle Company will elevate any basic weeknight dinner to an amazing meal. Thomas Cattle Company raises all-natural Angus beef with exceptional attention to humane handling practices, and a focus on consistency and attention to detail. They believe that the better care they take of their cattle, the better they will serve the customer in the quality of their meat and it shows in the products that are delivered to my door! Read all about TCC here and shop the ground beef used in this recipe and use code HOLLISHOMESTEAD for $20 off your first order of $100!
Instructions
1. Turn on the sauté function and add olive oil to the instant pot
2. 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.
3. When the display reads HOT, add ground beef. Brown beef and drain fat if necessary.
4. Add minced garlic, diced onion, and diced red bell pepper. Continue to sauté for 2 minutes.
5. 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.
6. Select cancel/keep warm.
7. 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.
8. Select the manual/pressure cook function and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
9. Once the cook cycle is complete NPR for 5 minutes then QR the remaining pressure.
10. 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 Crispy Homemade French fries, or sweet potato 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
- Easy Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken (20-minute recipe)
- How To Make Air Fryer Orange Chicken (easy 20-minute recipe)
- Healthy Burrito Bowl Recipe (Banza Tomato Chipotle Rice)
- Air Fryer Just Bare Chicken Nuggets-cook time & temp
- Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks (cook time & temperature)
- Air Fry Range Breakfast Potatoes
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
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 Lb. Ground beef Lean 80/20
- 1 white onion diced
- 1 Tbsp. Minced garlic
- 1 Red bell pepper diced
- 1 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. White vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp. Sea salt
- 1 tsp. Black pepper
- ½ Cup ketchup
- 1 Pt 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
Nutrition
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.
Lisa
These look amazing! I grew up on sloppy joes but yours are way better. 🙂