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This Instant Pot Sloppy Joe Recipe is one of our most popular easy recipes, a meal the whole family will love!
It’s also great to have an Instant Pot beef recipe handy, especially on those busy weeknights. Since the Instant Pot has the SAUTE button, you can even brown the meat in one spot, making this great recipe super simple.
This sloppy joes mixture is so good, way better than the canned sauce and it has simple ingredients!
Ingredient Notes
- Butter
- Ground beef (ground turkey or ground chicken)
- Red bell Pepper or Green Bell Pepper
- Red onion (or yellow onion)
- Brown sugar
- Red wine vinegar
- Steak seasoning
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Hamburger buns (or brioche buns)
How to make Instant Pot Sloppy Joes:
- Press the SAUTE setting button. Add in the butter and let it melt.
- Add in the ground beef, red pepper, and red onion and cook, using a spatula to break up the meat.
- Press CANCEL.
- In a small bowl, mix together remaining ingredients; brown sugar, red wine vinegar, steak seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce.
- Pour sloppy joe sauce on meat in Instant Pot and stir to combine. If you are worried about getting the “burn notice” on your Instant Pot, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot and loosen up any burned or browned bits on the bottom of the pot (aka deglazing the pot).
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and secure in place. Turn the vent to SEALING position. Press the MANUAL button and set the timer for 8 minutes high pressure.
- When cooking is finished, let the pressure NATURALLY RELEASE (not quick release) for 10 minutes and then move the vent to VENTING and release the remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and stir to make sure everything is mixed together, then serve meat on hamburger buns.
Storing and Other Tips
Store leftover sloppy joes mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
How to turn this Instant Pot Recipe into a freezer meal:
- Cook the ground beef and place in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag or other freezer-safe container. Let the bag cool down (if still hot from the cooked ground beef).
- Add in the bell pepper and onion into the bag. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, red wine vinegar, steak seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce. Pour on top of the ground beef. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.
- When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot (if it won’t come out, run the bag under hot water so that you can remove/peel off the frozen bag). Add 1/2 cup of water in with the frozen food. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 25 minutes. Do a QUICK RELEASE when the timer is done. Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
Serving Suggestions
- Baked Seasoned Steak French Fries Recipe
- Apple Cranberry Walnut Green Chopped Salad Recipe
- Slow Cooker Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
- Mom’s Potato Salad
The BEST Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Flavorful sloppy joes that come together in just a few minutes in your Instant Pot!
Serving servings
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 pound lean ground beef, (or ground turkey)
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- ½ red onion, diced
- 3 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon steak seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Press the SAUTE button. Add in the butter and let it melt.
- Add in the ground beef, red pepper, and red onion and cook, using a spatula to break up the meat.
- Press CANCEL.
- In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, red wine vinegar, steak seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce.
- Pour sauce on meat in Instant Pot and stir to combine. If you are worried about getting the "burn notice" on your Instant Pot, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot and loosen up any burned or brown bits on the bottom of the pot (aka deglazing the pot).
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and secure in place. Turn the vent to SEALING. Press the MANUAL button and set the timer for 8 minutes.
- When cooking is finished, let the pressure NATURALLY RELEASE for 10 minutes and then move the vent to VENTING and release the remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and stir to make sure everything is mixed together, then serve meat on hamburger buns.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
- If you are worried about getting the burn notice, feel free to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of beef broth or water to the pot before cooking.
- Cook the ground beef and place in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag or other freezer-safe container. Let the bag cool down (if still hot from the cooked ground beef).
- Add in the bell pepper and onion into the bag. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, red wine vinegar, steak seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce. Pour on top of the ground beef. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.
- When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot (if it won’t come out, run the bag under hot water so that you can remove/peel off the frozen bag). Add 1/2 cup of water in with the frozen food. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 25 minutes. Do a QUICK RELEASE when the timer is done. Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
Nutrition
Calories: 249 kcal · Carbohydrates: 31 g · Protein: 17 g · Fat: 6 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Cholesterol: 39 mg · Sodium: 567 mg · Potassium: 475 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 10 g · Vitamin A: 520 IU · Vitamin C: 15 mg · Calcium: 99 mg · Iron: 4 mg
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
What kind of steak seasoning do you use?
Any works great. We love McCormick Grill Mates.
A bit confused…do I completely cook the beef/onion/pepper on saute or does it cook under pressure after adding in the rest of the ingredients?
You will want the meat to be browned. We also like to drain the grease before proceeding to the next steps.
Oh my goodness was this good! I made it without the peppers and with half the amount of tomato sauce (sensitive stomach). It was amazing even with the changes I made! I’m going to freeze it now in sandwich size portions for quick reheat lunch.
How long would you cook this in the crock pot? My MIL gave me this as a freezer meal but I don’t have an instapot.
I don’t use the steak seasoning, any recommendations for substitutes?
The key to a great steak seasoning is coarse ground salt, coarse ground black pepper, dried minced garlic and dried minced onion. So you could easily make your own.
Tastes Great…goes well with fries and a frosty. Had to add 1/2 cup water to avoid burn notice
I found this recipe very sweet and way too much liquid. I would never be able to put it on a bun and pick it up to eat it.
You have to have enough liquid to avoid the burn notice. Serve with a slotted spoon to drain off excess Sloppy Joe Sauce for your bun.