Dr Pepper sloppy joes are ordinary skillet sloppy joes with the soda in the sauce: a pound of lean ground beef browned with onion and red pepper, then simmered for 10 to 12 minutes in tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard and 3/4 cup of Dr Pepper, and spooned onto toasted buns in about 35 minutes.
This is written up from Food Lovin Family's Dr Pepper sloppy joes, with my adaptations noted in the recipe card, and cross-checked against 12 Tomatoes' larger batch. I have not taken this through my own kitchen yet, so treat the seasoning as a starting point and taste before serving.
What does Dr Pepper do in sloppy joes?
It is the only sweetener in Food Lovin Family's sauce apart from the ketchup, and it brings its own cherry and vanilla flavor. As the sauce simmers the soda reduces with the tomato sauce and ketchup, so I would expect a sweeter, slightly fruity sauce rather than one that tastes of soda. The Worcestershire, mustard and optional vinegar are there to keep it from tipping too sweet.
Can you make Dr Pepper sloppy joes in a crock pot?
Yes, as long as the beef is browned and drained on the stove first. Bagels and Lasagna's crock pot Dr Pepper sloppy joes put browned beef, 12 ounces of Dr Pepper, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire, peppers and onion in the slow cooker and cook it on low for 4 hours. Their recipe also stirs in 1/4 cup of instant oatmeal, which thickens the sauce as it cooks. The skillet version on this page is faster, which is why I lead with it on a weeknight.
How do you know the ground beef is cooked?
Use a thermometer. The USDA's ground beef guidance is to cook ground beef to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F, measured with a food thermometer, because bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7 are only killed by thorough cooking. I check it before the sauce goes in, while the crumbles are easy to probe.
What to serve with them
Sloppy joes want something crisp or tangy next to them: pickles, coleslaw or chips. Dr Pepper baked beans turn it into a cookout plate. If you have more ground beef to use, Dr Pepper chili uses the same soda-in-the-sauce idea, Dr Pepper meatballs do it with frozen cooked meatballs in the slow cooker, and for a weekend dinner there is Dr Pepper pot roast. Everything else is in the Dr Pepper recipes.
Frequently asked questions
How much Dr Pepper goes in sloppy joes?
About 3/4 cup (6 fl oz) per pound of ground beef, which is half a 12 oz can. Bagels and Lasagna's slow cooker batch uses a full 12 oz can for 2 lb of beef, so the ratio holds when you double it.
How long do you simmer sloppy joes?
10 to 12 minutes once the sauce ingredients are in, until it thickens enough to stay on a bun. If it is still runny, keep it on the heat a few minutes more and stir so it does not catch.
Can you make them with ground turkey?
Bagels and Lasagna say ground turkey or chicken works in their version. Cook poultry to 165°F, the USDA's safe minimum for ground poultry, rather than the 160°F for beef. I have not tried the swap myself.
How long do the leftovers keep?
Refrigerate the filling within 2 hours of cooking, or 1 hour if it is above 90°F. The USDA says cooked ground beef refrigerated promptly keeps for about 3 to 4 days, and its leftovers guidance is to reheat leftovers to 165°F, checked with a thermometer, before they go back on a bun.
