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Taco Sloppy Joes are an easy ground beef dinner recipe that the whole family will love! Switch up taco Tuesday with these sloppy joes with all the flavors of a taco including your favorite taco toppings.
For more fun twists to Traditional Sloppy Joes be sure and also make my Hawaiian Sloppy Joes, Gumbo Soup Sloppy Joes, Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, or Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes.
Taco Sloppy Joes (Easy Dinner Recipe)
This easy sloppy Joe recipe is a Mexican twist to a classic sloppy Joe recipe for a family favorite weeknight dinner. Switch up taco night and get all your favorite flavors of tacos – a taco seasoned meat mixture and all your favorite taco toppings – in a kid-friendly sloppy joe!
I love making sloppy joes because they’re a quick, 30 minute dinner that all my kids eat willingly. The best part about these taco sloppy joes are all the toppings you can add. Set out bowls of different toppings and let everyone create their own. Shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, avocado slices, sour cream, and tortilla chips are my family’s preferred toppings.
We love anything with a taco twist to it – be sure and also try Taco Potatoes, Taco Dip, or this fun dinner recipe for a Taco Ring.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground Beef : I prefer lean ground beef (93/7) but any percentage fat ground beef can be used with great results. You could even use ground turkey or ground chicken for a slightly healthier option. Although, ground beef will you give you much more flavor to the sloppy Joe mixture.
- Sweet Onion : A small sweet onion that has been finely minced. A white onion or yellow onion can be substituted if you prefer. If the onion is larger than only use half of it.
- Garlic : Use fresh garlic cloves that have been minced or pressed, use chopped minced garlic from a jar, or garlic paste.
- Taco Seasoning Mix : Use your favorite taco seasoning packet – hot & spicy, cheesy, chicken taco, reduced-sodium, or mild taco seasoning. Or use your favorite homemade taco seasoning instead.
- Salsa : I prefer the fresher taste of the fresh salsa which you can find in the refrigerated are of the produce section. Jarred salsa can also be used or try using Homemade Salsa. If you prefer spice then be sure and use a hotter salsa.
- Water
- Hamburger Buns : Use a good quality, thick hamburger buns so that the buns can hold up to the sloppy joe sauce mixture.
- Taco Toppings : Lots of options here like shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, pico de Gallo, avocado slices or guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, sliced jalapeños for spice, etc.
How To Make Taco Sloppy Joes (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large skillet pan, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the grease from the skillet pan. Stir in the garlic and let cook for about 1 minute or until very fragrant.
Stir in the packet of taco seasoning until the beef is well coated.
Stir in the salsa and water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and let it simmer for about 8-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened.
Use a slotted spoon to serve a scoop of the taco sloppy Joe mixture onto the bottom half of a hamburger bun. Top with your favorite toppings and place the top half of the bun on top. Serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
Be sure and have several of your family’s favorite taco toppings out on the table so everyone can top their sloppy joes with their favorite toppings. These can also be served as sloppy joe tacos – serve the sloppy joe taco meat inside crunchy corn taco shells with taco toppings.
My family also likes to add some tortilla chips inside the taco sloppy joes along with the other toppings – they add a nice crunch!
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I Add Back Beans To The Taco Sloppy Joe Mixture?
Yes! Adding a can of drained & rinsed black beans is a great way to add more protein, to bulk up the sloppy Joe mixture, and give it more taco flavors. Pinto beans are another great option as well.
How Can I Make These Sloppy Joes Spicy?
Use hot salsa, use a packet of regular taco seasoning or spicy taco seasoning, top the taco sloppy joes with shredded Pepper Jack cheese and sliced jalapeños, or try adding a can of diced green chilies and/or a can of chopped jalapeños into the taco joes mixture.
How To Store Leftovers
Store any leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container, inside the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through.
Can I Toast The Hamburger Buns?
Yes, I always recommend toasting the hamburger buns whenever you make sloppy joes. The toasted bun will hold up better to the sloppy Joe meat and it will prevent the buns from getting soggy too quickly. Separate each bun and place the two halves onto a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or tin foil. Spread softened butter on each half (or spray with cooking spray) and broil for a few minutes until toasted brown. Watch carefully because they will burn quickly.
More Tasty Tacos You’ll Love
- Green Chili Turkey Tacos
- Ground Turkey Tacos
- Baked Double Decker Tacos
- Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Tacos
- Honey Lime Salsa Verde Ranch Chicken Tacos
- Grilled Tilapia Fish Tacos
- BBQ Beef Tacos
Taco Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Taco Sloppy Joes
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic (minced or pressed, chopped from jar, or garlic paste)
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/4 cup water
Serving
- hamburger buns
- shredded lettuce
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- diced avocado or guacamole
Instructions
- In a large skillet pan, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the grease from the skillet pan.Stir in the garlic and let cook for about 1 minute or until very fragrant.1 pound ground beef, 1 small sweet onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the packet of taco seasoning until the beef is well coated.1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- Stir in the salsa and water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and let it simmer for about 8-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened.1/2 cup salsa, 1/4 cup water
- Use a slotted spoon to serve a scoop of the taco sloppy Joe mixture onto the bottom half of a hamburger bun. Top with your favorite toppings and place the top half of the bun on top. Serve immediately. * I highly recommend toasting the buns. Separate the buns and place them onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Spread butter on each half and BROIL on medium for a few minutes. Watch carefully because it burns fast!hamburger buns, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocado or guacamole
Notes
Nutrition
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