Turn over a packet of Sloppy Joe seasoning and read the ingredient list. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Dried onion, salt, a little cornstarch to thicken things up, some garlic and mustard. That’s the whole “secret recipe.” I noticed that years ago and thought, well, I have all of this in my pantry already. So I mixed up a batch, and I haven’t bought a packet since.

One packet makes one dinner. This recipe makes eight packets’ worth in the same five minutes it’d take you to open one. It sits in an airtight container until you need it, which means no more digging through the seasoning aisle at five o’clock wondering if you have time to make Sloppy Joes tonight. You already do.

Here’s how I make it, and how I use it, so dinner shows up in fifteen minutes flat.

What you’ll need

This mix is naturally gluten-free as written, but double-check your specific brands of cornstarch and chili powder, since cross-contamination sneaks in more than you’d think.

Dried minced onion

Dried minced onion is your flavor base. It’s what makes this taste like Sloppy Joe and not just spiced ketchup. If you’re out, dried onion flakes work in a pinch, though minced gives you a better texture.

Dried green bell pepper pieces

Dried green bell pepper pieces add that classic Sloppy Joe bite. No dried pepper on hand? Leave it out entirely. The mix still works. Or toss a small handful of fresh diced green pepper in with your ground beef while it browns.

Sea salt

Sea salt is doing exactly what it sounds like. Regular table salt is fine here. Just don’t use a salt substitute unless you like surprises.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is the thickener, the thing that turns “meat soup” into “Sloppy Joe filling that stays on the bun.” Arrowroot powder or flour will thicken in a pinch, though I’d stick with cornstarch if you have it. It gives the cleanest result.

Minced garlic

Minced garlic brings the punch that plain garlic powder can’t quite deliver. If all you have is garlic powder, use it. Your Sloppy Joe won’t file a complaint.

Dry mustard

Dry mustard is the ingredient people forget and then wonder why their homemade version tastes flat. It’s what gives Sloppy Joe that little tang under the sweetness. Don’t skip this one if you can help it.

Celery seed

Celery seed is subtle, almost sneaky. You won’t taste it directly, but you’ll miss it if it’s gone. No substitute really replicates it, so if you don’t have it, just move on without.

Chili powder

Chili powder brings warmth, not heat. If your family likes a kick, this is your spot to add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes when you’re cooking, not when you’re mixing.

Mix it once, use it for months

Grab a bowl and dump everything in. Onion, pepper, salt, cornstarch, garlic, mustard, celery seed, chili powder. Stir until it’s evenly distributed. That’s it. That’s the whole “recipe” part of this recipe.

Store it in an airtight container somewhere cool and dry. I use an old spice jar, because I already have forty of them and no self-control at the container store. This batch will hold for months, easy.

Know your ratio before you’re standing at the stove

Three tablespoons of this mix equals one store-bought packet. Write that on the container if you have to.

This batch makes about eight packets’ worth. That’s eight dinners from five minutes of stirring. I don’t know many things in life with a better return on effort.

Brown your beef like you mean it

Brown one pound of lean ground beef in a large skillet, then drain the fat. Don’t skip the draining. Nobody wants a greasy Sloppy Joe, and greasy Sloppy Joe is how you end up with a shirt you have to throw away.

Add 3 tablespoons of your mix, along with 1/2 cup water and 1 cup ketchup or crushed tomatoes. I go back and forth between the two depending on my mood and what’s already open in the fridge. Ketchup gives you that classic sweet-tangy diner flavor. Crushed tomatoes lean a little more grown-up. Both are right.

Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until it thickens up. This is the part where you set the table, or ignore the table and just hand everyone a plate. No judgment here.

The part where I tell you this is a bigger deal than it sounds

I know a homemade seasoning mix isn’t exactly breaking news. But swap this in for one purchased habit, and you start noticing how many of those little “convenience” purchases add up over a year.

A three-dollar seasoning packet isn’t going to sink anybody. A dozen of them a month, times every “just this one thing” purchase in your cart? That’ll sink you slow, and you won’t even see it happening.

Make the mix. Keep it in your pantry. Next time a Sloppy Joe craving hits, you’ll already be ahead of it.

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Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix

Eight packets of Sloppy Joe seasoning from one five-minute bowl of pantry staples. Mix it once, then stir three tablespoons into ground beef anytime you need dinner on the table fast, no store run required.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: packets

Calories: 47kcal

Ingredients

For the seasoning mix:

1 cup dried minced onion
3 tablespoons dried green pepper pieces
4 teaspoons sea salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch
4 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons celery seed
2 teaspoons chili powder

To make one dinner:

1 pound lean ground beef
3 tablespoons Sloppy Joe Mix
1/2 cup water
1 cup ketchup or crushed tomatoes

Instructions

Make the mix:

Combine dried minced onion, dried green pepper, sea salt, cornstarch, minced garlic, dry mustard, celery seed, and chili powder in a bowl. Stir until evenly combined.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Keeps for months.

Use the mix:

Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain the fat.
Add 3 tablespoons of Sloppy Joe Mix, water, and ketchup or crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 5 to 10 minutes, until thickened.
Serve on buns.

Notes

Three tablespoons of mix equals one store-bought seasoning packet.

No dried green pepper on hand? Skip it, or stir a handful of fresh diced green pepper into the beef while it browns.

Ketchup gives a sweeter, classic diner flavor. Crushed tomatoes lean more savory. Both work.

Nutrition facts are calculated for 3 tablespoons of the dry seasoning mix (one packet), not for a finished plate of Sloppy Joes. Once you brown the beef and add the ketchup or tomatoes, the numbers for your actual dinner will be higher.

Nutrition

Question: Ketchup or crushed tomatoes for your Sloppy Joes? Which side are you on? Share in the comments below.

Just talked you out of buying another Sloppy Joe packet? That’s the kind of thing I share every single day in the Everyday Cheapskate newsletter… practical tips, real fixes and smart ways to save money on everyday life, delivered free to your inbox. Subscribe here and let’s make everyday life a little cheaper, easier and smarter.

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Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

srcgrace1 says:

August 31, 2026 at 5:09 am

Thanks for sharing this recipe. Is the minced garlic fresh or dried?

Mary Hunt says:
August 31, 2026 at 12:09 pm

You can use either. Fresh garlic will give you more of a bite and you can get away with using less if you want. Let us know where you land and how it turned out!

Barbara Bullion says:

August 30, 2026 at 6:15 pm

Ketchup

Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix: Skip the Store-Bought Packets

What you’ll need

Dried minced onion

Dried green bell pepper pieces

Sea salt

Cornstarch

Minced garlic

Dry mustard

Celery seed

Chili powder

Mix it once, use it for months

Know your ratio before you’re standing at the stove

Brown your beef like you mean it

The part where I tell you this is a bigger deal than it sounds

Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix

Ingredients

For the seasoning mix:

To make one dinner:

Instructions

Make the mix:

Use the mix:

Notes

Nutrition

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix: Skip the Store-Bought Packets

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Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What you’ll need

Dried minced onion

Dried green bell pepper pieces

Sea salt

Cornstarch

Minced garlic

Dry mustard

Celery seed

Chili powder

Mix it once, use it for months

Know your ratio before you’re standing at the stove

Brown your beef like you mean it

The part where I tell you this is a bigger deal than it sounds

Homemade Sloppy Joe Mix

Ingredients

For the seasoning mix:

To make one dinner:

Instructions

Make the mix:

Use the mix:

Notes

Nutrition

More from Everyday Cheapskate

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief, and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines