Pumpkin Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

Pumpkin Sloppy Joes are the ultimate fall sloppy joe recipe! This easy sandwich is perfect for a weeknight meal, game day, tailgating, or a fall party!

Make sure to top your Sloppy Joes with my fall inspired cole slaw recipe to add a little crunch and sweetness!

Table of Contents

• Pumpkin Sloppy Joes Are An Easy Fall Dinner Recipe!
• Adding Pumpkin To Sloppy Joe Sauce Works Perfectly!
• Ingredients:
• How To Make Sloppy Joes…
• Can Sloppy Joes Be Made In The Crock Pot?
• Will This Freeze?
• Get the Recipe

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Pumpkin Sloppy Joes Are An Easy Fall Dinner Recipe!

I grew up eating Sloppy Joes…they were a go-to recipe in my mom’s dinner arsenal. What ended up happening with most meals that were on regular rotation in my childhood home, is that as soon as I moved out on my own I vowed to never eat a lot of those recipes again. Ever. This happened with the sloppy joe.

But, as time passed, the Sloppy Joe wounds were healed and I have made them an occasional dinner option in my house as an adult. I have steered clear of the Manwich version, and make them homemade, because they’re so incredibly easy there is no reason to use a shortcut.

Adding Pumpkin To Sloppy Joe Sauce Works Perfectly!

Sloppy Joes are the perfect recipe to switch up and make your own, so I thought adding pumpkin to the mix could give it fall vibes, and oh man I was right! The pumpkin adds a creaminess, and a richness that is subtle enough for even the NON-pumpkin person in your life!

I amp up the fall-ness in the recipe with a little bit of pumpkin spice, but it’s just barely there. It makes it feel like fall without tasting like a pumpkin spice drink! The balance is absolutely perfect!

Ingredients:

• diced onion
• lean ground beef or ground turkey
• minced garlic
• chili powder
• kosher salt
• black pepper
• pumpkin pie spice
• cayenne pepper
• pumpkin puree
• tomato sauce

How To Make Sloppy Joes…

The great thing about this recipe is it’s done in 30 minutes! Here are the easy steps:

1. Cook the onions in a large skillet with a little oil until softened.
2. Add in the ground beef or ground turkey and and cook until meat is no longer pink.
3. Add in the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
4. Add in the seasonings (chili powder, salt, pepper, pumpkin pie spice, cayenne, pumpkin, and tomato sauce) and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes to combine all the flavors.
5. Adjust seasonings if desired.
6. Serve warm on buns and top with Fall Slaw!

Can Sloppy Joes Be Made In The Crock Pot?

Sure, BUT I do recommend that you soften the onions and brown the meat before adding it into the slow cooker…which basically is the majority of the work in this recipe.

But if you’re looking to use your Crock Pot, go ahead and follow steps 1 & 2 in the recipe card (cooking the onion, ground beef, and garlic) and then add that to your slow cooker. Add in the remainder of the ingredients and cook on low for 2-3 hours.

Will This Freeze?

Absolutely! Sloppy Joes are a great recipe to make ahead and freeze. Here’s how:

1. Follow the recipe as written.
2. Allow the sloppy joe mixture to cool.
3. Place in an airtight container, or large zip-top bag and freeze for up to 30 days.
4. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove top or in the crock pot!

Make sure to try my Sloppy Joe Stew too for another fun spin on the classic!

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