French Onion Joes Recipe with Ground Beef - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

These French Onion Joes are an easy alternative to traditional sloppy joes without the tomatoes. With just four ingredients, this loose meat sandwich is quick dinner option. Using a can of condensed French Onion soup, these ground beef sandwiches can be on the table in less than 20 minutes.

French Onion Joes Recipe with Ground Beef - These Old Cookbooks (2)

Table of Contents

French Onion Sloppy Joes

I love meals that are made with ground beef because they are kid-friendly and husband-friendly, and they typically go together easily. Ground beef is a versatile protein and it is budget-friendly. We love that you can really stretch a pound of ground beef to serve a crowd. You can even brown up ground beef, drain, and freeze for even quicker meals.

It’s no secret, our family is crazy for Sloppy Joes. We loveEasy Sloppy Joes,Classic Sloppy Joes, and we use our leftovers forSloppy Joe Cups. There’s something about these saucy sandwich that we go nuts over.

French Onion Loose Meat Sandwiches

We were so excited when a co-worker of mine shared a new version of “joes” with us. This is her mom’s version of sloppy joe. It’s nice to have a version for those who have aversions to tomatoes which are found in traditional sloppy joes. These are really similar to the classic Iowa Maid-Rites.

Ingredient List

  • Ground beef
  • Water
  • Flour
  • Condensed French Onion Soup
  • Salt and Pepper

This skillet ground beef dish is always a hit when we make it. We have even made it into French Onion Joe Sliders where we spread it Hawaiian rolls, add cheese and cover with a delicious butter drizzle before baking.

We love using condensed French Onion soup…so much that we have an entire post highlighting all of our dishes made with canned French Onion Soup.

If you want a more traditional loose meat sandwich, check out our Stroganoff Loose Meat Sandwiches.

How to Make French Onion Joes

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet and drain off any excess grease.
  2. Mix water with flour and stir it with the meat and condensed French Onion Soup in the skillet.
  3. Let the meat mixture simmer over medium heat until thickened, approximately 5 minutes.
  4. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, and serve on buns. Optional toppings include sliced Colby cheese, mustard or pickles.

Full recipe and ingredient list for loose meat sandwiches is at the bottom of this post.

French Onion Joes Recipe with Ground Beef - These Old Cookbooks (5)

Check out some of our other favorite ground beef meals, including Aunt Shannon’s Lasagna, Cheeseburger Quiche, Cheeseburger Turnovers and Crock Pot Ground Beef Acapulco Enchiladas. Want even more ground beef recipes? 8 Great Ground Beef Recipes over at Recipes the Crock!

We are linking up to Weekend Potluck. Check out all the great recipes there!

French Onion Joes Recipe with Ground Beef - These Old Cookbooks (6)

Print Recipe

4.75 from 4 votes

French Onion Joes

These French Onion Joes feature just four simple ingredients, including ground beef, and are an easy weeknight sandwich option.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Entree, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: French Onion Joes, French Onion Loose Meat Sandwich, french onion sloppy joes

Servings: 6

Calories: 224kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 10.5 oz. condensed French onion soup
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 3 Tablespoons flour
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Brown ground beef in a skillet; drain excess grease.

  • In a bowl, mix water and flour together until smooth.

  • Add cooked ground beef, french onion soup, and water/flour mixture back to the skillet. Simmer over medium heat until thickened.

  • Serve on buns. Optional toppings include Colby cheese, mustard or pickles.

Notes

  • Using a can of condensed French Onion soup, these ground beef sandwiches can be on the table in less than 20 minutes.
  • I love meals that are made with ground beef because they are kid-friendly and husband-friendly, and they typically go together easily. You can even brown up ground beef, drain, and freeze for even quicker meals.
  • It’s no secret, our family is crazy for Sloppy Joes. We loveEasy Sloppy Joes,Classic Sloppy Joes, and we use our leftovers forSloppy Joe Cups. There’s something about these saucy sandwich that we go nuts over.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg

French Onion Joes Recipe with Ground Beef - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

Why is it called a sloppy joe? ›

Some attribute the original Sloppy Joe to a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, where, many years ago, in 1930 a cook named Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. Voila: a new between-the-bread offering, and the sandwich's official name.

Can you cook onions with ground beef? ›

In a large skillet, saute the garlic and onion in the olive oil until softened. Then, add in the ground beef, breaking it into crumbles and cooking just until no longer pink. It is important to not overcook or your ground beef will not be as moist.

How many pounds of ground beef per person for sloppy joes? ›

Our classic sloppy joes recipe calls for 1 pound of ground beef to make 6 sandwiches, which is 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich. Depending on the size of your bun and how meaty you like your sandwich, you can increase or decrease that amount an ounce or two either way.

What is another name for sloppy joes? ›

Some other names for sloppy joes include: barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slushburgers, steamers, wimpies, and yum yums. What do you call sloppy joes where you live? Just like the many names for sloppy joes, you'll also find all sorts of variations on the recipe.

What's the difference between sloppy joe and Manwich? ›

Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. What is this? While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

What's the difference between sloppy joes and sloppy janes? ›

If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.

What is raw ground beef and onions called? ›

An appetizer of raw, lean ground beef served on bread (especially rye co*cktail bread) with sliced onions, salt and pepper. Also known as "tiger meat," "steak tartare," or simply "raw beef and onions," the sandwiches have traditionally been served at holiday parties and other festive gatherings in the Milwaukee area.

When should you not cook ground beef? ›

Pathogenic bacteria does not change the smell, taste or appearance of meat but it can cause illness. The only way to stay safe from this type of bacteria is to cook your ground beef within the recommended one to two days after purchase. Spoiled ground beef may have a different color, texture or smell.

What to add to ground beef for flavor? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons oregano.
  2. 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  3. 1 teaspoon cumin.
  4. 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  5. 2 teaspoons onion powder.
  6. 12 teaspoon salt.
  7. 1 lb ground beef.
  8. 12 cup water.

Do you drain the fat from ground beef for sloppy joes? ›

It works well in dishes that require crumbles, however any leanness of Ground Beef (or what you have on hand) works well in this recipe… just be sure to drain any remaining fat after cooking. Sloppy Joe Sauce - made from a base of tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, ketchup and combined with brown sugar and spices.

How to bulk up sloppy joes? ›

Beans are delicious with Sloppy Joe sauce and since they're 0 Weight Watchers Smart Points (on the Blue plan) I knew combining beef and beans would be a fabulous way to bulk up Sloppy Joes and stretch those points! This is such a fun meal to make and ya just need one pan and about 30 minutes.

What do people in Wisconsin call sloppy joes? ›

How "hot tamale" became the name for sloppy Joes in these Wisconsin communities is so far a mystery. The name was solidified through decades of Sheboygan and Manitowoc school lunch menus, though "sloppy Joe" has come into use now.

What is a sloppy joe in slang? ›

a man or youth whose appearance is habitually slovenly.

What are sloppy joes called in Pennsylvania? ›

In Central PA, what we call a barbecue sandwich is what most of the rest of the world calls a sloppy joe.

What does sloppy joe slang mean? ›

a sandwich of ground beef cooked in a spicy tomato or barbecue sauce and usually served on a bun. a baggy, overlarge sweater originally worn by girls and young women in the 1940s. a man or youth whose appearance is habitually slovenly.

What do people in Wisconsin call Sloppy Joes? ›

How "hot tamale" became the name for sloppy Joes in these Wisconsin communities is so far a mystery. The name was solidified through decades of Sheboygan and Manitowoc school lunch menus, though "sloppy Joe" has come into use now.

Where did the word sloppy originate? ›

The earliest known use of the adjective sloppy is in the late 1600s. OED's earliest evidence for sloppy is from 1699, in a dictionary by Abel Boyer, lexicographer and journalist. sloppy is formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: slop n.

Why is a jumper called a sloppy joe? ›

You've probably seen these comfortable jumpers, but just didn't know their name. The history of this simple jumper started with male Ivy League students, who wore oversized, sloppy-style sweaters to show their superiority. A bit later Sloppy Joes gain popularity among women and create a new way to emphasize femininity.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 6151

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.