My Dr. Pepper sloppy joes are a fun, delicious twist on a classic meal the whole family will love. The addition of sweet Dr. Pepper gives these sandwiches a rich flavor that takes them to the next level.

Do you need a dinner that will get your family running to the dinner table? Then you are sure to love these Dr. Pepper sloppy joes. A tasty spin on a classic recipe, these are sure to be a hit!

The first time I made this recipe, my family knew that something was a little different but couldn’t pick out what made them taste so good. They were so surprised when I told them it was one of their favorite drinks, Dr. Pepper. The addition of Dr. Pepper adds a rich, slightly sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory meat and sloppy joe sauce.

Now this easy dinner is a regular addition to our menu rotation. It’s fast, simple to make, and a great way to use a pack of ground beef.

Want more sloppy joe recipes, be sure to try Mississippi sloppy joes, Texas toast sloppy joes, and sloppy joe casserole.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Easy to make dinner. You can make this in under 30 minutes making it perfect for a weeknight meal.
• Simple ingredients. Budget friendly, simple ingredients you might already have in your kitchen.
• A family favorite meal. Delicious flavor that satisfies even picky eaters.
• Wonderful leftovers. This warms up great on the stove or in the microwave.

Ingredients

The ingredients for Dr. Pepper sloppy joes are similar to an original sloppy joe with the addition of Dr. Pepper soda.

• Ground beef: Use lean ground beef for this recipe so that you get great flavor without too much grease.
• Onion: You can use yellow onion or sweet Vidalia onion.
• Bell pepper: Red or green bell pepper work well in this recipe. Dice it small so it blends in well with the beef.
• Tomato sauce: The base of the sloppy joe sauce.
• Ketchup: Adds a little sweetness and the classic sloppy joe flavor.
• Vinegar: A little bit of vinegar balances the flavors.
• Worcestershire: Adds deep, beefy flavor.
• Dr. Pepper: The star ingredient that gives the sloppy joe sauce extra rich, sweet flavor.
• Garlic powder, salt, pepper

How to make Dr. Pepper sloppy joes

Scroll to the bottom for the full list of ingredients and recipe.

Step one: Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Break the beef up and let it start to brown. Mix in the diced red pepper and diced onion. Once the beef has browned, drain off any excess grease.

Step two: Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Dr. Pepper.

Step three: Let the mixture simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the sauce has thicken up.

Serve the mixture on a bun, in a tortilla, or over pasta.

Heather’s recipe tips

• I recommend using lean ground beef so there isn’t too much grease.
• Drain off any excess grease after browning.
• Break the beef up well into small crumbles.
• If you are serving this on a bun, I recommend toasting the bun so it holds up to the meat mixture.

Variations and substitutions

There are several ways to make this sloppy joes with Dr. Pepper recipe your own. Here are a few of my suggestions:

• BBQ Dr. Pepper sloppy joes: Substitute the ketchup with BBQ sauce.
• Meat: Substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken.
• Bacon: Stir in cooked bacon for smokey flavor.
• Sliders: Serve them on slider buns for a tasty bite.

Storage instructions

Store: Make sure to cool any leftovers and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Reheat: Warm up the leftovers in a pot on the stove over low heat or microwave until heated through.

Freeze: Let the meat mixture completely cool and then store in a freezer safe bag in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Recipe FAQ’s

More easy ground beef recipes

• Ground Beef Enchiladas
• Doritos Casserole
• Ground Beef Alfredo
• Cheesy Mac With Ground Beef