Sloppy Joes for a crowd. This is a recipe from our old Church cookbook for Sloppy Joes to serve a large group. This recipe from the book is titled Sloppy Joes for 60. So if you’re looking for a recipe for Sloppy Joes for a crowd for your next party, this will fit that bill. Let’s take a look.
Where did this Sloppy Joe Recipe Come From?
This old fashioned sloppy joe recipe is from my church cookbook. The church that I attended when I was growing up in the middle of Kansas.
You’ll find Sloppy Joes for 60 along with Baptist Punch for 100, which is an odd combination of ginger ale, Kool-Aid, Hawaiian Punch and 7-Up. I was surprised to see they didn’t add five cups of sugar, I wonder if it’s sweet enough. Do they even make Hawaiian Punch anymore?
Church ladies often published these types of recipes serving large groups because of Church socials or Church suppers.
This is a great recipe to keep on hand in case you’ve invited 58 friends over for dinner, or if you’re the Osmonds and have 58 of your great grandchildren over for lunch (hey, I–am–not–making–that–up, it was on Oprah on Friday).
Or if you’re empty nesters like us it will yield you 30 Sloppy Joes each. 🙂
For tonight’s dinner we weren’t all that hungry, so I decided to scale the recipe down from 60 servings to 2. 😉
But below you’ll find the original recipe.
The flavor of this recipe is perfect sloppy joe flavor in our books. Sweet tangy and savory.
Ingredients to Make Sloppy Joes for A Crowd
- Hamburger Buns: Not all hamburger are created equal. There are some very large buns available for sale. Choose the smaller 3 ½ inch buns for this recipe to accommodate the number of servings.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Brown Sugar: Dark or light brown sugar will work for this recipe.
- Mustard: Plain ol’ yellow mustard. Keep in simple with good old fashioned flavor.
- Ketchup
- Onion: Chopped sweet or yellow onion is best for this recipe. A red onion will add too strong of flavor and may compromise the overall flavor.
- Celery: Chopped
- Ground Beef: Save the 80/20 blend of ground beef for those burgers on the grill. Buy lean or extra lean ground beef for this recipe, 90% lean is a good guideline. You can use 80-20 but you’ll need to drain the grease before adding ingredients and the yield of final beef amount will lessen.
- Flour: We’re adding just a little all-purpose flour to the mix to thicken the consistency. If you need to make gluten-free Sloppy Joes, omit the flour.
How many pounds of hamburger do I need for 50 Sloppy Joes? 7 – 8 pounds of hamburger is am ample amount for 50 – 60 Sloppy Joes, depending on the bun size. The celery, onion, and liquid ingredients bulk up the hamburger weight to make enough fill a smaller burger bun.
How To Make Sloppy Joes for 60
Once you’re done chopping the onions and celery, this recipe is very easy to throw together.
- Step 1: Brown the ground beef. Find the largest fry pan you can and brown hamburger meat in three batches. Once the first batch is about half way browned, add ⅓ of the onion, ⅓ of the celery and ⅓ of the flour. Once the meat is browned, move the mixture to a big soup pot and repeat with two more batches.
- Step 2: Use an 8 quart soup pot. I have used a 6 quart, it works but a little tight on space.
- Step 3: Once all of the ingredients are in the big soup pot, add remainder of the ingredients and simmer for at least 30 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, or needs a little punch of flavor, I add a little bit of your favorite bottled bbq sauce.
Important Note: Please make sure to check the notes in the recipe card below, depending how the amount served per bun, this recipe can be a recipe for Sloppy Joes for 50, if using ½ cup servings per bun, or ⅓ cup servings will give you a Sloppy Joes Recipe for 60. And then there’s always that Sloppy Joe Sliders equasion.
The History of Sloppy Joes
When I decided to prepare this recipe, I wondered about the origin of the name “Sloppy Joe”, so I Googled “Where did the name Sloppy Joe come from” sure enough I was rewarded with answers:
One web site claims: The Original Sloppy Joe Sandwich was invented at Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West. The original is still available and consists of ground beef in a sweet rich tomato sauce, with onions, peppers and spices.
Hence the sandwich was named for the establishment, not the consistency, as suggested by the Manwich recipe people.
(Ok now this really bothers me, what’s up with those Manwich “people” starting ugly rumors?)
Another web site suggests that it was named after a Green Bay Packer team member Joe Krzrwinski … aka “Sloppy”, a nickname given to him for his inconsistent play on the field. The first creation was made with ground sausage during 1930.
According to another story, the sandwich was named after the Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Havana, Cuba which was the first to serve a sandwich of this variety.
So depending on if you’re a Cheese Head, or a Parrot Head you’ve got your answer.
Even James Beard, the 20th Century Godfather of American cooking wrote about Sloppy Joes: “This is a product of the modern age, and though it is not a palate-tingling delight it has a large public.”
Perhaps Beard’s generous use of a ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce in his version of Sloppy Joes had something to do with his unenthusiastic view. Plus I think it’s a slap in the face to white-trash food. Just who does he think he is??? (Oh, that’s right, he’s the 20th century godfather of American Cooking.)
Sloppy Joes for large group gatherings are an easy way to feed that crowd.
Sloppy Joe Recipe For Large Crowd
These Sloppy Joes are a super easy way to serve a main course to a large group.
I made these for a block party a few years ago, and I can’t tell you how many times I was asked for the recipe.
I hope you give this Sloppy Joe Recipe a try next time you’re hosting. And if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating and leave a message about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a recipe for feeding a large group, let me know, I’d love to give it a try. I host our yearly block party and am always looking for recipe ideas.
What Side Dishes Go With Sloppy Joes?
Looking for side dish recipes to serve a crowd with these Sloppy Joes? Just double or triple these recipes. Pioneer Woman’s Best Pasta Salad, Classic Potato Salad, or a big pot of Calico Beans.
More Recipes To Feed A Crowd
You’ll need to double or triple these recipes, depending on the size of the crowd.
- Crock Pot Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Brine for Pork Butt, Makes Great Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Large Batch Skirt Steak Fajitas
- Hatch Green Chili, Colorado Style
And if you’re in the sandwich mood, don’t miss my Sandwich Category. You’ll find lots of fun ideas. Including the most popular sandwich recipe on my site for my Party Sub Club Sandwich. A party sandwich that’s big on flavor and popularity.
And my recipe for Perfect Sloppy Joes This is a just-right flavored, no guess, recipe for Perfect Sloppy Joes. Make these with ground beef, ground turkey, or a combo of half ground beef and half Italian Sausage. An easy meal to feed your family.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.
Church Supper Sloppy Joes for 60
Ingredients
- 8 pounds ground beef extra lean
- ⅓ cup flour
- 2 ½ cups celery diced
- 2 ½ cups onion diced, about 2 medium onions
- ½ cup mustard or more to taste
- ½ cup vinegar
- ½ cup brown sugar light brown, or dark brown
- 28 ounces catsup 3 ½ cups
- 2 cups water
- 60 Hamburger buns small ones, but not slider buns
Instructions
- In a very large fry pan, brown hamburger meat in three batches. Once the first batch is about half way browned, add ⅓ of the onion, ⅓ of the celery and ⅓ of the flour. Once the meat is browned, move the mixture to a big soup pot and repeat with two more batches.
- Use an 8 quart soup pot. I have used a 6 quart, it works but a little tight on space.
- Once all of the ingredients are in the big soup pot, add remainder of the ingredients and simmer for at least 30 minutes. If the mixture seems dry, or needs a little punch of flavor, I add a little bit of your favorite bottled bbq sauce.
- Adjust seasonings to taste and serve on hamburger buns.
Notes
Nutrition
Sloppy Joes for a Crowd …It’s What’s For Dinner
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
Very good recipe, I used 2 cups of chopped red and yellow peppers and a half cup of chopped jalapenos too. I didnt use any flour and instead used a couple of cans of Red gold sloppy joe mix and cut back on the water.
what size crock pot would you use for this recipe
I’m not sure Amber. I would think it would take at least 2 6 quart slow cookers, or 3.
How do you get 10 Sloppy Joes out af a pound of hamburger?
Hi Dawn, and thanks for the note and the question.
This recipe is a direct recipe from my church cookbook. I didn’t chage a thing from the original recipe.
There are a lot of additional ingredients added to that pound of hamburger to add volume to the end result. Such as 2 cups each onion and celery.
Plus, in the instructions, it indicates to purchase small hamburger buns, rather than the large buns available at the store. Those smaller buns will most certainly stretch those sandwiches to go much further.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Agree!! I fed 7 last night with two mounds and wished I had used three pounds and this was only seven sandwiches!
How do you get 10 sloppy joes out of a pound of hamburger?
Just wondered what size bottle do you use for catsup?
I’m so sorry I’m just now seeing this message. I’m not sure of the weight/ounce size. Just the regular small bottle.
What size bottle for catsup do you use?
LeaAnn,
I made the Sloppy Joes for dinner tonight and they were a hit. (3 servings instead of 60) Thanks so much for the recipe!
-Robin
I’m so glad you liked them. You just have to tweak it a little to get the flavor you like.
My youngest has been asking me to make sloppy joes. I like the look of this recipe, thanks so much!
Hmmm, now if he eats 58 – that leaves one left each for hubby and myself..
Just remember to tweak the ingredients to your taste.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lea Ann
Well, I suppose if you HAD to cook for 60 people, sloppy joes would be a good dish as it seems easy to make in big batches. Looks great! I love the smell of ground beef when it’s cooking. Bet your house smelled wonderful!
Oh yes it did, with help from the onion and celery. 🙂
I collect cook-books, and I have many church and club cook books… I’m actually in a couple of them!
Cool! I don’t really collect, but have ended up the unwitting owner of many of these church cookbooks because my mom buys them and always get me one too.
Can you make ahead of time, freeze then heat before serving?
LOL I loved your background to this! I thought they were named that because of the look/texture. Sadly I’ve never tried one in real life so I’m grateful for your recipe! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a sloppy joe. Just adjust the flavors to suit yourself.
I first had Sloppy Joes at Girl Guide camp – easy peasy camping food. I brought the idea home to my family but it never caught on for some reason (traditional Brits – ahem!).
I LOVE church/community cookbooks, such great recipe finds in them! This looks terrific, I just adore sloppy joes!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Yes, those church cookbooks have some really good “finds” and some crazy ones.
Lea Ann
Those people are all liars. I discovered the sloppy joe! 😉
Yours looks great and it beats the heck out of the Canwich I mean Manwhich ones!
LOL – thanks for the post.
I’ll credit you next time. 😉
My mom sends me those kinds of cookbooks whenever her church comes out with them. Good times.
The sloppy joes look great!
Love the Sloppy Joe trivia! They look delicious! I’m a big fan of the old church cookbooks, too.
After posting this recipe, I’ve decided to do a monthly “Church Lady Recipe” I’ve got a ton of those cookbooks.
Thanks for stopping by
You missed my post- don’t think I knew you yet, on Untidy Josephs! I came at it from how a gourmet would word it… Pretty much close to your recipe, actually!
Looks cool…I gotta try it soon.
Angie’s Recipes
Wow, this would be great for a giant super bowl party!! I need to start getting my invite list together!!
Hopefully you’ll be watching the Broncos
Too funny…but there when i need it…Thanks