Whether it’s a succulent pot roast, cheesy casserole, or warming, savory stew, we love Sunday supper. It’s a dinner party without the formality, where family and friends gather for easy conversation and good food – lots of it!
Slow-cooker Sloppy Joes; Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey
At Southern Living, there’s one thing we love about the Super Bowl even more than
football – the food. In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, we’ve chosen an instant crowd-pleaser, the sloppy Joe. Inexpensive and simple to make, the sloppy Joe is perfect for Super Bowl noshing.
So, who exactly was Joe? Was he sloppy? A solid explanation for this finger-licking sandwich unfortunately doesn’t exist, but there are several possible explanations. Most likely, Sloppy Joes came from loose-meat sandwiches popular in the Midwest during the 1920s (and still today – Iowa-based restaurant Maid-Rite’s loose-meat sandwiches have a huge following). Essentially, the loose-meat sandwich is a steamed hamburger, with crumbles of ground beef instead of a tightly packed patty. Legend has it that around the 1940s, a restaurant in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce and seasonings to its loose-meat sandwich and named it after one of their cooks, Joe.
Today, the sloppy Joe is both a go-to weeknight meal and party-favorite, loved by kids and adults alike. We’ve chosen our best sloppy Joe recipes to make your Super Bowl party memorable and fuss-free. So, grab a cold beer and spend time with your family and friends, whether you’re watching the actual game or just paying attention to the commercials.
Slow-cooker Sloppy Joes
Richard’s Sloppy Joes
Sloppy José Sandwiches with Cilantro Slaw
Need more ideas? Check out our Bowl Game Party Playbook for Super Bowl snacks, dips, sweets and drinks.
Filed under: From the Test Kitchen, The Daily South Tagged: Football, Homepage, Recipes 
