🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Ketchup Substitute for Sloppy Joes: for Sweet & Tangy Flavor

Find the best substitutes for ketchup in sloppy joes recipes. Learn about tomato paste, barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, and other alternatives that provide the right sweetness and tanginess.

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Quick Answer

The best ketchup substitutes for sloppy joes are tomato paste with sugar and vinegar, barbecue sauce, or marinara sauce. Use 1:1 ratio for most substitutes, ensuring they provide the right sweetness and tanginess for sloppy joes.

Best Substitutes

Tomato Paste + Sugar + Vinegar

1:1

Homemade ketchup using concentrated tomato paste with added sweetness and acidity. Most similar to ketchup in taste and texture for sloppy joes.

Best for:

sloppy joeswhen you want to control sweetnessmaking large batchestraditional sloppy joes flavorcooking applications

Mix 1 part tomato paste with 1 part water, 1-2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar, and salt to taste. Simmer until thickened. Provides the right sweetness and tanginess for sloppy joes.

Barbecue Sauce

1:1

Sweet and tangy sauce with smoky, complex flavors that works well in sloppy joes. Adds depth and smokiness to the dish.

Best for:

sloppy joeswhen you want smoky flavorbarbecue-style sloppy joeswhen you want complex flavorsgrilled sloppy joes

Has similar sweet-tangy profile but with added smokiness and spices. Provides the right sweetness and tanginess for sloppy joes. May add smoky undertones.

Marinara Sauce

1:1

Italian tomato sauce with herbs and garlic that works well in sloppy joes. Adds Italian flavor profile and the right consistency.

Best for:

sloppy joeswhen you want Italian flavorsherb-flavored sloppy joeswhen you want complex flavorsItalian-style sloppy joes

Thinner than ketchup and has Italian herbs (oregano, basil). Add sugar and vinegar to make it more ketchup-like. Provides the right consistency for sloppy joes.

Tomato Sauce

1:1

Plain tomato sauce that can be enhanced to work in sloppy joes. Most neutral option that can be customized.

Best for:

sloppy joeswhen you want neutral tomato flavorwhen you want to customize flavormaking homemade ketchupbasic sloppy joes

Much thinner than ketchup and lacks sweetness. Add sugar, vinegar, and spices to make it more ketchup-like. Provides the right consistency for sloppy joes.

Sriracha

1:1

Spicy chili sauce with garlic and vinegar that can work in sloppy joes for those who enjoy heat. Adds spice and flavor.

Best for:

sloppy joeswhen you want heatspicy sloppy joeswhen you want Asian flavorswhen you want garlic flavor

Much spicier than ketchup with garlic and vinegar notes. Add sugar to make it sweeter. Provides the right consistency for sloppy joes.

Hot Sauce

1:1

Spicy vinegar-based sauce that can work in sloppy joes for heat lovers. Adds spice without sweetness.

Best for:

sloppy joeswhen you want heat without sweetnessspicy sloppy joeswhen you want vinegar flavorwhen you want heat

Much thinner and spicier than ketchup. Add sugar and tomato paste to make it more ketchup-like. Provides the right consistency for sloppy joes.

Cooking Tips

💡Ketchup adds sweetness and tanginess to sloppy joes, so choose substitutes that provide both
💡For traditional sloppy joes flavor, use tomato paste with sugar and vinegar
💡For smoky sloppy joes, use barbecue sauce as a substitute
💡For Italian-style sloppy joes, use marinara sauce as a substitute
💡For spicy sloppy joes, use sriracha or hot sauce as a substitute
💡Store homemade ketchup substitutes in the refrigerator for up to 6 months

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best substitute for ketchup in sloppy joes?

Tomato paste with sugar and vinegar, barbecue sauce, or marinara sauce work best in sloppy joes. They provide the right sweetness and tanginess for the dish.

Can I use tomato paste instead of ketchup in sloppy joes?

Yes, tomato paste is a good substitute for ketchup in sloppy joes. Add sugar and vinegar to make it more ketchup-like, or use it as-is for a less sweet option.

What's the difference between ketchup and tomato paste in sloppy joes?

Ketchup is sweet and tangy with added ingredients, while tomato paste is more concentrated and has a different flavor. Both provide the right consistency for sloppy joes.

Can I use barbecue sauce instead of ketchup in sloppy joes?

Yes, barbecue sauce can work as a substitute in sloppy joes. It has similar texture and provides the right sweetness and tanginess, though it may add smoky undertones.

Which substitute works best for traditional sloppy joes?

Tomato paste with sugar and vinegar works best for traditional sloppy joes. It provides the most similar flavor and texture to ketchup.

Can I use marinara sauce instead of ketchup in sloppy joes?

Yes, marinara sauce can work as a substitute in sloppy joes. It provides the right consistency, though it may add Italian herb notes.

How do I adjust the sweetness when using substitutes in sloppy joes?

Add sugar to tomato paste or tomato sauce to increase sweetness. For less sweetness, use unsweetened tomato products or reduce the amount of sweet ingredients.