This fun and flavorful Dr Pepper Sloppy Joes dinner recipe comes together in only 40 minutes and is a family favorite that is great for busy nights! A SUPER FLAVORFUL SLOPPY JOE DINNER RECIPE Not only are these Dr Pepper Sloppy Joes easy to make‚ they’re also incredibly flavorful. The Dr Pepper adds a subtle sweetness to the traditional Sloppy Joe flavors that you expect. You don’t taste it as a separate ingredient. It’s that flavor in the background that you can’t quite put your finger on. Change up your usual sloppy joes and give this one a try! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Do I have to use the peppers and onions? Nope! Don’t like them‚ leave them out. Do I have to use the Dr Pepper? Well‚ if you don’t use Dr Pepper‚ it won’t be a Dr Pepper Sloppy Joe recipe‚ but you can swap it out for a regular cola if desired. How can I save some time? This is a pretty quick recipe as it is‚ but‚ if you want to save a little more time‚ use the frozen pepper and onions and cook them up instead of prepping and dicing the fresh ones. Can I make this in the crock pot? Sure. Cook the peppers‚ onion‚ and ground beef. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Drain off the grease and pour the mixture into a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the rest of the remaining ingredients and stir. Cover and cook on low for about 4-6 hours. If you want more tips for making Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes‚ check out the recipe linked here. How to store leftovers? Transfer your cooled leftovers to an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. How to reheat leftover Dr Pepper Sloppy Joes? Add leftovers to a saucepan and reheat it on the stove until warmed through. If you find that your leftovers are a little thick‚ add some water or stock to help loosen it up a bit. INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE) salted butter – if you only have unsalted butter that is fine‚ I would just taste the sloppy Joe mix when it is all done to make sure there is enough salt to your liking. Margarine can also be used here. onion‚ green bell pepper – if you don’t like onions or peppers or both‚ just leave them out. garlic – you can use the jarred garlic for this recipe if you prefer. ground beef – this can be swapped out for ground turkey‚ ground pork‚ or ground chicken. tomato sauce – if you are trying to cut back on the salt‚ you can purchase now or low sodium options for tomato sauce. Dr Pepper – as I said above‚ you can switch this out for regular cola. I have not tried this with a diet Dr Pepper. We don’t drink diet drinks so I never test a recipe with them. If you try it though‚ please let me know how it goes! ketchup – I always use Heinz ketchup since it’s our family’s favorite. You want to use a ketchup that you enjoy. Again‚ a low or now salt ketchup can be used. apple cider vinegar – regular vinegar can be used Worcestershire sauce – this is kind of like the Dr Pepper in that you don’t taste it as a separate ingredient but it adds a wonderful layer of flavor. HOW TO MAKE DR PEPPER SLOPPY JOES In a large skillet over medium heat‚ melt the butter. Add the onion and bell pepper‚ cook until fully softened (about 10 minutes). Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant (only about 30 seconds.) Then add in the ground beef. Break it up into crumbles and cook until there is no pink left (about 8-10 minutes.) Drain off any excess fat then put back into the skillet. Pour in the tomato sauce‚ Dr. Pepper‚ ketchup‚ apple cider vinegar‚ Worcestershire sauce‚ salt‚ and pepper. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer (uncovered) then turn down the heat to medium-low. Gently simmer for 10 minutes until thickened but still saucy. At this point‚ it’s important to taste and adjust the seasoning to your preferences.  Serve on buns and enjoy! CRAVING MORE RECIPES? Crock Pot Sloppy Joes (+Video)Big Mac Sloppy Joes (+Video)Italian Sloppy JoesTexas Toast Sloppy Joes (+Video)Crock Pot Taco Joes (+Video) Print Dr Pepper Sloppy Joes Super flavorful sloppy Joes that will make you wonder what that incredible secret ingredient is! Course Main CourseCuisine AmericanKeyword Dr Pepper Sloppy JOes Prep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 30 minutes minutesTotal Time 40 minutes minutes Servings 4 servings Calories 270kcal Author Brandie @ The Country Cook Ingredients2 Tablespoons salted butter1 small onion‚ finely diced1 small green bell pepper‚ small diced2 cloves garlic‚ minced1 pound lean ground beef8 ounce can tomato sauce¾ cup Dr Pepper2 Tablespoons ketchup1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce½ teaspoon kosher salt¼ teaspoon black pepper InstructionsIn a large skillet over medium heat‚ melt the butter. Add the onion and bell pepper‚ cook until fully softened (about 10 minutes).Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant (only about 30 seconds.) Then add in the ground beef. Break it up into crumbles and cook until there is no pink left (about 8-10 minutes.) Drain off any excess fat then put back into the skillet. Pour in the tomato sauce‚ Dr. Pepper‚ ketchup‚ apple cider vinegar‚ Worcestershire sauce‚ salt‚ and pepper. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer (uncovered) then turn down the heat to medium-low. Gently simmer for 10 minutes until thickened but still saucy. At this point‚ it’s important to taste and adjust the seasoning to your preferences.Serve on buns and enjoy! Notes Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions. NutritionCalories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 813mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 574IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 4mg