Smoked Sloppy Joes Recipe with Over the Top Toppings

Smoked Over the Top Sloppy Joes Recipe

The “over the top” technique became widely popular with smoked chili and then spread across pellet grilling communities. It inspired me to try the same approach with sloppy joes. We’ve made sloppy joes in slow cookers and on the stovetop before, but smoking them adds an irresistible depth of flavor.

This version keeps the familiar sweet-tangy sauce but allows the meat to pick up smoke while sitting on a rack above the pot. The result is smoky, saucy, and ideal for serving on soft rolls with melted cheese.

Recipe Shopping List

Here is what you’ll need for the smoked over-the-top sloppy joes. For exact quantities, see the printable recipe card below.

• Ground beef
• Celery
• Onion
• Salt, pepper, garlic or Bloody Mary seasoning
• Tomato sauce
• Ketchup
• Barbecue sauce
• Brown sugar
• Dry mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• Apple cider vinegar

How To Make This Recipe

This overview summarizes the process so you know what to expect. Use the full recipe card below while you cook for exact measurements and timings.

1. Preheat your smoker to 220°F. Allow it to come up to temperature before adding the food.
2. Form the meat into a large, loose patty. Press the ground beef into a wider, thinner shape rather than a thick compact mass. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and optionally Bloody Mary seasoning (or garlic/onion powder and celery salt).
3. Prepare the sauce in a large, high-sided Dutch oven: combine onion, celery, tomato sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, dry mustard, Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, and water.
4. Smoke the meat on a rack placed over the Dutch oven so drippings and smoke mingle with the sauce. Smoke for about 2 hours at 220°F until the patty develops a rich color and smoked aroma.
5. Finish in the sauce—transfer the patty into the pot, break it up into bite-sized pieces, then increase the smoker temperature to 325°F. Let the mixture simmer until the sauce thickens and the meat reaches the desired texture, about 30–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Remove excess fat if necessary, then serve on toasted rolls with cheese or preferred toppings.

Tips: Keep an eye on the pot while finishing so the meat doesn’t stick or scorch. If your ground beef is lean, the final mixture will be less greasy; with fattier beef, blot any excess with paper towels before serving.

Serve This With

Classic sides complement these smoky sloppies well. Try them with creamy mac and cheese, seasoned potato fries, or a crisp, creamy coleslaw. For an elevated sandwich, serve the sloppy joe mix on homemade rolls or hoagie buns.

A simple garnish of pickles, sliced onions, or a slice of melted cheddar adds contrast and texture.

Are “Over the Top” Recipes Greasy?

It depends on the fat content of your ground beef. Fattier blends will shed more grease while smoking and finishing in the sauce. You can remove excess fat from the finished pot with paper towels, or prevent drippings from entering the pot by positioning the rack over a drip pan instead of directly above the sauce.

Either way, the sauce still picks up a pleasant wood-fired flavor. I usually blot a little fat out before serving for a cleaner finish.

Recipe FAQ

If you enjoyed this, try the stovetop sloppy joes for a faster version.

More Sandwich Recipes

• Smoked Hot Roast Beef Sandwich Boats
• Blackstone Salmon Sandwich
• Blackstone Blackened Fish Sandwich
• Smoked BBQ Beef Sandwich
• Smoked Shredded Beef Dips
• Prime Rib Sandwich Pinwheel
• Blackstone Philly Cheesesteak
• Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Pin this recipe for later and enjoy smoky sloppy joes at your next gathering.