Im in Michigan and growing up sloppy joe sandwiches were a staple. We had them for dinner at home often with both beef and venison, and at least once a week for school lunch. It's still a regular dinner for us, my wife makes her own sauce though instead of the can. A coworker of mine from California said he only new of them from the Adam Sandler song, and a few other non-midwesterners concurred that it was not common for them growing up. I thought they were ubiquitous all over. Maybe I'm wrong?
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Dead common in the Northeast
I always assumed it was like meat loaf in that it was known across the country, but specifically more popular in the Midwest. I’m curious to know if that is true.
Edit: ty for the responses, and judging from all the comments to OP, it is a food without specific regional appeal outside of a differentiation in the food item in northern New Jersey.
I quickly removed a mention of the loose meat sandwich, which is kinda like a sloppy Joe without the sauce that is sold in parts of Iowa and Illinois from my original comment. I made a joke that the people must have thought the sloppy Joe was too spicy, but it wasn’t funny, was a little snarky when reading it back, and I thought it distracted from my main observation. I think some of the responders saw that original post and addressed that.
I apologize for causing some confusion.
Missouri. Had them last night. And growing up.
In North Jersey a Sloppy Joe is a totally different concept. Way closer to a club sandwich with heaps of Cole slaw & Russian dressing.
But yes, everyone knows what a Sloppy Joe is otherwise.
Born and raised in Arkansas. I have only ever had them in a school cafeteria. Never seen them anywhere else
There is a Tasting History episode about them https://www.tastinghistory.com/recipes/sloppyjoes
Pretty common in Alabama. Never seen them at a restaurant but lots of people make them at home.
Common working class food here in NC
Yes, sloppy joes are a thing outside of the Midwest.
When I was growing up we just called them barbecue sandwiches. Never heard the name until Sloppy Joe mixes started appearing in the stores. But they were pretty common.
Common in New England.
My mom would add a little bit more meat to leftover pasta sauce and make it into a “sloppy Giuseppe” – one of my favorites as a kid.
Pennsylvania here. Very common for me growing up.
We had them for dinner last night. Yummy.
Born/raised in Bay Area of California. Sloppy Joe’s were a huge favorite of my family. Had them a few times a month. I actually really hate them. But my kids and partner and family all LOVE them.
We make it now and then.
raised in the SE – we had them regularly for school lunch, and we had them at home every now & then.
I’ve only ever seen in them in school cafeterias in TV shows/movies. Mid-Atlantic here.
My mom was from Boston and always made them for us growing up in So Cal. I also remember they were on rotation at the school cafeteria (back when they actually made food) in LAUSD
Born and reared in Texas and sloppy joes were a staple in the school cafeterias because they were cheap to make. Now I make my own Extra Spicy ( I use a LOT of cayenne pepper in my Sloppy Joe sauce and always add with a slice of Monterey jalapeño cheese.
We had them occasionally when I was growing up (California 1970s and 80s) but I haven’t had a sloppy joe in probably 25 years.
Having them for dinner in about 5 minutes
Yes coming from Wisconsin I can say they are standard fair and I love them but that loose meat thing in Iowa is an abomination
Ohio. Very common. Mom always bought the cans of Manwich growing up.
Ohio, we had them often. My favorite.
As a child they were made probably 2 or 3 times a month in the 1980’s. But then they disappeared. I saw the Manwich sauce can at the grocery store just last week and decided to bring it back for dinner. Tots as a side made in the air fryer. It was delicious.
I think you just rescued me from having to cook the dinner I had planned. I bought a can of manwich on a whim months ago and I have some buns and salad that need to be eaten today. Suck it, Bruschetta Chicken, I’ll make you tomorrow.
My parents were/are Midwestern but I was raised in Colorado. We had them all the time during my childhood and I still make them frequently. It’s usually because I am tired of hamburgers and still have buns. I also make my own sauce instead of buying a can but my mom did the same.
Iowa here and they are very common.
Fun fact: Essex County, NJ has [their own version of the sloppy joe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloppy_joe_(New_Jersey)).
Now that you mention it I kinda want one now.