Sloppy Joe vs Hamburger: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

The Hamburger is higher in calories at 250 and protein at 13.7 g, while the Sloppy Joe has lower calories at 180 and protein at 11.8 g.

Sloppy Joes and Hamburgers are popular American meals that differ in their ingredients and nutritional profiles. This comparison will highlight their calorie counts, macronutrients, and other nutritional aspects.

What Is the Difference Between Sloppy Joe and Hamburger?

A Sloppy Joe is a sandwich consisting of ground beef cooked in a tomato-based sauce, served on a bun. It is known for its messy, saucy nature and is often enjoyed as a comfort food. A Hamburger is a sandwich made of a cooked ground meat patty, usually beef, placed inside a sliced bun. It can be topped with various condiments and vegetables.

Sloppy Joe vs Hamburger: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Sloppy Joe and Hamburger nutritional values per 100 g.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Sloppy joe	Hamburger (single, plain)
Calories	180 kcal	250 kcal
Protein	11.8 g	13.7 g
Carbs	18.4 g	30 g
Sugar	4.3 g	4.4 g
Fat	6.4 g	8.4 g
Fiber	2.2 g	1.6 g
Sodium	343 mg	430 mg

Which Is Better, Sloppy Joe or Hamburger?

For weight loss: The Sloppy Joe has fewer calories at 180 compared to the Hamburger's 250, making it a potentially better option for weight loss.

For muscle and protein: The Hamburger contains more protein at 13.7 g, while the Sloppy Joe has 11.8 g, making the Hamburger a better choice for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: The Sloppy Joe has 18.4 g of carbs and 4.3 g of sugar, while the Hamburger has 30 g of carbs and 4.4 g of sugar, indicating the Sloppy Joe is lower in both.

How to Track Sloppy joe and Hamburger Accurately

Serving sizes and macro content can be easy to misjudge, affecting overall dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g: Sloppy joe from USDA FoodData Central, Hamburger from Open Food Facts (aggregated plain entries).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

The Hamburger has more protein at 13.7 g compared to the Sloppy Joe's 11.8 g.

Which has fewer calories?

The Sloppy Joe has fewer calories at 180, while the Hamburger has 250 calories.

What is the carbohydrate content of Sloppy Joe?

Sloppy Joe contains 18.4 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

What is the fat content of Hamburger?

Hamburger has 8.4 g of fat per 100 g.

How much sugar is in Sloppy Joe?

Sloppy Joe contains 4.3 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in Hamburger?

Hamburger has 430 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Sloppy Joe has 180 calories per 100 g.
• Hamburger has 250 calories per 100 g.
• Sloppy Joe contains 11.8 g of protein.
• Hamburger contains 13.7 g of protein.
• Sloppy Joe has 18.4 g of carbohydrates.
• Hamburger has 30 g of carbohydrates.