okay so listen, I was cleaning out my fridge last Tuesday and found this random container of sloppy joe meat from like four days ago. you know that moment when you’re staring at leftovers thinking “what am I gonna do with this?” and then it hits you? yeah, that’s how this recipe was born lol
I had some garlic bread from Costco just sitting there (because of course I did) and I was like… wait. what if I just put the sloppy joe ON the garlic bread? my husband thought I was crazy but then he ate three pieces so whatever, I win.
this is one of those recipes that sounds weird when you explain it but then people try it and they’re like “oh… OH.” it’s messy as hell, fair warning. but it’s so good.
Contents
Why this actually works
it’s carbs on carbs and nobody cares because it tastes amazing
the garlic bread soaks up all the sauce so you’re not eating it with a spoon
you can make it in like 30 minutes maybe
it’s basically a deconstructed sloppy joe sandwich but fancier (kinda)
kids actually eat it without complaining which is a miracle in my house
What you need
Ingredient:
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | about 1.5 lbs | I use 85/15, sometimes turkey if I’m feeling healthy |
| Onion | 1 medium | or half a big one, whatever |
| Garlic | 3-4 cloves | the pre-minced jar stuff works too |
| Tomato sauce | 1 can (15 oz) | just the basic kind |
| Ketchup | maybe 1/3 cup | I eyeball it honestly |
| Brown sugar | 2 tbsp-ish | balances the tanginess |
| Worcestershire | couple tablespoons | don’t skip this |
| Yellow mustard | 1 tbsp | regular mustard, nothing fancy |
| Chili powder | 1 tsp | more if you like spice |
| Salt & pepper | some | to taste obviously |
| French bread loaf | 1 large | or those pre-made garlic bread ones |
| Butter | 4-5 tbsp | softened |
| Garlic powder | 1 tsp | for the bread |
| Mozzarella | a lot | like 2 cups shredded |
| Cheddar | another cup | optional but recommended |
| Parsley | a little | just for looks really |
How to make it
Brown the beef in a big skillet over medium-high heat. break it up with your spoon while it cooks. this takes maybe 8 minutes? I usually scroll Instagram while I wait for it to brown.
once the meat is done, don’t drain it if you used lean beef. if there’s like a ton of grease then yeah, drain some off. Add your chopped onion and cook until it’s soft. another 5 minutes probably.
Throw in the garlic and cook for like a minute until it smells good. seriously that’s the indicator, when your kitchen smells amazing you know it’s ready.
now here’s where it gets saucy (sorry). Mix in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, chili powder, salt, and pepper. stir it all together and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. it should get thick. mine’s never the same consistency twice honestly.
while that’s doing its thing, slice your bread in half lengthwise. like you’re making one giant sandwich. Mix the softened butter with garlic powder and spread it all over both halves. be generous.
Broil the bread for maybe 3 minutes until it’s golden and crispy. watch it because broilers are evil and will burn everything when you look away. learned that the hard way.
Pile the sloppy joe meat onto the toasted bread. just heap it on there. Top with all the cheese. I do mozzarella first then cheddar on top but do whatever.
Bake at 375°F for about 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. sometimes I’ll hit it with the broiler for 2 minutes at the end to get it extra melty but that’s optional.
Let it cool for like 5 minutes before you slice it. I know it’s hard to wait but if you cut it right away everything slides off. trust me.
tips & stuff
- You can prep the meat mixture the day before and just reheat it when you’re ready to assemble everything
- If you want it spicier, add some red pepper flakes or use hot Italian sausage instead of beef
- Pickled jalapeños on top are really good if you’re into that
- This feeds about 6 people as a main dish, maybe 8-10 as an appetizer situation
leftover situation
keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days. I always forget to label my containers so last week I opened what I thought was spaghetti sauce and it was this. pleasant surprise though.
you can reheat slices in the oven at 350°F for like 10 minutes or just microwave it if you’re in a hurry. the bread gets a little soggy when you reheat it but it still tastes good.
I wouldn’t freeze the assembled version because bread gets weird, but you can totally freeze the meat mixture by itself. I’ve done that before when I made too much and it worked fine.
nutrition info
this is approximate because I’m not measuring everything precisely
| Per Serving (1 slice) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | around 425 |
| Protein | 24g |
| Carbs | 35g |
| Fat | 21g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 8g |
Questions people always ask
Can I use ground turkey instead? yeah definitely. it’ll be a little less rich but still good. I’d add an extra tablespoon of Worcestershire to boost the flavor.
What if I can’t find French bread? any sturdy bread works. I’ve used ciabatta, sourdough, even those sub rolls from the grocery store. just needs to hold up to the sauce.
Is this actually messy to eat? ugh yes. keep napkins nearby. my kids love it but I’m always wiping sauce off the table after. it’s worth it though.
Can I make this vegetarian? I haven’t tried it but my friend uses those plant-based crumbles and says it’s pretty good. might need to adjust the seasoning a bit.
