Description
Sloppy joe melts bring classic comfort to your dinner table with a garlicky twist. Crispy bread, juicy beef, and melted cheese create a mouthwatering sandwich you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (2 for filling, 2 for garlic toast)
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Bread and Cheese:
- 4 slices of Italian bread
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no pink remains, then drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Incorporate finely diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic into the meat, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Pour tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper into the skillet, stirring to combine. Reduce heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, allowing flavors to intensify and sauce to thicken.
- Heat oven to 375F (190C). Blend softened butter with minced garlic and chopped parsley until smooth and fragrant.
- Generously spread garlic butter mixture across Italian bread slices, ensuring even coverage.
- Arrange bread on a baking sheet and toast for 5-6 minutes until edges turn golden and crisp.
- Ladle hot Sloppy Joe mixture evenly over toasted bread, covering surface completely.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese generously over meat mixture.
- Return to oven and bake 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and becomes slightly bubbly.
- Let melts rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Customize the meat by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian alternative.
- Control spice levels by adjusting the amount of Worcestershire sauce and adding a dash of hot sauce for extra kick.
- Reduce carbs by using low-carb bread or serving the Sloppy Joe mixture over cauliflower rice instead of traditional toast.
- For make-ahead convenience, prepare the Sloppy Joe mixture in advance and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, reheating before assembling the melts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 584 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 845 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg