Enjoy Sloppy Joes with a twist—these garlic bread Sloppy Joes take the classic sandwich to the next level with buttery garlic bread for a meal the whole family will love. If you need inspiration for more easy weeknight dinners, try one of these ground beef recipes.
Most of my childhood meals weren’t exactly memorable (looking at you, boxed dinners), but Sloppy Joes? They always hit the spot. The key to incredible flavor lies in browning the ground beef until it’s perfectly caramelized, then sautéing the veggies. Once the sauce is ready, pile it high onto toasted buns for classic Sloppy Joes—or take it up a notch with buttery garlic bread.
Key Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Stick with 80/20 ground beef for juicy, flavorful Sloppy Joes, or swap in lean ground beef, ground chicken, turkey, or even Beyond Meat.
- Onion: A white or yellow onion adds a little natural sweetness.
- Garlic: Four fresh garlic cloves make all the difference—don’t skimp here!
- Tomato Paste: A spoonful of tomato paste deepens the sauce’s flavor and gives it a vibrant color.
- Tomato Sauce: Stir in one can of tangy tomato sauce or puree 3-4 small tomatoes in a food processor or small blender. You can also replace the tomato sauce with ketchup.
- Mustard: A dash of yellow mustard balances the flavor.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This umami-packed sauce takes ground beef to the next level.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Brighten everything up with apple cider vinegar, or add red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice in a pinch.
- Brown Sugar: A spoonful (or two) of brown sugar balances the acidity of the Sloppy Joe sauce.
- Spices: Season the mixture with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, ground cumin, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Garlic Bread: Frozen garlic bread slices are a time-saver, but homemade garlic bread, regular sandwich bread, or toasted hamburger buns taste delicious!
Additions and Substitutions
- Sweeten the sauce. Add molasses, honey, pure maple syrup, or Marmite to the ground beef mixture instead of brown sugar.
- Spice things up. Replace the spices with your favorite Jamaican jerk seasoning, yellow curry powder, or a copycat Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe for even more flavor.
- Make it saucy. Add a spoonful of spicy Korean gochujang, A1 sauce, chipotles in adobo sauce, Sriracha, or your favorite BBQ sauce for additional flavor. I recommend Cheerwine BBQ Sauce, raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce, or Carolina gold BBQ sauce.
- Experiment with mix-ins. Include grated carrots, spinach leaves, diced green bell pepper, red bell pepper, mushrooms, or chopped jalapeño peppers. Make the meal more filling by adding black beans for even more protein.
- Add gooey melted cheese. Consider topping your garlic bread Sloppy Joes with a slice of Colby Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, or shredded mozzarella cheese.
How to Make Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Warm a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and mince it with a meat chopper. Cook for 8-10 minutes until brown and heated through.
Step 2: Lower the heat to medium and stir in the butter, tomato paste, onions, and garlic. Saute with the ground beef until the onions soften.
Step 3: Add the tomato sauce, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and spices. Stir to combine and simmer on medium for 20-25 minutes.
Step 4: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350℉ (177℃). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Arrange the garlic bread slices onto the prepared baking sheet and cook according to the package, usually 4-6 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the garlic bread from the oven and spoon the cooked Sloppy Joe mixture over the top to serve.
Expert Tips
- Continue cooking the beef. Resist the urge to drain the excess grease after browning—it adds flavor. Keep cooking until the meat reabsorbs the liquid for a richer taste.
- Simmer the sauce. Leave the Sloppy Joe mixture to simmer for 20-25 minutes, giving it time to thicken and combine.
- Toast the garlic bread. Heat the garlic toast in the oven until golden brown and crisp to provide a sturdy base. Frozen Texas toast works great because it holds up to the hearty Sloppy Joe filling without getting soggy— but don’t overload it!
If you enjoy garlic bread Sloppy Joes, try more of my quick dinner ideas!
What is the Best Way to Serve Sloppy Joes?
Make garlic bread Sloppy Joes for game day or an easy weeknight meal. Once the Sloppy Joe mixture is thickened and piping hot, spoon it onto buttery garlic bread (you’ll thank me later), Texas toast, Italian bread, hamburger buns, or pillowy-soft Hawaiian rolls to make Sloppy Joe sliders.
Finish your sandwich with yummy toppings—pickles, vinegar coleslaw, pickled red onions, thick bacon slices, melty cheese, a fried egg, or a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce. Try it with pineapple barbecue sauce for a tangy, tropical twist.
Now for the sides–when deciding what to serve with Sloppy Joes, you can’t go wrong with tater tots, French fries, or onion rings. Go for a lighter touch with fruit salad, arugula spinach salad, vegetable chopped salad, pressgurka, or classic homemade coleslaw.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftover ground beef mixture in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Let the dish cool and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. For longer freezer storage, wrap in heavy-duty plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or freezer paper. The Sloppy Joe mixture freezes for 2-3 months.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers on the stovetop or microwave and prepare your garlic bread.
- Repurpose: Use the leftover meat to make more garlic bread Sloppy Joes or try sloppy sliders. And it’s not a party without Sloppy Joe dip. Serve the sandwich filling in a slow cooker to keep warm with my air fryer pita chips, Fritos, or corn tortilla chips for scooping. You can even make Sloppy Joe tater tot casserole with the leftovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
You can prepare the easy dish 2-3 days before an event or gathering, and guess what? The Sloppy Joe mixture tastes even better when left to incorporate!
It’s a perfect dish for meal prep or as a freezer meal for a rainy day when you need a meal on the fly.
How long can cooked ground beef be at room temperature?
If you’re serving garlic bread Sloppy Joes at a party or game-day gathering, keep in mind that cooked ground beef shouldn’t sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
More Easy Dinner Ideas:
Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 16 slices frozen garlic bread
- Warm a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and mince it with a meat chopper. Cook for 8-10 minutes until brown and heated through.
- Lower the heat to medium and stir in the butter, tomato paste, onions, and garlic. Saute with the ground beef until the onions soften.
- Add the tomato sauce, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and spices. Stir to combine and simmer on medium for 20-25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350℉ (177℃). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Arrange the garlic bread slices onto the prepared baking sheet and cook according to the package, usually 4-6 minutes.
- Remove the garlic bread from the oven and spoon the cooked Sloppy Joe mixture over the top to serve.
- Continue cooking the beef. Resist the urge to drain the excess grease after browning—it adds flavor. Keep cooking until the meat reabsorbs the liquid for a richer taste.
- Simmer the sauce. Leave the Sloppy Joe mixture to simmer for 20-25 minutes, giving it time to thicken and combine.
- Toast the garlic bread. Heat the garlic toast in the oven until golden brown and crisp to provide a sturdy base. Frozen Texas toast works great because it holds up to the hearty Sloppy Joe filling without getting soggy— but don’t overload it.