What happens when you combine two classic sandwiches – a grilled cheese and a Sloppy Joe? You get the best of both worlds, and my wife’s new favorite way to eat homemade Sloppy Joes – the Sloppy Joe grilled cheese! Here’s how to make this easy weeknight sandwich that the whole family will love!
I don’t know about you, but I grew up in a house where classic comfort foods ruled the dinner table. Sloppy Joes? Check. Grilled cheese? You bet. But the thought of combining these two iconic sandwiches into one epic mashup? That idea just didn’t cross my mind until recently.
After getting multiple requests for easy back-to-school meals and super quick griddle recipes, the wheels started turning. Why not unite the best parts of a gooey grilled cheese and the saucy, nostalgic goodness of a sloppy joe – all with that unbeatable griddle crust?
The Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese on the griddle had to happen, and I’m here to walk you through every step.
*Be sure to check out some of our other favorite griddle sandwiches – like this Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese and the authentic Philly cheesesteak!
What is a Sloppy Joe grilled cheese?
A sloppy joe grilled cheese sandwich is exactly what it sounds like – a regular toasted grilled cheese on thick-cut Texas Toast with a layer of Sloppy Joe mixture sandwiched inside.
This trendy sandwich was made popular recently thanks to social media videos. And for good reason. The combination of saucy, beefy sloppy joe is perfect with rich, melty cheese!
Ingredients
You don’t need fancy, hard-to-find ingredients to pull this off. The beauty of the Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese lies in its simplicity and just the right combo of flavors.
For the Homemade Sloppy Joe Filling:
- Ground Beef: I used one pound of 80/20 ground beef for enough Sloppy Joe for four sandwiches. You can also substitute 85/15 if you wish.
- Onion: Classic sweet yellow onion is my go-to for homemade sloppy joes.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best, but jarred or even garlic powder will work as well.
- Tomato paste: Adds that deep, rich flavor. Don’t skip the 1-2 minute cook time to knock off the raw edge.
- Tomato sauce: Makes things saucy without getting soupy.
- Ketchup
- Yellow mustard
- Worcestershire sauce: This gives your mixture that unmistakable umami punch. If you skip it, the sandwich just won’t taste right.
- Brown sugar: Just a touch for that sweet-and-savory balance.
- Spices: Chili powder, salt, and pepper add just the right amount of bold flavor.
For the Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
- Bread: Our preferred sandwich bread for this recipe is Texas Toast, because it can stand up to all of that saucy goodness. You could substitute sourdough, brioche, or your favorite thicker sliced bread.
- American cheese: A grilled cheese must!
- Cheddar cheese: We use pre-shredded from the bag – it works great for this sandwich.
- Butter: The key to the perfect toasty bread.
Making the Homemade Sloppy Joe Beef Mixture
Make the homemade sloppy joe filling to start, because it will take a little bit of time to reduce and thicken. Just follow these steps for a delicious homemade mixture:
- Sauté diced onion in a large skillet over medium heat. When the onion is softened, add in minced garlic and sautee another minute until fragrant.
- Brown the ground beef in the skillet, breaking it apart into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess grease, and then stir in the tomato paste.
- Add the remaining sloppy joe ingredients. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat and continue to cook for about 5 minutes, until the sloppy joe has reached your desired consistency.
*TIP – For this sandwich, it’s best if your sloppy joe is pretty thick. This will help keep the mixture from falling out of your grilled cheese sandwich.
Making the Perfect Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Once your sloppy joe mixture is done, the rest of the sandwich comes together pretty quickly! We toasted our grilled cheese sandwiches on a griddle, but you can definitely assemble and toast them in a skillet on the stovetop as well.
- First, butter the bread. Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each piece of Texas Toast.
- Place the buttered side of one piece of bread onto the hot griddle or skillet. Add a thin layer of shredded cheddar (about 1/4 cup), then top the cheddar with a piece of American cheese.
- Spread a generous spoonful of the sloppy joe mixture onto the cheese.
- Top the sloppy joe with another slice of American cheese.
- Add the top piece of bread with the buttered side facing outward.
- Grill on the first side for about 3-5 minutes, pressing very gently with a spatula, until golden brown. Then flip to the second side and do the same thing. Cook until the cheese is melty and the bread is nice and toasted.
Recipe Tips
- Let the sloppy joe mixture cool – Before piling it on your sandwich bread and griddling up the grilled cheese, allow the sloppy joe mixture to cool a bit. Cooling thickens the mixture, so it stays inside the bread instead of making a mess—a key tip for keeping the sandwich together!
- Watch the heat – Cook on medium heat and move the sandwich off the heat as needed to avoid hotspots. Texas toast takes longer to crisp up, so patience pays off.
- Prep the sloppy joe in advance to save time – The sloppy joe mixture can be made a day or two in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Then simply reheat in the microwave before making your grilled cheese.
Storage and Reheating
Leftovers: Store leftover Sloppy Joe mixture and grilled cheese sandwiches separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat the Sloppy Joe mixture in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave. Reheat grilled cheese sandwiches in a skillet over medium heat or in a toaster oven until warmed through and the cheese is melted.
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Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
For the Sloppy Joe Filling:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup sweet onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
For the Sandwiches:
- 8 slices bread brioche, sourdough, Texas toast, etc.
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 8 slices American cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add about ½ tablespoon oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease. Add the tomato paste to the center of the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes before stirring it into the beef.
- Add the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce reaches your desired thickness. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Spread softened butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place four slices of bread, butter-side down, in a large skillet or on a griddle over medium heat. Top each slice with about ¼ cup shredded cheddar and one slice of American cheese.
- Spoon a generous amount of the sloppy joe mixture onto the cheese on each slice of bread. Place another slice of American cheese over the meat mixture. Top with the remaining slices of bread.
- Grill for 3-5 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey. Work in batches if needed.
- Remove from the skillet, cut in half, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of chili powder or add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
- Cheese Variations: Experiment with different cheeses like pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or provolone.
- Add-ins: Enhance your sandwiches with dill pickles, jalapeños, or coleslaw.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with potato chips, french fries, or a side salad.
- Leftovers: Store leftover Sloppy Joe mixture and grilled cheese sandwiches separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat the Sloppy Joe mixture in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave. Reheat grilled cheese sandwiches in a skillet over medium heat or in a toaster oven until warmed through and the cheese is melted.
Ready to get cookin’? Share your sandwich results, and be sure to let me know if you found a new favorite comfort classic.
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