Sloppy Joes with Cheese

5 from 8 votes

Whip up sloppy joes with cheese for an easy weeknight dinner or casual gathering. Made with juicy ground beef and a homemade sloppy joe sauce, this recipe will bring back the nostalgic flavors of childhood.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 456kcal

Author: Angela Lietzke

Equipment

Large Skillet

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon marjoram
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon paprika
15 ounce tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
¼ cup beef stock
4 hamburger buns toasted
4 slices cheddar cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onions and peppers until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, stirring frequently.
Add the ground beef to the skillet along with the seasonings. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, mustard, and beef stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
While the sauce is simmering, toast the hamburger buns in the oven or in a separate skillet until golden brown.
Once the sauce is thickened, scoop a generous portion of the sloppy joe mixture onto the bottom half of each hamburger bun. Top with a slice of cheese, allowing it to melt slightly before adding the top bun. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Storage: Allow leftover sloppy joes to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, warm in a saucepan with a splash of broth over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
Freezing: Cool completely before portioning into freezer-safe containers. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat them in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
If the sauce is too thin, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to allow the sauce to reduce and thicken it to your desired consistency.
Lightly toast the buns before topping with the sloppy joes sauce to add a delicious crunch and prevent them from becoming soggy.
The cheese should melt easily onto the warm sloppy joe sauce, but you can broil the sandwich in the oven to melt the cheese quicker. Alternatively, you can also stir shredded cheese directly into the sauce while it’s still warm to create a rich, creamy texture that coats every bite.

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