Description
This Irresistible Cheese Sloppy Joes recipe combines savory ground beef, tangy tomato sauce, and melted sharp cheddar cheese for a comforting and family-friendly meal. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners, these sloppy joes are served on soft sandwich buns and can be customized with your favorite toppings like pickles, jalapeños, or lettuce.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon alcohol-free Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 6 sandwich buns or burger rolls
Optional Toppings
- Sliced pickles
- Jalapeños
- Lettuce
- Extra shredded cheese
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Brown the Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep the mixture from being greasy.
- Add Sauces and Seasoning: Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5–7 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken and the flavors to meld.
- Melt Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat and immediately stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it melts thoroughly and combines evenly with the meat mixture.
- Assemble and Serve: Spoon the cheesy sloppy joe mixture onto warm sandwich buns. Add optional toppings such as sliced pickles, jalapeños, lettuce, or extra cheese as desired. Serve immediately for best taste.
Notes
- For a leaner option, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- Adjust the amount of cheese to taste or use a different cheese variety like Monterey Jack or mozzarella.
- Consider toasting the sandwich buns for added texture and flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
- To reduce sodium, use low-sodium tomato sauce and ketchup.
