Description
These Cheesy Garlic Bread Sloppy Joe Melts are a flavorful and comforting twist on classic sloppy joes, featuring a savory ground beef mixture loaded with garlic and spices, layered on toasted Italian bread, and topped with melted mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Butter
- 1 loaf Italian bread
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp garlic salt
Sloppy Joe Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¼ cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup water
Cheese and Garnish
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic butter: In a bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter with garlic salt, mixing well until evenly incorporated to create a garlic butter spread.
- Slice and butter the bread: Cut the Italian bread into thick slices and spread the garlic butter mixture generously on each slice. Set aside.
- Cook the beef mixture: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Add aromatics and seasonings: To the cooked beef, stir in the finely chopped yellow onion, garlic powder, yellow mustard, ketchup, kosher salt, black pepper, and water. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until thickened and well combined, about 7-10 minutes.
- Toast the bread: While the beef mixture simmers, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the garlic buttered bread slices on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly golden and crisp, approximately 5 minutes.
- Assemble the melts: Remove the toasted bread from the oven and spoon a generous amount of the sloppy joe beef mixture onto each slice. Then, top each with an equal mix of shredded mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese.
- Melt the cheese: Return the assembled slices to the oven and bake until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, about 5-7 minutes.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top for a burst of color and flavor, and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian bread with French bread or a sturdy sandwich roll if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Let the ground beef cool slightly before topping the bread to prevent it from becoming soggy.
- To make it lower in fat, use lean ground beef and reduce the amount of butter in the garlic butter spread.
