Description
Hearty Texas Toast Sloppy Joes: classic comfort food elevated with crispy garlic butter Texas toast.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend recommended for flavor)
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 cup beef broth (or water, if needed)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 slices Texas toast (frozen or fresh, your preference)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Pickled jalapeños
- Diced red onion
- Coleslaw
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s browned and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, garlic, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the Sauces and Seasonings: Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained), ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Mix everything together well.
- Simmer the Sloppy Joe Mixture: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. If the mixture becomes too thick, add a little beef broth (or water) to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Taste and Adjust Seasoning: After simmering, taste the Sloppy Joe mixture and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, melt the butter. Once melted, stir in the garlic powder and dried parsley.
- Brush the Texas Toast: Place the Texas toast slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush each slice generously with the garlic butter mixture.
- Bake the Texas Toast: Bake the Texas toast in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Prepare Your Work Station: Have your cooked Sloppy Joe filling, baked Texas toast, and any desired toppings ready to go.
- Spoon the Sloppy Joe Filling: Spoon a generous amount of the Sloppy Joe filling onto each slice of Texas toast.
- Add Toppings (Optional): If desired, top the Sloppy Joes with shredded cheddar cheese, pickled jalapeños, diced red onion, or coleslaw.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the Texas Toast Sloppy Joes immediately while the toast is still warm and crispy and the filling is hot.
Notes
- For a spicier Sloppy Joe, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the filling.
- If you prefer a sweeter Sloppy Joe, add an extra tablespoon or two of brown sugar.
- Feel free to add other vegetables to the Sloppy Joe filling, such as chopped mushrooms, carrots, or celery.
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- You can also make the Sloppy Joe filling in a slow cooker. Simply brown the ground beef and sauté the vegetables as directed, then transfer everything to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- The Sloppy Joe filling can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat it before serving.
- The Sloppy Joe filling freezes well. Let it cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- If you don’t have Texas toast, you can use regular bread, hamburger buns, or even slider buns. Just adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Cheddar cheese is a classic topping for Sloppy Joes, but you can also use other cheeses, such as Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or provolone.
- A vinegar-based coleslaw cuts through the richness of the Sloppy Joe filling nicely.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes