Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes (Printable Version)
Buttery garlic bread filled with saucy beef and melted cheeses for an easy, crowd-pleasing weeknight meal.
# What You Need:
→ Sloppy Joe Filling
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
→ Garlic Bread
14 - 1 large French baguette or Italian loaf
15 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
16 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
19 - 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
20 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if needed.
03 - Add chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are softened.
04 - Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and oregano. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
05 - Slice the baguette in half lengthwise. In a mixing bowl, blend softened butter with minced garlic, chopped parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until evenly combined.
06 - Spread the garlic butter evenly over the cut sides of both bread halves. Place bread cut side up on the lined baking sheet.
07 - Bake for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the bread is lightly golden and crisp. Remove from oven.
08 - Spoon the sloppy joe filling generously onto the cut side of one bread half. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Return the filled bread to the oven for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10 - Place the top bread half over the filling, press gently, then cut into serving portions. Serve hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- There’s a magic moment when the garlic butter soaks into the bread and the filling melds with melted cheese, and you can’t help but sneak a bite before serving.
- It handles a crowd and always disappears before you have to worry about leftovers.
02 -
- If you skip draining the beef after browning, the bread gets soggier than a rain-soaked picnic.
- Letting the sauce simmer a few extra minutes makes the flavors richer and the filling less messy.
03 -
- Sauté onions and garlic until lightly golden for a fuller, mellow flavor.
- Melt the butter just enough for easy spreading, not drenching the bread.