Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes are a quick and easy twist on the classic American favorite! With a garlic butter crust, homemade sloppy joe meat mixture, and melted cheese, its comfort food at its finest! Perfect to enjoy as an appetizer, snack, or dinner option!
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Texas Toast Sloppy Joes
Classic Sloppy Joes are a tried and true family favorite and a recipe you most likely grew up enjoying! Simple, tasty, and delicious, its a meal staple that can be ready to serve in no time! This tasty variation offers an incredible garlic crust in lieu of a hamburger bun or sandwich roll, which adds an incredible flavor boost! Same great messy goodness in every bite! Also check out my Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole for a tasty meal!
Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes Ingredients Needed
Here are the ingredients needed to make Sloppy Joe Garlic Bread! For exact ingredient amounts and step by step directions, see printable recipe card below.
- Beef– I use 80/20 lean ground beef, however, you can also use ground turkey if desired
- Onion– diced, if you don’t have one on hand, use 1 tablespoon onion powder
- Bell Pepper– diced, I use a green pepper, but you can use red, orange, or yellow
- Sugar– this offsets the acidity in the ketchup, just a small amount is needed
- Ground Cloves– the secret ingredient to my family recipe! Adds such a tasty addition, be sure not to skip this
- Yellow Mustard– if you don’t have yellow mustard, you can also use Dijon
- White Vinegar– this is a great addition to the ketchup and is one you don’t want to skip
- Salt/Garlic Powder– simple spices to add great flavor. Feel free to use Italian seasoning as well
- Ketchup– if you love BBQ sauce, you can also use ½ ketchup, ½ BBQ sauce
- Garlic Bread– I use a frozen loaf of store bought garlic bread. You can also use Texas Toast Garlic Bread Slices if desired
- Cheese– shredded Cheddar cheese is my favorite, but Mozzarella cheese works great too
Substitutions and Variations
- If you don’t want to use store bought garlic bread, you can use homemade French bread or try my Cheesy Garlic Homemade Bread.
- Sloppy Joe Sauce– if you are like me and enjoy a good shortcut, feel free to use canned sloppy joe sauce such as Manwich for this recipe. You will need 2 cups of sauce per one pound lean ground meat.
- Cheese– you can swap out the Cheddar cheese for Mozzarella cheese, Colby Jack, Pepper-jack cheese, etc.
- Meats– in place of the ground beef, you can use ground turkey, pork, chicken, or sausage.
How to make Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until crumbly and fully cooked. Drain fat and return meat to skillet.
- Add in diced onion and bell pepper and continue cooking meat mixture until cooked through and veggies are semi-tender.
- Add in remaining ingredients and allow to simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cut garlic bread in half horizontally and spread meat mixture evenly over both pieces. Top with cheese.
- Place garlic bread pieces onto a baking sheet and place in oven at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, or until cheese has melted and bread is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cut into desired size pieces. Serve!
How to store Sloppy Joe Garlic Bread
This is best enjoyed warm and fresh from the oven. The bread tends to get soggy otherwise, however, here are some tips and ways to keep it fresh longer and reheat perfectly.
- Refrigerator– place fully cooled leftover slices into an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer– the meat mixture can be frozen in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before spreading onto garlic bread and baking.
- Reheating– you can reheat bread pieces in the microwave in 30 second increments or use the air fryer to cook at 375 degrees for about 5-6 minutes.
How to serve
This Sloppy Joes recipe is best served warm and fresh from the oven! You can serve this with a fresh side salad, or a side of BBQ Baked Beans, Mom’s Classic Pasta Salad, or my Ultimate Potato Salad! Of course, if you are in a hurry on those busy weeknights, you can also keep things simple and serve some fries or chips on the side! This recipe makes an incredible appetizer, snack, meal, or anytime enjoyment!
Tips for the best Sloppy Joe Texas Toast
- Use a slotted spoon when scooping the sloppy joe mixture onto the frozen Texas toast. This keeps any excess liquid away from the bread, avoiding excess sogginess!
- Allow the frozen garlic bread to thaw a bit so it splits in half easily. If using fresh French bread, you can slice using a sharp bread knife and even try using my Cheesy Homemade Garlic Bread recipe for an added flavor boost.
- Serve these warm from the oven for optimal taste. You’ll love all the cheesy goodness in every bite!
- Sprinkle fresh parsley on top just before serving for an added color boost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes ahead of time?
Yes! Although I don’t recommend putting the meat mixture on top of the garlic bread until just before the oven, you can prepare the meat mixture up to 3 days in advance and simply store in the refrigerator.
How do I make this into a vegetarian version?
If you have a favorite meat alternative, feel free to use it in place of the ground beef.
What other meat can be used besides ground beef or turkey?
You can use ground chicken, pork, or sausage in place of the beef or turkey!
More Recipes You’ll Love
Sloppy Joe Sliders– an easy ground beef recipe perfect for a family friendly weeknight dinner or as a party snack.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders– sweet Hawaiian rolls with chicken, cheese, bacon and ranch dressing covered in a savory butter sauce.
Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread– soft, flavorful, and beyond easy to make! It’s filled with cheesy garlic flavor and is just the perfect size for dipping in all of your favorite sauces!
Ultimate Chicken Casserole– loaded with flavor! Tender noodles, shredded chicken, bacon, corn, and more!
Chicken Piccata Pasta– a classic Italian dish, combining sautéed chicken breasts with a warm buttery lemon sauce and capers. Quick and delicious, this one will soon be on your regular meal rotation!
Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes offer a delicious twist on the classic comfort food. The combination of savory ground beef, tangy tomato sauce, and aromatic garlic bread creates a mouthwatering experience that is sure to satisfy any craving. Whether enjoyed as a quick weeknight meal or served at a casual gathering with friends and family, this flavorful creation is bound to become a new favorite. So why not give it a try and elevate your sloppy joe recipe with the irresistible allure of garlic bread? If you try it, be sure to comment below and leave a star rating!
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Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef *ground
- 1 onion *diced
- 1 bell pepper *diced
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 loaf garlic bread *thawed, or Texas toast
- 2 cups cheddar cheese *shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until crumbly and almost cooked through. Drain fat and return meat to skillet.
- Add in diced onion and bell pepper and continue cooking meat mixture until cooked through and veggies are semi-tender.
- Add in remaining ingredients and allow to simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Open garlic bread horizontally and place both pieces on a baking sheet.
- Spread meat mixture evenly over both loaves of garlic bread followed by sprinkling the cheddar cheese on top.
- Place baking sheet into preheated oven, 375 degrees, and bake for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and bread is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and slice into desired size pieces.
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