Description
Comfort meets innovation in this mouthwatering Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes mashup, blending classic sandwich flavors with hearty, messy charm. Melted cheese, seasoned ground beef, and crispy bread create a delicious playground for taste buds craving bold, satisfying indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce
- ¼ cup (60 ml) ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Bread and Cheese:
- 8 slices sandwich bread (white, sourdough, or your choice)
- 8 slices cheddar or American cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium flame and thoroughly brown the ground beef, ensuring no pink remains. Eliminate any accumulated grease.
- Incorporate finely diced onions, green bell peppers, and minced garlic into the meat. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and tender.
- Infuse the mixture with zesty condiments: ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Allow the concoction to simmer and reduce, creating a rich, cohesive sauce.
- Prepare bread slices by generously coating one side with butter, creating a golden exterior potential.
- Position a slice of bread in a preheated skillet, buttered side facing downward. Layer with cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Ladle the robust sloppy joe filling atop the cheese, creating a hearty base.
- Sprinkle additional cheese and crown with a second buttered bread slice, buttered side facing upward.
- Grill each sandwich for approximately 3 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula to achieve a crisp, unified texture and completely melted cheese.
- Once golden brown and piping hot, transfer to a cutting board, slice diagonally, and serve immediately alongside crisp pickles or crunchy chips.
Notes
- Customize the ground beef by using lean or alternative protein sources like turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a healthier twist.
- Balance the sweetness of brown sugar with a splash of apple cider vinegar to enhance the tangy flavor profile of the sloppy joe filling.
- Elevate the cheese game by mixing different varieties like sharp cheddar, pepper jack, or smoked gouda for a more complex and exciting taste experience.
- Prevent soggy bread by patting the sloppy joe filling slightly dry before adding it to the sandwich, ensuring a crispy and well-structured grilled cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg