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Melted cheese and sloppy joe filling in a grilled cheese sandwich

Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

A cozy, messy, and utterly comforting sandwich that combines the flavors of Sloppy Joes and gooey grilled cheese.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 sandwiches
Course: Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Sloppy Joe Filling
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • ½ cup yellow onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic Fresh garlic = bigger flavor.
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons beef bouillon powder
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar Adjust for sweetness.
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper
For Assembly
  • Cheese slices cheddar or American cheese Use cheddar or American for best melt.
  • 8 slices Texas toast bread Texas toast gives a hearty base.
  • to taste Mayonnaise Mayonnaise crisps bread better than butter.

Method
 

Prepare the Filling
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add diced onions and ground beef; season with beef bouillon powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Cook until meat is no longer pink, then stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
  4. Drain excess grease to keep sauce thick.
  5. Pour in tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar; stir until smooth.
  6. Reduce heat to low-medium and let the mixture simmer until thickened.
Assemble the Sandwiches
  1. Heat a separate skillet over medium heat and coat one side of each Texas toast slice with mayonnaise.
  2. Place mayo-side down in the skillet.
  3. On the toast in the pan, lay one slice of cheese, spoon a generous serving of the sloppy joe mixture, and top with another slice of cheese.
  4. Cap with the second slice of bread mayo-side up and cook until edges are golden and cheese melts; press gently and flip.
  5. Serve hot and enjoy the melty cheesy goodness.

Notes

Tips: Brown beef ahead and freeze in portions; if filling gets too thin, simmer uncovered until thickened. For a smoky kick, stir in smoked paprika or hot sauce.