Sloppy Joe Garlic Bread (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ For the Garlic Bread

01 - 1 loaf French bread
02 - ½ cup butter, softened
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic salt
04 - ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

→ For the Sloppy Joe Mixture

05 - 1 pound ground beef
06 - ⅓ cup green bell pepper, seeded and diced
07 - ½ cup yellow onion, diced
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic, minced (about 2 cloves)
09 - 8 ounces tomato sauce
10 - ¾ cup ketchup
11 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
12 - 1½ tablespoons yellow mustard
13 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
14 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
15 - ½ teaspoon salt
16 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
17 - ½ teaspoon paprika

→ For the Cheese Topping

18 - 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
19 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
02 - Cut the French bread in half lengthwise and place both halves cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with garlic salt and Italian seasoning until well combined. Spread this garlic butter mixture evenly over both bread halves.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes until browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Add the diced onions, green peppers, and minced garlic. Continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes until the vegetables soften. Drain off any excess grease.
04 - To the skillet, add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, salt, onion powder, and paprika. Stir everything together until well combined. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
05 - Divide the hot sloppy joe mixture between the two bread halves, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses over the top of each loaded bread half. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and starting to turn golden brown at the edges.
06 - Remove from the oven and let cool for 1-2 minutes. Cut each half into 3 pieces (or more for smaller portions) and serve immediately while hot and cheese is still gooey.

# Notes:

01 - This recipe transforms traditional sloppy joes by using crispy garlic bread instead of hamburger buns, which eliminates the soggy bun problem.
02 - The combination of mozzarella and cheddar gives the perfect balance of meltiness and flavor.
03 - For extra flavor, you can toast the garlic bread for 5 minutes before adding the sloppy joe mixture.

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