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Cheesy Joe Garlic Bread

Featured in Satisfying Hearty Mains.

We're taking sloppy joes up a notch by serving them on homemade garlic bread and topping with melty cheese. It's like garlic bread, sloppy joes, and pizza had a delicious baby.

Clare Greco
Updated on Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:08:08 GMT
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A close-up of two toasted bread halves topped with seasoned ground meat, melted cheese, and garnished with chopped parsley. Pin it
A close-up of two toasted bread halves topped with seasoned ground meat, melted cheese, and garnished with chopped parsley. | recipesbyclare.com

These sloppy joe melts upgrade two comfort foods into one amazing dish. Savory meat sauce meets garlic bread and melty cheese for a quick satisfying meal perfect for busy nights or game day.

Two Favorites One Dish

Rich sloppy joe filling on buttery garlic toast loaded with cheese hits all the right notes. Quick easy and guaranteed to make everyone happy.

What You Need

  • Ground Beef: 1 lb or turkey
  • Onion: 1 small diced
  • Bell Pepper: 1 green diced
  • Garlic: 6 cloves divided
  • Tomato Sauce: 1 cup
  • Ketchup: ¼ cup
  • Worcestershire: 2 tbsp
  • Brown Sugar: 1 tbsp
  • Chili Powder: 1 tsp
  • French Bread: 1 loaf split
  • Butter: 4 tbsp melted
  • Parsley: 1 tbsp fresh
  • Cheese: 2 cups shredded

Let's Cook

Heat Up
400°F line a pan
Make Filling
Brown meat add veggies garlic sauce spices simmer til thick
Garlic Bread
Mix butter garlic parsley brush on bread
Build
Top bread with meat filling cheese
Bake
8-10 minutes until bubbly golden
Enjoy
Cool slightly slice serve warm
Two slices of toasted bread topped with seasoned meat sauce, melted cheese, and fresh parsley, served on a dark plate. Pin it
Two slices of toasted bread topped with seasoned meat sauce, melted cheese, and fresh parsley, served on a dark plate. | recipesbyclare.com

Pure Comfort

These melts bring together everything you love about sloppy joes and garlic bread. The perfect meal for feeding happy hungry people.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make the filling ahead of time?

Yes, prepare the sloppy joe mixture up to 2 days ahead. Reheat before assembling the melts for best results.

→ What's the best bread to use?

French bread or Italian bread works best as they're sturdy enough to hold the filling. Avoid very soft bread that might get soggy.

→ Can I freeze these?

Freeze the sloppy joe filling separately. Make fresh garlic bread and assemble when ready to serve.

→ What cheese works best?

Mozzarella gives that pizza-like pull, while cheddar adds sharp flavor. A mix of both is great too!

→ How do I keep the bread from getting soggy?

Toast the garlic bread slightly before adding toppings, and don't let the assembled melts sit too long before baking.

Sloppy Joe Melts

Savory sloppy joe filling on buttery garlic bread, topped with melted cheese. A crowd-pleasing comfort food that combines two favorite dishes.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
35 Minutes

Category: Hearty Mains

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings (2)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 1 lb ground beef (or turkey).
02 1 small onion, finely diced.
03 1 green bell pepper, finely diced.
04 3 cloves garlic, minced.
05 1 cup tomato sauce.
06 1/4 cup ketchup.
07 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce.
08 1 tablespoon brown sugar.
09 1 teaspoon chili powder.
10 Salt and pepper to taste.
11 1 French bread loaf, halved lengthwise.
12 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted.
13 3 cloves garlic, minced.
14 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped.
15 2 cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar.

Instructions

Step 01

Heat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment.

Step 02

Brown beef in skillet, drain fat. Add onion, pepper, and garlic. Cook 3-4 minutes.

Step 03

Add tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5-10 minutes.

Step 04

Mix melted butter, garlic, and parsley. Brush on cut bread sides.

Step 05

Top bread with sloppy joe mixture and cheese.

Step 06

Bake 8-10 minutes until cheese melts and edges brown.

Step 07

Cool slightly before slicing.

Notes

  1. Can make filling ahead.
  2. Use sturdy bread to prevent sogginess.
  3. Can freeze filling separately.
  4. Mix cheeses for best flavor.
  5. Toast bread slightly if desired.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large skillet.
  • Baking sheet.
  • Parchment paper.
  • Small bowl.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy (butter, cheese).
  • Wheat (bread).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 25 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 28 g