Sloppy Joe Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe

This sloppy joe garlic cheese bread recipe is the easiest weeknight dinner recipe you never knew you needed! It comes together in just minutes, the sloppy joe mixture can be prepped days in advance, and the flavor combination is out of this world!

 

Easy Sloppy Joe Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe

• Comfort Food. This cheesy sloppy joe garlic bread recipe combines two of your favorite comfort foods – homemade garlic bread, and homemade sloppy joes – into one delicious meal the whole family will love!
• Less Sloppy. This recipe takes the sloppiness out of the sloppy joe! By adding the sloppy joe mixture on top of crispy garlic bread and then cutting it into manageable strips, we are taking a meal that is traditionally difficult and messy to eat and turning it into a neat and tidy handheld dinner.
• Unique but Familiar. While the combination of these two comfort foods is unique, the foods themselves will be quite familiar to your family, which means it’s more likely to be a hit! Even with picky eaters!

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Garlic Bread

• Italian Bread: Italian bread works best for this recipe because it is flat and can easily be sliced in half to create two flat garlic breads. You could also use French bread, but it is a bit more rounded and more difficult to work with.
• Butter: Salted or unsalted butter will work well for this recipe. It will blend more easily if it is at room temperature.
• Parsley: Fresh chopped parsley will give you the best flavor. This is not a good time to use dried parsley.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic works best for this sloppy joe garlic bread recipe. You could also use a jar of minced garlic in a pinch. Garlic powder would work as a last resort, but the flavor will not be as good.
• Onion and Bell Pepper: Yellow onion and green bell pepper combine with the garlic to create a delicious flavor base for the homemade sloppy joe mixture.
• Tomato Paste: Tomato paste adds depth and creates the illusion of that “cooked-all-day” flavor in a short amount of time.
• Ground Beef: I like to use 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef for this recipe. Anything leaner and you were going to lose flavor. Anything fattier and you run the risk of a greasy sloppy joe mixture.
• Tomato Sauce: Tomato sauce combines with all the other flavors to create that luxuriously thick texture without Manwich.
• Ketchup and Mustard: A match made in heaven, these two components are necessary for the best flavor and texture.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds special sweetness and a slight caramel note. Do not substitute with granulated or another type of sugar.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire is a great way to enhance that beefy flavor.
• Shredded Cheese: I like to use a mixture of sharp cheddar and mozzarella. But you can use your favorite melty cheese for this sloppy joe garlic bread recipe.

How to Make Sloppy Joe Garlic Cheese Bread

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice the loaf of bread in half lengthwise creating two equal halves. Place cut side up on a baking sheet.

Add butter, parsley, garlic, and a couple pinches of Kosher salt to a food process. Process until well combined and smooth.

Spread garlic butter in an even layer across the cut side of each piece of bread. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges of the bread are toasty and golden brown.

While the garlic bread is baking, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, green pepper, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Add ground beef and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, crumbling with a spatula until browned and cooked through.

Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, yellow mustard, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Gently simmer over medium to medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes until it thickens slightly.

Spoon sloppy joe mixture over the garlic bread.

Top with shredded cheese.

Broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts and starts to turn golden brown. Garnish with fresh parsley, slice, and enjoy!

Time-Saving Tip

• If you don’t have time to make your own garlic bread, you can use store-bought Texas toast garlic bread!
• While I love to make homemade garlic bread, Texas toast will work in a pinch!
• Bake the Texas toast according to package directions, then add the sloppy joe mixture and cheese and broil for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and turning golden brown.

Make-Ahead Instructions

• Prepare the individual components and store them separately until you’re ready to assemble and bake!
• The sloppy joe mixture and the garlic and herb butter will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
• When you’re ready to assemble, heat the sloppy joe mixture over medium heat in a large sauté pan until warmed through. Then follow the recipe instructions and bake!

Storing Leftovers

• This recipe tastes best straight from the oven!
• But if you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Reheating Sloppy Joe Garlic Cheese Bread

• Reheat sloppy joe garlic bread in a 350° oven for about 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
• You can also reheat it in the air fryer at 350° until warm through.

Serve With

• Simple House Salad
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Grilled Halloumi Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad

Try these family favorites next!

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