Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

Name: Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 2 tbsp beef bouillon powder; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce; 1/4 cup ketchup; 1 tbsp yellow mustard; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp brown sugar; 16 slices Texas toast; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 16 slices American cheese

This Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese merges two classic sandwiches into one hearty meal: seasoned ground beef sloppy joe filling nestled between buttered, toasted bread with melted cheese. It's a quick weeknight dinner that combines the messy charm of sloppy joes with the comforting richness of grilled cheese.

🌍American 🏷️Sloppy joe 🏷️Grilled cheese 🏷️Sandwich 🏷️Ground beef American cheese

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

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TikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

8

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$25–$41

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 tbsp beef bouillon powder
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp brown sugar
16 slices Texas toast
1/2 cup mayonnaise
16 slices American cheese

13 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion.
2
Cook, breaking up the meat, until it begins to brown.
3
Stir in the beef bouillon powder and continue to cook until the beef is fully browned.
4
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30-45 seconds until fragrant.
5
Carefully drain off all the excess grease from the skillet.
6
Reduce heat to low and stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and brown sugar.
7
Mix well to combine and let the sloppy joe mixture simmer while you prepare the bread.
8
In a separate large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat, spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on one side of each slice of Texas toast.
9
Place two slices of bread, mayo-side down, into the hot skillet.
10
Top each slice of bread with a slice of American cheese.
11
Spoon a generous amount of the sloppy joe mixture onto one of the cheese-topped bread slices.
12
Place the other slice of bread on top, cheese-side down, to close the sandwich.
13
Grill for 2-3 minutes per side, until the bread is golden brown and toasted, and the cheese is fully melted.
14
Remove from the skillet, slice in half, and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and break it into fine crumbles to ensure even distribution of seasoning throughout the filling.
Toast bread until golden and crispy before assembling to prevent sogginess from the sloppy joe sauce.
Melt cheese between the toasted bread slices on the skillet for 30–45 seconds before adding the warm filling to maximize cheese cohesion.
Use medium heat when grilling to avoid burning the exterior while the interior cheese melts evenly.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or ground chicken (reduces fat; slightly drier, so add 1–2 tbsp beef broth to filling)
Tomato sauce → tomato paste thinned with water (more concentrated; use 3 tbsp paste + 1/4 cup water)
Yellow mustard → Dijon mustard (sharper tang)
Brown sugar → white sugar or honey (adjust sweetness to taste)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftover sloppy joe filling in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop before assembling fresh grilled cheese sandwiches.