This Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese is a great way to add a delicious twist to ramp up your sloppy joes. This unique grilled cheese sandwich is crispy and packed full of flavor!
If you want more unique sloppy joe sandwiches, try my Slow Cooker Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes and my Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes.
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Why this Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese Recipe is a Keeper
This beef and cheese sandwich is exactly what it sounds like… a mashup of a sloppy joe and a grilled cheese sandwich! The result is better than sloppy joes or grilled cheese. It is the perfect messy but good meal.
- 15 Minute Meal: This sloppy joe recipe from the 50\s is quick and easy!
- Easy Ingredients: This easy recipe uses 4 common ingredients you usually have on hand.
- Family Favorite: Everyone loved this delish way to eat sloppy joes, making it a go-to meal.
- Makes Great Leftovers: The leftovers are just as good as the first time!
- Great for Beginner Cooks: This ultimate comfort food is approachable for both beginner and experienced cooks and it is so good.
What is the Best Bread for this Grilled Cheese?
The best bread to use for these sandwiches is brioche! Really any thick piece of bread that can handle the sloppy joe mix will work.
Ingredient Notes to Make Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
To make this recipe, you will need just a few easy ingredients. If you don’t already have these ingredients in your kitchen, they can all easily be found at the store.
- Sloppy Joe: You will need prepared sloppy joe meat to make this delicious sloppy joe sandwich.
- Cheese: A slice of cheese or shredded cheese on top of the meat really takes this comfort food to a whole new level.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Sloppy Joe Recipe Filling Ahead of Time
Preparing ingredients ahead of time can help to save you time and kitchen space when it comes to making the recipe!
- Shred the Cheese: Shred your cheese in advance to quickly and easily make the best sloppy grilled cheese.
- Make the Meat: Make the sloppy joe mix ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to use. Add ground beef to a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink.
Pro Tip to Make the Sloppy Joe Filling
Drain Excess Liquid: If the filling is too watery, drain off some of the liquid before adding it to the sandwich.
How to Make this Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This simple sloppy joe recipe comes together in 3 easy to follow steps. This sloppy joe cheese sandwich is so good, you’ll be adding it to your weekly meal rotation!
These are the basic steps for making Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Butter the Bread
Generously butter one side of each piece of bread using 1 tablespoon of butter per side.
2. Assemble Sandwiches
Top with sloppy joe mixture on the plain side of one slice of bread, with the butter side on the bottom facing out. Top with shredded cheese and place the other slice of bread on top, with the butter side facing out.
3. Grill the Sandwiches
Place a large skillet over medium heat and melt remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Place sandwich into skillet and grill until lightly golden browned on each side.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
- Storing: Store leftover sloppy joe meat in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheating: You can reheat leftover sloppy joe in a pan over medium heat on the stove or in the microwave. You can always make the sandwich and stick it in the oven until the cheese is melted.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers with Southern Baked Beans.
Variations and Substitutions for this Better than Sloppy Joes Sandwich
This easy sloppy joe recipe is a great one to customize! Try taking it to the next level by adding some spice, adapting it to other diets or trying different flavors.
- Spicy Sloppy Joes: Add a kick of heat with hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or jalapeños to this old fashioned sloppy joe recipe.
- Sweet and Tangy: Increase the amount of brown sugar or add a splash of barbecue sauce. You could also try using mustard!
- Vegetarian Joes: Use lentils, mushrooms, or vegetable crumbles as a meat substitute in these wimpies. Feel free to also add onion and green peppers for more flavor.
Recipe FAQs and Reader Interactions
Serve this recipe with Honey Garlic Oven Roasted Baby Carrots, Spicy Coleslaw or Pig Cake.
Yes! Add some spicy spices like cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
The best way to keep the sandwiches from getting soggy are to use a thick piece of bread and to serve and eat immediately. Do not store sandwiches premade as the bun will get soggy.
Expert Tips for Making The Sloppy Joe Mix Sandwich Recipe
- Bread: The perfect grilled cheese needs the perfect bread slice. Try using Texas toast bread to really up the flavor.
- Melty Cheese: Stick with cheeses that have good flavor and melt nicely – Monterey Jack, Provolone, American cheese, or Brie. You could also try sharp cheddar cheese.
- Golden Toast: The key to getting a crispy, golden toasted exterior is to use butter or mayonnaise.
- Creative Sandwich: I used sloppy joes, but you can also use Buffalo Chicken Dip, my famous Hoagie Dip or even sloppy steak. Simply add your favorite cheese!
- Short Cut: Instead of making sloppy joes from scratch using ingredients like ground beef, worcestershire sauce, ketchup and garlic powder, use a can of Manwich chili sauce!
Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.
Ingredients
- 4 slices Bread
- ½ cup Sloppy joe mix, prepared
- ¼ cup Colby-Jack cheese, shredded
- 5 tablespoons Butter
Instructions
- Generously butter one side of each piece of bread using 1 tablespoon of butter per side.
- Place ¼ cup of prepared sloppy joe mix on the plain side of one slice of bread, making sure the butter side is on the bottom facing out.
- Top with ⅛ cup of shredded cheese.
- Place the other slice of bread on top, making sure the butter side faces out.
- Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
- Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium high heat.
- Melt remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet.
- Place sandwich into skillet and grill until lightly browned on each side (about 2-3 minutes per side).
- Serve immediately.
Christina’s Notes
- Bread: The perfect grilled cheese needs the perfect bread slice. Try using Texas toast bread to really up the flavor.
- Melty Cheese: Stick with cheeses that have good flavor and melt nicely – Monterey Jack, Provolone, American cheese, or Brie. You could also try sharp cheddar cheese.
- Golden Toast: The key to getting a crispy, golden toasted exterior is to use butter or mayonnaise.
- Creative Sandwich: I used sloppy joes, but you can also use Buffalo Chicken Dip, my famous Hoagie Dip or even sloppy steak. Simply add your favorite cheese!
- Short Cut: Instead of making sloppy joes from scratch using ingredients like ground beef, worcestershire sauce, ketchup and garlic powder, use a can of Manwich chili sauce!
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Oh my, the sloppy joe sandwich looks so delicious and it’s so tempting. The pictures are inviitng
I never thought about putting sloppy joes in grilled cheese before. It’s so genius though and I’ll never make sloppy hoes any other way now
This is the better version of a sloppy joe. The whole family loved it!
Wow, this is comfort food perfection! Hearty and delicious, I’m in love!