When I think of comfort food, sloppy joes always come to mind. They’re nostalgic, easy to make, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. But today, we’re giving the classic sloppy joe a little makeover — one that takes it to the next level of deliciousness with the help of buttery, crispy garlic Texas toast and plenty of melty cheddar cheese. Trust me, once you try this Texas Toast Sloppy Joes recipe, you might never go back to the old way again!
What I love most about this recipe is how quick and easy it is. On those busy weeknights when the family is hungry, and you don’t have the energy for a big production in the kitchen, this meal comes together in about 30 minutes. Plus, the combination of the savory, slightly sweet sloppy joe mixture piled on top of garlicky, crunchy toast is just heavenly. And that gooey cheddar cheese on top? Absolute perfection.
These open-faced sandwiches aren’t just for kids either — adults will love them just as much. They’re great for a casual dinner, a fun weekend lunch, or even a game day snack. Plus, if you’re like me and always have a box of frozen Texas toast in the freezer, you’re already halfway there.
Now, let’s dive into how to make these Texas Toast Sloppy Joes so you can get dinner on the table in no time!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these delicious Texas Toast Sloppy Joes:
-
1 pound ground beef
-
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
-
1 cup ketchup
-
½ cup bottled barbecue sauce
-
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
-
2 tablespoons sugar
-
1 box (8 slices) frozen garlic Texas toast
-
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or more to taste)
You probably already have most of these ingredients in your pantry or fridge, which makes this recipe even more convenient. And if you want to customize it a bit (more on that later), there’s plenty of room for some fun variations.
LET’S GET COOKING!
STEP 1: BROWN THE GROUND BEEF
First, grab your largest skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and start breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the beef is completely browned and cooked through. This should take about 6-8 minutes.
Once the beef is fully cooked, drain off any excess grease. I like to tilt the skillet slightly and use a spoon or paper towels to soak up the extra fat. This helps keep the sloppy joe mixture from being too greasy once we add the sauce.
STEP 2: ADD THE SAUCE INGREDIENTS
Now it’s time to build all that delicious sloppy joe flavor. To the cooked beef in the skillet, add:
-
The can of diced tomatoes (including the juice)
-
Ketchup
-
Barbecue sauce
-
Worcestershire sauce
-
Sugar
Stir everything together really well to make sure the beef is coated evenly with the sauce. The combination of ketchup, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire gives it that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors. And the sugar just brings it all together.
STEP 3: SIMMER THE MIXTURE
Once everything is mixed together, cover the skillet with a lid and let it simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. This gives the flavors a chance to blend beautifully and allows the sauce to thicken slightly.
While the sloppy joe filling is simmering away and making your kitchen smell absolutely amazing, it’s the perfect time to prepare the Texas toast.
STEP 4: PREPARE THE TEXAS TOAST
Grab your box of frozen garlic Texas toast and cook it according to the package instructions. Usually, you’ll bake it in a preheated oven at around 425°F for about 5-8 minutes, flipping halfway if directed. You want the toast to be golden brown and nice and crispy, because that crunchy base is what makes these open-faced sloppy joes so irresistible
TEXAS TOAST SLOPPY JOES: A FAMILY-FRIENDLY TWIST ON A CLASSIC FAVORITE
When I think of comfort food, sloppy joes always come to mind. They’re nostalgic, easy to make, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. But today, we’re giving the classic sloppy joe a little makeover — one that takes it to the next level of deliciousness with the help of buttery, crispy garlic Texas toast and plenty of melty cheddar cheese. Trust me, once you try this Texas Toast Sloppy Joes recipe, you might never go back to the old way again!
What I love most about this recipe is how quick and easy it is. On those busy weeknights when the family is hungry, and you don’t have the energy for a big production in the kitchen, this meal comes together in about 30 minutes. Plus, the combination of the savory, slightly sweet sloppy joe mixture piled on top of garlicky, crunchy toast is just heavenly. And that gooey cheddar cheese on top? Absolute perfection.
These open-faced sandwiches aren’t just for kids either — adults will love them just as much. They’re great for a casual dinner, a fun weekend lunch, or even a game day snack. Plus, if you’re like me and always have a box of frozen Texas toast in the freezer, you’re already halfway there.
Now, let’s dive into how to make these Texas Toast Sloppy Joes so you can get dinner on the table in no time!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these delicious Texas Toast Sloppy Joes:
-
1 pound ground beef
-
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
-
1 cup ketchup
-
½ cup bottled barbecue sauce
-
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
-
2 tablespoons sugar
-
1 box (8 slices) frozen garlic Texas toast
-
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or more to taste)
You probably already have most of these ingredients in your pantry or fridge, which makes this recipe even more convenient. And if you want to customize it a bit (more on that later), there’s plenty of room for some fun variations.
LET’S GET COOKING!
STEP 1: BROWN THE GROUND BEEF
First, grab your largest skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and start breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the beef is completely browned and cooked through. This should take about 6-8 minutes.
Once the beef is fully cooked, drain off any excess grease. I like to tilt the skillet slightly and use a spoon or paper towels to soak up the extra fat. This helps keep the sloppy joe mixture from being too greasy once we add the sauce.
STEP 2: ADD THE SAUCE INGREDIENTS
Now it’s time to build all that delicious sloppy joe flavor. To the cooked beef in the skillet, add:
-
The can of diced tomatoes (including the juice)
-
Ketchup
-
Barbecue sauce
-
Worcestershire sauce
-
Sugar
Stir everything together really well to make sure the beef is coated evenly with the sauce. The combination of ketchup, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire gives it that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors. And the sugar just brings it all together.
STEP 3: SIMMER THE MIXTURE
Once everything is mixed together, cover the skillet with a lid and let it simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. This gives the flavors a chance to blend beautifully and allows the sauce to thicken slightly.
While the sloppy joe filling is simmering away and making your kitchen smell absolutely amazing, it’s the perfect time to prepare the Texas toast.
STEP 4: PREPARE THE TEXAS TOAST
Grab your box of frozen garlic Texas toast and cook it according to the package instructions. Usually, you’ll bake it in a preheated oven at around 425°F for about 5-8 minutes, flipping halfway if directed. You want the toast to be golden brown and nice and crispy, because that crunchy base is what makes these open-faced sloppy joes so irresistible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEXAS TOAST SLOPPY JOES
I get a lot of questions about this recipe, so let’s go over some of the most common ones to help you feel extra confident when you make these at home.
CAN I MAKE THE SLOPPY JOE MIXTURE AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes! The beef mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just reheat the mixture on the stove or in the microwave, then spoon it over freshly baked Texas toast.
CAN I FREEZE THE SLOPPY JOE FILLING?
Absolutely. Let the cooked mixture cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. It will keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat when ready to serve.
WHAT OTHER CHEESES CAN I USE?
While cheddar is a classic choice, you can easily swap it for mozzarella, pepper jack, Colby Jack, or even provolone. Use your family’s favorite or whatever you have on hand.
CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE SPICY?
Definitely. If your crew likes a little heat, you can add a few dashes of hot sauce, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, or even some chopped jalapeños to the beef mixture while it simmers.
WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH TEXAS TOAST SLOPPY JOES?
These are pretty hearty on their own, but they pair perfectly with simple sides like a green salad, roasted veggies, potato wedges, or coleslaw. If you’re feeding a crowd, you can also serve them with chips and dip.
CAN I USE GROUND TURKEY OR CHICKEN INSTEAD OF BEEF?
Yes, ground turkey or chicken both work well as leaner alternatives. Just make sure to cook the meat thoroughly and adjust seasonings if needed since turkey and chicken are milder in flavor.
HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVERS?
Store leftover sloppy joe mixture and Texas toast separately. Keep the beef mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store leftover Texas toast in a sealed bag or container at room temperature for a day or two. Assemble when ready to eat for the best texture.
CONCLUSION: TIME TO ENJOY YOUR TEXAS TOAST SLOPPY JOES
And there you have it — a fun, easy twist on classic sloppy joes that your whole family will absolutely love. The combination of the savory beef mixture, garlicky Texas toast, and melted cheddar cheese creates a meal that’s as satisfying as it is simple to make.
PrintTexas Toast Sloppy Joes
This easy twist on classic sloppy joes pairs savory, sweet beef filling with crispy garlic Texas toast, all topped with melty cheddar cheese. It’s a quick, satisfying dinner the whole family will love.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 cup ketchup
½ cup bottled barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
1 box (8 slices) frozen garlic Texas toast
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or more to taste)
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown and crumble the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain off any excess grease and return the cooked beef to the skillet.
Add the diced tomatoes, ketchup, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar to the skillet with the beef. Stir the mixture well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
Cover the skillet and let the mixture simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken slightly.
While the beef mixture is simmering, prepare the frozen garlic Texas toast according to the package instructions, baking until golden and crisp.
Once the Texas toast is ready, spoon generous portions of the sloppy joe mixture onto each slice of toast.
Top each with shredded cheddar cheese. Serve immediately, or place the assembled toasts under the broiler for a minute or two to melt and lightly brown the cheese, if desired.
Notes
For a spicier version, add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of crushed red pepper to the sloppy joe mixture. These open-faced sloppy joes are best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored separately and assembled when ready to serve for the best texture.
