Description
Saucy grilled cheese sloppy joes merge classic comfort foods into one irresistible meal. Melted cheese and seasoned beef create a hearty sandwich that satisfies hunger with bold, savory flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 8 slices sandwich bread (white, sourdough, or your choice)
- 8 slices cheddar or American cheese
- 4 tbsps butter, softened
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Sear Beef: Brown ground meat in a spacious skillet over medium heat, thoroughly cooking and draining excess fat.
- Build Flavor Base: Sauté onions, bell peppers, and garlic until vegetables soften and release aromatic notes, blending seamlessly with the meat.
- Develop Sauce: Combine tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper, creating a complex and harmonious flavor profile that enhances the beef mixture.
- Simmer and Infuse: Let the mixture gently reduce, allowing ingredients to marry and sauce to thicken into a glossy, rich consistency that clings perfectly to the meat.
- Prepare Sandwich Canvas: Butter bread slices strategically, ensuring complete coverage for optimal golden-brown transformation during grilling.
- Layer and Assemble: Position buttered bread in preheated skillet, layer with cheese, spread warm beef mixture generously, top with additional cheese, and complete with second buttered bread slice.
- Grill to Perfection: Cook over medium heat, pressing gently with spatula, transforming sandwich exterior to crisp, golden-brown while melting cheese into a luxurious, creamy embrace.
- Serve and Enjoy: Transfer to cutting board, slice diagonally, and present alongside complementary sides like french fries or fresh salad.
Notes
- Meat Selection Strategy: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to reduce excess grease and maintain a balanced flavor profile without compromising juiciness.
- Moisture Management: Drain excess fat after browning meat to prevent soggy bread and ensure a crisp, golden sandwich exterior.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use room temperature cheese for quicker, more even melting and select high-moisture cheeses like American, cheddar, or provolone for optimal gooeyness.
- Dietary Adaptation Tip: Substitute ground beef with plant-based crumbles or lentils for vegetarian version; use gluten-free bread for celiac-friendly alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg