Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese
My fave way to make Sloppy Joes!
Let’s just all agree that grilled cheese is the comfort food king. And when you mash it up with a sweet and tangy sloppy joe? That’s dinner royalty.
This isn’t just a sandwich. This is THE sandwich. My go-to when I want something fast, nostalgic, and wildly satisfying. You’ve got buttery, golden Texas toast, melty cheddar, and my award-winning sloppy joe filling (I printed the award myself… very official).
Grilled cheese + sloppy joe = the crossover event we didn’t know we needed.
Why This Recipe Slaps
Let’s talk about this filling: it’s meaty, a little sweet, a little tangy, and packed with flavor. This isn’t cafeteria food. This is the kind of sloppy joe that makes people say, “Wait—what’s in this?!” right before going back for seconds.
It’s cheesy. It’s toasty. It’s messy in all the best ways. And honestly? It’s impossible to be in a bad mood while eating it.
Random but true: The first known sloppy joe was reportedly created in Iowa in the 1930s by a cook named… wait for it… Joe. He added tomato sauce to his loose meat sandwich and started a legacy. Shoutout, Joe.
Why Texas Toast?
Because regular bread is just… fine.
Texas toast, though? It’s thick. It’s buttery. It holds up to all that juicy filling without falling apart. And it crisps up beautifully in a hot pan.
Basically, it’s the MVP of this recipe. Don’t skip it.
How to Make It:
- Brown the beef in a skillet until fully cooked. Drain the fat.
- Make it saucy: Stir in ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Simmer 5–7 minutes until thick and glossy. Stir in the shredded mozzarella and cheddar until melted.
- Build your sandwich: On the unbuttered side of a slice of Texas toast, pile on the sloppy joe filling. Top with extra cheese (optional but encouraged) and another slice of bread, buttered side out.
- Grill it in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melty.
- Serve hot—with extra napkins and zero shame.
Make It Your Own
- Swap the cheese: Try pepper jack, provolone, or American if you’re feeling it.
- Add heat: A little hot sauce in the filling? Chef’s kiss.
- Go deluxe: Top with pickles, crispy onions, or jalapeños before grilling.
The Summer Sweet Spot
During summer, I live in two zones:
- Low and slow meals that make the house smell amazing, and I don’t worry about dinner all day!
- Super quick meals that save me when I forgot to plan anything and it’s already 5:47 p.m.
This sandwich falls squarely in category two—and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did. Pair it with chips, a cold drink, and watermelon slices for peak summer vibes.
Final Thoughts
This is your sign to stop settling for plain grilled cheese or basic sloppy joes. Combine them. Toast them. Live your best sandwich life.
And if anyone asks where you got the recipe, tell them it’s an award-winning one. (The award was printed in Comic Sans and taped to my fridge.)
Let me know if you try it—and tag me if you post it! I love seeing these babies in the wild. 🍞🧀🔥
For another flavorful twist on the classic sandwich, try my Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes, too!
Texas Toast Gilled Cheese Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Sloppy Joe:
- 1 LB ground beef
- 1 C ketchup
- 1/4 C water
- 2 T brown sugar
- 2 t Worcestershire sauce
- 2 t prepared mustard
- ½ t garlic powder
- ½ t onion powder
- ½ t salt
Sandwiches:
- Texas Toast
- Sliced Cheese I go with Colby Jack
- Avocado Oil or oil of choice
Instructions
- In a cast iron skillet (or nonstick skillet) over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks; drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for 15 minutes
- While it simmers, prepare bread. I usually just simply pour oil in the skillet, then mop it up with the bread (do this with both slices so they are both ready). Add sloppy joe mixture, then cheese and remaining slice of bread on top.
