The party-perfect, kid-approved recipe that disappears in minutes!
These open-faced sloppy joe melts are incredibly easy, wildly flavorful, and baked on thick, buttery Texas toast. The gooey melted cheese on top makes them irresistible — no wonder they vanished at your son’s birthday party!
⭐ Ingredients
For the Sloppy Joe Meat
-
1½ lbs (700 g) ground beef
-
1 small onion, finely diced
-
½ green bell pepper, diced (optional)
-
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 cup tomato sauce or ketchup
-
¼ cup BBQ sauce (optional, but adds amazing flavor)
-
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
-
1 tbsp brown sugar
-
1 tsp mustard
-
½ tsp smoked paprika
-
Salt & black pepper, to taste
For the Toast Melts
-
8 slices Texas toast (thick-cut bread)
-
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
(Cheddar, Colby-Jack, or a blend also work beautifully!) -
Butter (optional, for extra crispiness)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prepare the Toast
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Lay Texas toast slices on a baking sheet.
Lightly butter the tops if you want extra flavor and crispiness.
Bake 5 minutes to lightly toast them — this helps prevent sogginess later.
2. Cook the Sloppy Joe Meat
In a large skillet over medium-high heat:
-
Brown the ground beef.
-
Add diced onion, peppers, and garlic. Cook until soft.
-
Drain excess grease.
Add the sauce mixture:
-
Tomato sauce or ketchup
-
BBQ sauce
-
Worcestershire
-
Brown sugar
-
Mustard
-
Smoked paprika
-
Salt & pepper
Stir well and simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened.
3. Assemble the Melts
Spoon a generous amount of the sloppy joe mixture onto each toasted slice.
Top heavily with shredded mozzarella (or cheddar!).
4. Bake Until Gooey
Return to oven and bake 8–10 minutes, or until:
-
Cheese is melted
-
Edges of the toast are golden
-
Sauce is bubbling
For a browned top, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end.
5. Serve Hot
Enjoy immediately — they won’t last long!
Great with:
-
Fries
-
Salad
-
Chips
-
Pickles
-
Fresh veggies
