Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes

Enjoy the best of both worlds with grilled cheese sloppy joes, the ultimate comfort food sandwich made with ground beef, homemade sauce, and melted cheese.

Prep Time 20 minutes 

Cook Time 45 minutes 

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes 

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon bacon grease *
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/2 medium yellow onion minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons salted butter
• 8 slices bread
• 8 slices cheese **

Instructions

1. Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot. 
2. Add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
3. Mix the onion in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the onions and garlic into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
5. Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
6. Mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar into the meat, stirring until combined.
7. Let the sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 5 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, prep your bread and cheese. Butter the outside of 2 slices of bread, and repeat with a set of slices for each person you’re feeding.
9. Once the sloppy joe meat has finished cooking, add the desired amount of meat to each sandwich.
10. Then add 2 or 3 slices of each person’s favorite cheese.
11. Slap the cover on your sandwich, and fry it in a skillet or on a griddle until each side is golden and the cheese has melted, probably about 5-10 minutes.***
12. And that’s it! Once your sandwiches have been grilled, they’re ready to serve with your favorite side!

Recipe Notes

*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

**You can use your choice of cheese. We usually choose between American, extra sharp cheddar, pepper Jack, etc.

***Turning the sandwich with loose hamburger meat can be tricky, but a little easier if you use a wider spatula.