Filled with simple ingredients that come together quickly, these delicious sloppy joes are served over crisp Texas toast and topped with gooey cheese–a hearty twist on a classic sandwich.

We had some Texas toast in the freezer, and I was in the mood for a simple dinner, so I made this quick, easy, and delicious Texas toast sloppy joes recipe. I adapted my go-to recipe, and these tasty sloppy joe toasts were SO good! I loved the crisp, garlicky toast layered with savory beef and topped with gooey cheese. This easy sloppy joe recipe paired nicely with a potato salad and an avocado & tomato salad.

Texas Toast Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

2 tbsp water, divided
½ tsp + ⅛ tsp baking soda, divided
1 lb. ground beef
½ tsp + ⅛ tsp kosher salt, divided
2 tsp olive oil
½ yellow onion, diced fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp paprika
1-2 tsp brown sugar, to taste
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup tomato paste
⅓ cup ketchup
1 tbsp red wine vinegar, plus extra for seasoning
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp cornstarch

Other Ingredients:

6 Texas toasts, cooked according to the package instructions
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Fresh parsley, finely minced, for garnish

How to Make Texas Toast Sloppy Joes:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cook the Texas toast according to the package instructions until crisp. Side Note: Leave the oven on to melt cheese later.

Combine 1 tablespoon of water with ½ teaspoon of baking soda and mix well.

Prepare the beef by placing the ground beef in a bowl. Drizzle the baking soda mixture over the meat, then season with ½ teaspoon of kosher salt; mix until combined; set aside.

Cook the onions by heating the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and the remaining ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda and ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes, or until very tender. Side Note: The baking soda helps break down the onion and cook it quickly.

Add the garlic, paprika, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.

Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.

Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it cooks, for 4-5 minutes.

Finish the sloppy joe mixture by adding the ketchup, red wine vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir until evenly combined. Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and add more vinegar or sugar, if desired.

Combine 1 tablespoon of water with the ½ teaspoon of cornstarch until well combined.

Add to the meat and cook, stirring often, for 1 minute, until it thickens everything up.

Prepare the Texas toast sloppy joes by spooning some of the filling over each piece of toasted Texas toast.

Top with some shredded mozzarella cheese.

Place in the oven to bake for 5 minutes, or until melted and gooey. Top with fresh parsley if desired.

Serve immediately and enjoy.

Texas Toast Sloppy Joes

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Course: Lunch, Main

Cuisine: American

Servings: - 6

Author: Pam - For the Love of Cooking

Equipment

Ingredients

6 Texas toasts cooked according to the package instructions
2 tbsp water divided
½ tsp + ⅛ tsp baking soda divided
1 lb. ground beef
½ tsp + ⅛ tsp kosher salt divided
2 tsp olive oil
½ yellow onion diced fine
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tsp paprika
1-2 tsp brown sugar to taste
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cup tomato paste
⅓ cup ketchup
1 tbsp red wine vinegar plus extra for seasoning
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp cornstarch

Other Ingredients:

1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
Fresh parsley finely minced, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cook the Texas toast according to the package instructions until crisp. Side Note: Leave the oven on to melt cheese later.
Combine 1 tablespoon of water with ½ teaspoon of baking soda and mix well.
Prepare the beef by placing the ground beef in a bowl. Drizzle the baking soda mixture over the meat, then season with ½ teaspoon of kosher salt; mix until combined; set aside.
Cook the onions by heating the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and the remaining ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda and ⅛ teaspoon of kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes, or until very tender. Side Note: The baking soda helps break down the onion and cook it quickly.
Add the garlic, paprika, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it cooks, for 4-5 minutes.
Finish the sloppy joe mixture by adding the ketchup, red wine vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir until evenly combined. Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and add more vinegar or sugar, if desired.
Combine 1 tablespoon of water with the ½ teaspoon of cornstarch until well combined.
Add to the meat and cook, stirring often, for 1 minute, until it thickens everything up.
Prepare the Texas toast sloppy joes by spooning some of the filling over each piece of toasted Texas toast. Top with some shredded mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven to bake for 5 minutes, or until melted and gooey. Top with fresh parsley if desired.
Serve immediately and enjoy.