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Big Mac Sloppy Joes

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Big Mac sloppy Joes are a savory and delicious twist on the classic American dish, featuring ground beef, onions, and a special Big Mac sauce for an unforgettable flavor.
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Table of Contents
  1. Big Mac Sloppy Joes Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This Big Mac Sloppy Joes Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE

Big Mac sloppy Joes are a delicious twist on the classic burger. These tasty sandwiches feature a combination of ground beef, onion, and spices, topped with a special Big Mac sauce and a slice of cheese, and nestled in soft hamburger buns, resulting in an irresistible sandwich that will thrill your tastebuds!

close up shot of a Big Mac sloppy Joes

Big Mac Sloppy Joes Ingredients

Big Mac sloppy Joes raw ingredients that are labeled
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Big Mac sloppy Joes are the ultimate comfort food. The savory beef mixture is cooked to perfection and then smothered in a zesty Big Mac sauce, adding an extra layer of flavor that will have you coming back for more. 

The combination of the juicy ground beef, aromatic spices, and tangy sauce creates a delectable flavor that will tantalize your tastebuds.

To make this recipe at home, you’ll need:

For The Meat Mixture:

  • 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
  • 1 pound of ground beef (85%-15% ground round)
  • ½ cup of yellow onion, small diced (plus additional for toppings)
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
  • ¼ cup of pickle relish
  • ¼ cup of bottled Thousand Island dressing, plus extra for toppings (Kraft brand)
  • 1½ teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce

Assembly And Toppings:

  • 4 large soft sesame seed buns (Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse hearty white)
  • ¼ head of iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons of small diced yellow onion (about ½ tablespoon per sandwich)
  • 4 American cheese slices, unwrapped
  • Dill pickle (hamburger) slices (3-4 per sandwich)
  • Bottled Thousand Island dressing

PRO TIP:

American cheese slices are what a “real” Big Mac sandwich has on it. If you do not care for American cheese slices, mild cheddar cheese sandwich slices would also taste delicious.

Substitutions And Additions

DRESSING: I love the ease of using a bottled Thousand Island salad dressing for the recipe. You can use a homemade version if you have a favorite recipe. Be sure to choose a bottled brand you would enjoy on a salad.

BUNS: I love using the large, soft sesame seed buns found in the bread aisle of my grocery store as they stay fresh for a few days, making this a quick and easy meal.

You can certainly use bakery buns if preferred. I recommend getting a large size. If your buns are smaller, you will likely be able to get 6 servings from the meat mixture.

GROUND MEAT: This classic sandwich recipe uses a pound of ground beef. Using ground beef gives this recipe the classic sloppy Joe flavor. Popular substitutions that are still tasty include ground turkey or ground chicken.

How To Make This Big Mac Sloppy Joes Recipe

Making Big Mac sloppy Joes is quick and easy! Begin by browning the ground beef with the onions in a large skillet. Add relish, Worcestershire sauce, and Thousand Island dressing, then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. 

Serve on hamburger buns with the classic Big Mac toppings, including crisp lettuce, dill pickles, and cheese. 

Follow our step-by-step instructions to make this yummy meal.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This sloppy Joe recipe is for 4 people but can be doubled or tripled. Simply make your filling, toast your buns, and assemble the sloppy Joes when it’s time to eat.

STEP ONE: In a large skillet, on medium-high heat, add the unsalted butter, ground beef, diced onion, salt, and pepper.

STEP TWO: Cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the onions are soft and the meat is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.

STEP THREE: Turn the heat to low and add the pickle relish, bottled Thousand Island dressing, and Worcestershire sauce to the cooked ground beef.

Stir to fully incorporate and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

pickle relish, Thousand Island dressing, and Worcestershire sauce added to the cooked ground beef in a skillet

STEP FOUR: To assemble your Big Mac sloppy Joes, you will need to place the bottom half of a sesame seed bun onto your plate and top it with shredded lettuce, small diced yellow onions, a slice of American cheese, 3 to 4 dill pickle slices, a large scoop of the meat mixture and finally a generous amount of bottled Thousand Island dressing.

Top your Big Mac sloppy Joe with the top bun.

PRO TIP:

I like to use a large 2½ to 3-inch cookie scoop to scoop out my ground beef mixture, then place the meat onto the bun. I find that I make less of a mess this way, and I can evenly portion out my servings. 

bun topped with with lettuce, yellow onions, American cheese, dill pickles, the meat mixture, Thousand Island dressing, and the top bun

STEP FIVE: Repeat step 4 until all your sandwiches are assembled. 

PRO TIP:

Don’t wait to serve them. Sloppy Joes are best served as soon as they’re made.

Adding filling to the buns and letting them sit for more than a few minutes can make your buns soggy. Instead, if you need to make this recipe ahead of time, keep your filling and buns separate until you’re ready to serve.

Repeat step 4 until all your sandwiches are assembled

How To Serve

Big Mac sloppy Joes are a delicious meal that can be served with an array of sides. Serve the sandwiches along with coleslaw, potato salad, or French fries for a complete meal. 

For lighter fare, try serving the burgers with a green salad and some fruit on the side. 

With its savory flavor and hearty texture, Big Mac sloppy Joes are sure to be a hit with the whole family! 

We have created several twists on a classic sloppy Joe recipe that we are sure you will enjoy. Check out our grilled cheese sloppy Joe and Philly cheesesteak sloppy Joes.

Storage

While you want to wait to assemble the sloppy Joes, the meat mixture can be safely stored. Here’s how.

IN THE FRIDGE: You can prep all your toppings ahead of time and keep them in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook and assemble your sandwiches.

You can make your sloppy Joe meat mixture up to 24 hours in advance and reheat it in a medium-low skillet for 4-5 minutes to warm it before assembling.

You will want to store your cooked sloppy Joe Big Mac meat mixture, once completely cooled, in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

IN THE FREEZER: Sloppy Joe filling will freeze well for up to three months. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, and add to a bun to make a sandwich.

close up shot of a Big Mac sloppy Joes

Our delicious Big Mac Sloppy Joes are an easy and fun twist on the classic American dish. Made with ground beef, spices, onions, and a special sauce, this delicious sandwich tastes just like the real thing. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these easy sloppy Joes ahead of time?

This great recipe can be made ahead of time. You could whip up a double batch and store it in the freezer, and you’ll have easy meals for busy nights.

Could I serve this Big Mac sloppy Joe recipe on a hoagie roll?

Hoagie rolls would be a great alternative to hamburger buns. They are nice and sturdy and would hold up to the saucy meat mixture nicely.

Can I make this homemade sloppy Joe recipe into a vegetarian version?

If you have a ground meat alternative you like, you can replace the ground beef to create a vegetarian version.

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Big Mac Sloppy Joes

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Big Mac sloppy Joes are a savory and delicious twist on the classic American dish, featuring ground beef, onions, and a special Big Mac sauce for an unforgettable flavor.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

Meat Mixture

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 pound ground beef, 85%-15% ground round
  • ½ cup yellow onion, small diced (plus additional for toppings)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup pickle relish
  • ¼ cup bottled Thousand Island dressing, plus extra for toppings (Kraft brand)
  • teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Assembly & Toppings

  • 4 large soft sesame seed buns, Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Hearty White
  • ¼ head iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons small diced yellow onion, about ½ tablespoon per sandwich
  • 4 American cheese slices, unwrapped
  • Dill pickle, hamburger slices (3 to 4 per sandwich)
  • Bottled Thousand Island dressing

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, on medium-high heat, add the unsalted butter, ground beef, diced yellow onion, salt, and pepper.
  • Cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the onions are soft and the meat is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
  • Turn the heat to low and add the pickle relish, bottled thousand island dressing, and Worcestershire sauce to the cooked ground beef. Stir to fully incorporate and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
  • To assemble your Big Mac sloppy Joes, you will need to place the bottom half of a sesame seed bun onto your plate and top it with shredded iceberg lettuce, small diced yellow onions, a slice of American cheese, 3 to 4 dill pickle slices, a large scoop of the meat mixture and finally a generous amount of bottled thousand island dressing. Top your Big Mac sloppy Joe with the top portion of your bun.
  • Repeat step 4 until all your sandwiches are assembled.

Notes

  • I love the ease of using a bottled Thousand Island salad dressing for the recipe. You can use a homemade version if you have a favorite recipe. Be sure to choose a bottled brand you would enjoy on a salad.
  • I love using the large, soft sesame seed buns found in the bread aisle of my grocery store as they stay fresh for a few days making this a quick and easy meal that I do not need to stop at the bakery the day I plan to make this. You can certainly use bakery buns if preferred. I just highly recommend getting the large size. If your buns are smaller, you will most likely be able to get 6 servings from the meat mixture.
  • I like to use a large 2½ to 3-inch cookie scoop to scoop out my meat mixture, then place the meat onto the bun. I find that I make less of a mess this way, and I can evenly portion out my servings.
  • American cheese slices are what a “real” Big Mac sandwich has on it. If you do not care for American cheese slices, then mild cheddar cheese sandwich slices would also taste delicious as a substitute.

Nutrition

Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 927mg | Potassium: 484mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 318IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 4mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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