Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joe

Hearty and delicious, these sloppy joe grilled cheese sandwiches are a fun twist on a family classic with lots of gooey, melted cheese and yummy meat!

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Table of Contents

Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joe Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joe Recipe
How to Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
Even More Recipes You’ll Love

This sloppy joe grilled cheese recipe is mouthwatering from start to finish and takes a plain grilled cheese sandwich to the next level. Every bite has perfectly toasted bread, gooey melted cheese, and delicious sloppy joe meat.

close up shot of Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes served with chips and coleslaw on a plate

Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joe Ingredients

Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes ingredients shot that is labeled

The result of this grilled cheese recipe is a satisfying and comforting medley of flavors and textures.

The cheese adds creaminess and tanginess, while the sloppy joe meat brings a rich and savory element to each bite.

You’ll need:

2 tablespoons of softened butter
8 slices of bread
8 slices of mild cheddar cheese
Sloppy Joe meat

Substitutions And Additions

CHEESE: We love to make these with mild cheddar cheese, but you can substitute your favorite type of cheese for this grilled cheese sandwich.

Some popular choices include Pepper Jack (for a little extra spice) or Provolone (for a milder taste).

BREAD: A nice thick type of bread will ensure your sandwich will stand up to the yummy filling and sloppy joe sauce.

Try Texas toast for a great option, or homemade sourdough bread.

How To Make This Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joe Recipe

We’ll show you how to assemble this easy grilled cheese sandwich with our step-by-step instructions below.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

It’s hard to beat homemade Sloppy Joe meat, and this recipe tastes great with leftovers. Save time by making a big batch of Sloppy Joe meat, freezing it, and using leftovers to make these sandwiches.

STEP ONE: Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

STEP TWO: Lightly butter your bread slices and put one piece of bread in the pan, butter side down. Add a slice of cheese.

butter being spread on the bread and then bread placed on a skillet

STEP THREE: Allow the cheese to melt slightly, and then spoon on the sloppy joe mixture. Top with cheese and another slice of bread, butter side up.

PRO TIP:

If you find that your meat mixture keeps falling out of your sandwich, try melting your cheese more before adding your filling. Melting the cheese will help the whole sandwich stick together. And if you still have too much mess, try adding less filling or more cheese.

STEP FOUR: Carefully flip the sandwich and cook for an additional two to three minutes or until the bread is golden brown.

How to Serve

These grilled cheese sandwiches don’t need much on the plate with them, but they go perfectly with some chips, veggies, and dill pickles.

A classic coleslaw or simple Caesar salad are both light options that go well with grilled cheese sloppy joes.

These grilled cheese sloppy joes can easily feed a hungry crowd.

They’re a go-to for busy days, along with favorites like ham and cheese sliders and homemade corn dogs.

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Storage

IN THE FRIDGE/FREEZER: These sandwiches are best made fresh and will get soggy if stored.

Why We Love This Recipe

COMFORT FOOD: It combines the beloved flavors of sloppy joes and grilled cheese sandwiches, offering a comforting and nostalgic taste experience.

CREAMY AND CHEESY: The mild cheddar cheese adds a creamy, gooey, and slightly tangy element to the sandwich, making each bite irresistibly cheesy and satisfying.

RICH AND FLAVORFUL MEAT: The sloppy joe meat filling is seasoned with a blend of spices and tomato sauce, providing a sweet and savory profile that complements the cheese and bread.

close up overhead shot of Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes served with chips and coleslaw on a plate

The ultimate comfort food to feed a crowd when you don’t have much time, these sloppy joe grilled cheese sandwiches are ready in under ten minutes and will be a favorite with the whole family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep my filling from falling out of the sandwich?

If you find your filling is falling out of the sandwich, try letting the cheese melt a bit before adding the meat. It will help keep the sandwich stuck together better.

Can I store leftovers of these sandwiches?

This delicious sandwich is best made fresh. The bread will get too soggy from the Sloppy Joe sauce if you try to keep it. If you have premade meat, these sandwiches are quick and easy to whip up.

What is the best bread for these sandwiches?

This sloppy joe grilled cheese recipe is best with thick bread to be able to stand up well to the Sloppy Joe sauce. Texas toast, thick-sliced sourdough, or French bread would all be delicious.

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Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

5 from 1 vote

Hearty and delicious, these sloppy joe grilled cheese sandwiches are a fun twist on a family classic with lots of gooey, melted cheese and yummy meat!

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 5

Total Time 7

Servings

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons softened butter
8 slices bread
8 slices mild cheddar cheese
sloppy Joe meat

Instructions

Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Lightly butter bread and put one slice in the pan, butter side down. Add cheese.
Allow the cheese to melt slightly and spoon on the sloppy joe meat. Top with cheese and another slice of bread, butter side up.
Carefully flip the sandwich and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.

Notes

It’s hard to beat homemade Sloppy Joe meat, and this recipe tastes great with leftovers. Save time by making a big batch of Sloppy Joe meat, freezing it, and using leftovers to make these sandwiches.
If you find that your meat mixture keeps falling out of your sandwich, try melting your cheese more before adding your filling. Melting the cheese will help the whole sandwich stick together. And if you still have too much mess, try adding less filling or more cheese.

Nutrition

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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!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant