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    Home » Recipes » Entrées

    Italian Sloppy Joes

    Published: Mar 9, 2021 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 654 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe
    Italian sloppy joes recipe.
    Italian sloppy joes recipe.
    Italian sloppy joes recipe.

    Italian sloppy joes are an easy weeknight meal that is flavorful and quick to toss together!

    These hearty sandwiches are filled with ground beef, marinara sauce, garlic, and Italian herbs - topped with melty provolone cheese.

    Italian sloppy joe on a toasted bun.

    Who doesn't love a hearty, homemade sloppy joe sandwich? This sloppy joe recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal!

    You'll love this Italian twist on a classic - these sloppy joes are filled with Italian herbs, marinara sauce, and topped with melty provolone cheese. Serve your sloppy joes on a lightly toasted brioche bun or open faced on thick slices of garlic bread!

    Serve these Italian sloppy joes for a quick lunch or dinner. Or, toss onto slider buns and enjoy as an appetizer during football season.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Ingredients on a counter top.

    Lean ground beef, anything 85/15 or leaner, will work well in this recipe. If you'd like to add extra flavor, use half ground beef and half Italian sausage.

    Marinara sauce can be homemade or store bought, and can be substituted with spaghetti sauce. Perfect for using up a partial jar of sauce you have on hand!

    Traditional marinara sauce is made with tomatoes, garlic, and a few herbs. If your particular marinara sauce is not very flavorful, I suggest adding 2 cloves of minced garlic with the ground beef.

    Want to make your own sauce? Try my recipe: Homemade Marinara Sauce

    Italian seasoning can be substituted with any combination of Italian herbs you have on hand, like oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary.

    Provolone can be substituted with mozzarella or parmesan cheese. Or, use a combination of several types of cheese for extra flavor.

    Making italian sloppy joes in a saute pan.

    What type of bread to use for sloppy joes

    For this recipe, there are several great options for bread. I typically recommend a brioche bun from your local grocery store bakery. Lightly toast just before serving your sloppy joes.

    Or, toast some thick sliced freezer garlic bread. You may want to serve your sloppy joes open faced if using a thick sliced bread.

    If you don't have garlic bread on hand, slather some sandwich bread with butter, a pinch of salt, garlic powder, and oregano, and toast until golden brown.

    Sloppy joe topped with melted cheese.

    Leftovers and reheating

    Leftover sloppy joes will keep in a tightly sealed container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

    To reheat leftovers, cover with a damp paper towel and reheat in the microwave until just heated through.

    Leftovers can be served on a toasted bun, tossed with pasta, or even on its own with a fork!

    Italian sloppy joe on a toasted bun.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 reviews

    Italian Sloppy Joes

    These hearty sandwiches are filled with ground beef, marinara sauce, garlic, and Italian herbs - topped with melty provolone cheese.
    Prep Time5 minutes
    Cook Time20 minutes
    Total Time25 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 650kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 8 ounces marinara sauce
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 4 slices provolone cheese
    • 4 brioche buns, lightly toasted

    Instructions

    • In a sauté pan over medium heat, add olive oil. When hot, add onions and cook until they begin to lightly brown, about 2-3 minutes.
    • Crumble ground beef into pan and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Optionally, drain any excess grease from the pan at this time.
    • Add marinara sauce, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until ingredients are heated through and sauce has thickened to your liking. Top with cheese slices and remove from heat.
    • Once cheese has melted, transfer sloppy joe mixture onto toasted buns and serve.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • Stainless Steel Saute Pan
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Slotted Spatula
    • Zwilling Pro Chef's Knife

    Notes

    • Marinara sauce can be substituted with spaghetti sauce. Traditional marinara sauce includes garlic. If your sauce is not particularly flavorful, add 2 cloves of minced garlic with your ground beef in the last 30 seconds of cooking (step 2, before adding your sauce).
    • Leftover sloppy joes will keep for 3-4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
    • Provolone can be substituted with parmesan, mozzarella, or a combination of multiple cheeses.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Calories: 650kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 1614mg | Potassium: 773mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1341IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 232mg | Iron: 5mg
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American

    More ground beef recipes

    • Cheesesteak style sloppy joes recipe.
      Cheesesteak Style Sloppy Joes
    • Beef tortellini soup recipe.
      One Pot Beef Tortellini Soup
    • Ground beef stroganoff recipe.
      Ground Beef Stroganoff
    • Beef enchilada casserole recipe.
      Beef Enchilada Casserole

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    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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