Crispy, buttery Texas toast topped with gooey melted cheese and hearty ground beef is calling your name. These Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Melts bring together juicy ground beef, tangy ketchup, and melty American cheese—all wrapped up in irresistibly golden toast.
Hot, cheesy, and slightly messy in the best kind of way, this recipe is pure cozy comfort. It’s what I like to call a no-fuss hug on a plate.
Look, I love a classic Sloppy Joe situation, but the soft hamburger bun game? Sometimes a little meh. Enter: thick-cut Texas toast, toasted till golden and just the tiniest bit crispy around the edges, but still soft in the center. It catches all that saucy, savory, slightly sweet beef without going soggy (unless we let it sit too long—let’s not). With two layers of cheese melted into the mix, this version is more “open-faced melt” than “sandwich,” and honestly? That just makes it even better for weeknights when you want something hot, fast, and a little indulgent.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Texas Toast Sloppy Joes
This is not a reinvention of the wheel. It’s just a really good way to eat messy comfort food with a fork and not feel bad about it.
- Ridiculously simple to make: You just brown, sauté, stir, broil, and bask in the melty gooeyness.
- No buns required: Texas toast steps up with thick, sturdy slices that stay crispy and absorb flavor like a dream.
- Cheese twice, please: It’s got two layers of American cheese, because stopping at one would be illegal (probably).
- Make-ahead friendly-ish: The meat mixture keeps well in the fridge, so you can re-toast, re-top, and re-cheese during the week.
- Adjusts to your vibe: Mild for picky eaters or a little hot sauce splash for you spicy rebels out there.
Ingredient Notes
You won’t need a million ingredients, just a handful of pantry and fridge staples that do their job well. Here’s what makes it tick.
- Extra-lean ground beef: Less fat means less grease messing with our crispy toast. You could use ground turkey here too, if that’s your thing.
- Chopped onion: Adds some aromatic oomph and softens into the sauce beautifully.
- Green bell pepper: For a mild crunch and a little brightness to balance out the sweet-savory sauce.
- Ketchup: The base of our Sloppy Joe sauce—tangy, sweet, and nostalgic in the best way.
- Water: Helps thin the sauce to just the right consistency while everything simmers together.
- Brown sugar: A touch of molassesy sweetness to balance out the acidity of the ketchup and mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce: That mysterious umami punch you can’t quite name, but would definitely miss.
- Yellow mustard: Adds zip and cuts through the richness. Your taste buds will thank you.
- Garlic salt: An easy way to give the beef depth without chopping garlic (you’re welcome).
- Texas toast: Thick, buttery slices that can stand up to anything you pile on top. White or garlic-style works.
- American cheese: It melts like a charm and gives everything that classic sloppy joe vibe.
How To Make This Texas Toast Sloppy Joes
Truly, this is one of those recipes where once you know the method, you barely need me. But humor me—I’ll walk you through.
- Brown the beef: Toss your ground beef into a 12-inch skillet over medium heat and stir until it’s no longer pink. Should take around 5 minutes. Drain any extra grease; textural sadness avoided.
- Sauté the veggies: Stir in the onion and green pepper. Cook until both are softened and smell like they mean business—about 3 to 4 minutes. This step makes your whole kitchen smell amazing.
- Add the flavor party: In goes the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, garlic salt, and hot sauce (if that’s your jam). Stir it up, reduce the heat to low, and cover it up. Let it simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes until it’s thick but not paste-like. Think hearty but spoonable.
- Toast the bread: Fire up your broiler and lay the Texas toast slices out on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil them for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway until they’re golden on both sides but not too crisp yet—they’re getting a second broil later.
- Melt the first layer of cheese: Top each slice with a piece of cheese, pop it back under the broiler, and let things get melty. It won’t take long, so keep an eye on it.
- Assemble & finish: Spoon the beef mixture on each toast, then top with another slice of cheese (yes, again) and broil a final time for about a minute. Just until that cheese is fully melted and borderline bubbly.
Storage Options
Got leftovers? You’re actually in luck—this sloppy joe mix stores like a champ.
Spoon any leftover beef mixture into an airtight container and stick it in the fridge. It’ll keep well for around 3 days. The flavor even deepens a little overnight, which is kind of magical. When reheating, just warm it gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water if it’s looking thick or clingy.
Now about the Texas toast part: once melted and topped, it doesn’t exactly get crisper later. If you’re planning ahead, store the elements separately. Toast fresh, add warm filling, then broil the cheese on top when you’re ready to serve—it’s worth that extra step.
And yes, you can freeze the meat mixture. Let it cool, then freeze in a freezer bag or container. It’ll last about 2 months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight and heat it up in a saucepan. Skip freezing the assembled melts though…the bread + cheese combo doesn’t survive the thaw gracefully.
Variations and Substitutions
Once you try this version, your brain may start spiraling into flavor combos. Mine did. Here are a few that actually work (I tested more than I’d like to admit).
- Ground turkey or chicken: Lighter than beef but still tasty. Add an extra dash of Worcestershire if it’s feeling bland.
- Pepper jack cheese: Swap in for a spicy upgrade—so melty, with a tiny kick.
- Garlic toast base: If you find some pre-buttered garlic Texas toast? Use it. Life hack achieved.
- Add pickles on top: Sounds weird? Don’t knock it until the vinegary crunch hits your palate.
- Vegan swap: Use plant-based crumbles and non-dairy slices. I’ve seen oat-based American cheese lately—still melty, still fun.
What to Serve with Texas Toast Sloppy Joes
These are hearty little beasts, but I always like something fresh or crunchy (or both) on the side to round it out.
- A basic green salad with a zingy vinaigrette balances the richness like a charm. Toss in cherry tomatoes, red onion, or even sliced radish if you’re feeling fancy. The crispness cuts through all that savory-cheesy goodness.
- Homemade oven fries are a classic move. Go russet for old-school vibes or sweet potato for a caramelized contrast. Either way, don’t skip a sprinkle of flaky salt when they come out hot.
- If you’re trying to keep dinner light and fast, maybe pair these with something bright like sautéed rainbow chard or any quick green veggie from the crisper drawer.
- Want to go full comfort food? Round out dinner with a side of these bacon basil cornbread muffins. I cannot explain how perfect they are with Sloppy Joe sauce until you try it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular sandwich bread instead of Texas toast?
You could, but I wouldn’t recommend it for this version. Regular sandwich bread is usually too thin and soft—once you add the sloppy joe filling and cheese, it tends to collapse under pressure. Texas toast is thicker and sturdier, built to hold up under melty, saucy layers. If you’re stuck, try toasting the sandwich bread really well first to give it some structural backbone.
Is American cheese the best choice here?
Okay, here’s the truth: American cheese melts like a dream and gives you that classic, diner-style comfort. That said, you can absolutely mix it up. Cheddar, mozzarella, provolone—they all work. Just keep in mind that sharper cheeses might compete a bit more with the sauce, while milder ones melt smoothly into the party. It’s your cheese journey, really.
Can I make the beef mixture ahead of time?
Yes! You can definitely cook the beef filling a day or two in advance and refrigerate it. It reheats beautifully in a skillet or even the microwave, and it actually tastes better after resting overnight. Just store it in an airtight container, warm when needed, and assemble your melts fresh. A little prep now, a lot of lazy later.
How spicy is this recipe?
Without hot sauce, it’s mild enough for most kids and spicy-averse adults. If you’re craving heat, that’s where the optional hot sauce steps in. Add as much or as little as you need to feel alive. You could also sprinkle in red pepper flakes or swap cheeses for a spicy one if you’re really going for it.
Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Melts
Ingredients
Sloppy Joe Mixture
- 1 lb (454 g) extra-lean ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup (240 ml) ketchup
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) water
- 1 tbsp (12 g) brown sugar
- 2 tsp (10 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp (5 ml) yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) garlic salt
- hot sauce optional, to taste
Assembly
- 8 slices Texas toast regular or garlic
- 8 slices American cheese or cheese of choice, divided
Equipment
- 12-inch skillet
- Baking sheet
- Broiler
Instructions
- Preheat your broiler. Arrange Texas toast slices on a baking sheet.
- In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add chopped onion and chopped green bell pepper. Sauté until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, garlic salt, and hot sauce (if using). Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened but spoonable.
- Meanwhile, broil the Texas toast for 4–6 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden but not fully crisp.
- Add one slice of American cheese to each piece of toast and broil briefly until just melted.
- Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture evenly over each slice, then top with remaining cheese slices.
- Return to the broiler and melt the cheese (about 1 minute) until bubbly and golden at the edges.
- Serve hot with a fork—and napkins!
