Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes (Printable version)
Buttery garlic baguette topped with savory beef filling and melted mozzarella, ready in 40 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sloppy Joe Filling
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
→ Garlic Bread
14 - 1 large French baguette or Italian loaf
15 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
16 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
19 - 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
20 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until well browned. Drain any excess fat.
03 - Add finely chopped yellow onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Simmer the mixture for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
05 - Slice the baguette in half lengthwise. In a small bowl, mix softened butter with finely minced garlic, chopped parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until evenly combined.
06 - Evenly spread the garlic butter mixture over both bread halves. Arrange the bread on the prepared baking sheet, cut side up.
07 - Bake the bread halves for 5 to 6 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven.
08 - Generously spoon the beef filling onto one half of each toasted bread piece. Top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
09 - Return the assembled bread to the oven for an additional 5 to 6 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10 - Place the top halves of the bread over the filling, press gently, and slice into individual servings. Serve hot.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- You get the irresistible crunch and fragrance of garlic bread in every bite.
- This is the kind of easy, crowd-pleasing meal I rely on when everyone is hungry right now.
02 -
- If you toast the bread too long it dries out and crumbles once filled—keep an eye!
- Resting the filling for a couple of minutes thickens it up and prevents soggy bread.
03 -
- Only spread filling on the bread right before baking to avoid sogginess.
- Grating cheese fresh delivers the meltiest layer every time.