Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes

Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes!
Think saucy beef filling tucked into buttery, garlicky bread and baked until bubbly. 🥖🍅🧄

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the Sloppy Joe filling

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or turkey/chicken)

• ½ medium onion, finely diced

• ½ small bell pepper, diced (optional)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ¾ cup ketchup (or tomato sauce + 1 Tbsp brown sugar)

• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 Tbsp tomato paste (optional, for richness)

• Salt & pepper, to taste

For the garlic bread

• 1 loaf French bread or 4–6 soft rolls

• 4 Tbsp butter, softened

• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)

• 1 Tbsp fresh parsley (or 1 tsp dried)

• ½–1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar (optional, for cheesy version)

 Directions

1. Make the filling

   • Heat a skillet over medium heat.

   • Cook ground beef, onion, and bell pepper until meat is browned and veggies are soft.

   • Drain excess fat if needed.

   • Stir in garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–7 min, until thickened.

2. Prep the bread

   • Split French bread lengthwise (or split rolls).

   • Mix softened butter with garlic and parsley; spread on cut sides.

3. Assemble

   • Place bread, cut side up, on a lined baking sheet.

   • Spoon sloppy joe mixture evenly over.

   • Sprinkle cheese if using.

4. Bake

   • Preheat oven to 200 °C / 400 °F.

   • Bake 8–10 min, until cheese melts and edges are golden.

5. Serve

   • Slice into portions. Serve hot with a fresh green salad or crispy fries.

 Tips & Variations

• Make it spicy: add a dash of chili flakes or hot sauce to the filling.

• Use garlic Texas toast for a shortcut — top with filling and broil!

• Swap meat for lentils or plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version.