Best Ever Spicy Sloppy Joe Recipe (15 Minutes)
Our Spicy Sloppy Joe recipe is easy to make in 15 minutes! A scrumptious, kid friendly comfort food sandwich with kick of Mexican flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef I use 88% lean
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Mexican seasoning blend recipe below
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 7 ounces diced green chiles canned
- 1/4 cup water
- 8 brioche hamburger buns or sesame seed buns
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro optional, for garnish
- corn chips optional, for topping
Homemade Mexican Seasoning Blend
- 2 teaspoons New Mexico chile powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Split and butter the inside of the brioche buns. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil, buttered sides up. Set aside.
- Warm a large (10-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and salt. Cook until meat is browned and cooked through, using a spatula to break up the ground beef as it cooks.It isn't necessary to drain the beef drippings unless the beef is drowning in them.
- Sprinkle Mexican seasoning over the beef and stir to combine.
- Add tomato sauce, diced green chiles, and water. Stir to combine and continue cooking until the sauce thickens up, about 5 minutes.
- Toast the hamburger buns in preheated oven for 6-10 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown.Remove pan from oven and switch setting to broiler.
- Sprinkle a tablespoon or so of cheese onto the insides of each of the top and bottom buns and place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until just melted. **Don’t walk away from the oven - they can go from melted to burned in a blink.
- Spoon a heaping portion of spicy sloppy joe on the bottom cheesy buns. Top with a small handful of Fritos and cilantro leaves, if desired. Cover with top cheesy bun. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Seasoning: I make up a large batch of the Mexican Seasoning Blend from our cookbook The Simple Kitchen and use it in all of my quick fix Mexican style recipes. You can substitute Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle Seasoning Blend in a pinch if you'd like.
Nutrition Note: Nutrition shown is for one sandwich, without corn chips.
Store sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 3-4 days.
To Freeze: Bring meat mixture to room temperature and portion into freezer bags or freezer safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Gluten Free / Low Carb Option
For a gluten-free option or low carb option, serve on a bed of corn tortilla chips or low carb chips of choice, topped with Mexican shredded cheese and cilantro. Or, serve in a bowl garnished with thin slices of red onion, thin sliced fresh jalapeno peppers and cilantro leaves.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 sandwich | Calories: 605cal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 1442mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 4mg