Pizza Sloppy Joes
Pizza Sloppy Joes are an easy dinner made with ground beef, a quick and easy homemade pizza sauce, pepperoni, and provolone cheese. They’re a fun twist on regular sloppy joes and only take about 20 minutes to make!
Are you looking for more ground beef recipes? Try our Cheeseburger Pasta, Loose Meat Sandwiches, or American Goulash.
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We love sloppy joes around here! They’re quick and easy to make, and they’re always been a favorite with my kids! Our all-time favorite is an old Dairy Dee sloppy Joe recipe that came from my husband’s grandmother, and I’ve been making for years. But the kids beg for these Pizza Sloppy Joes a lot too!
They’re a fun way to change up our regular sloppy joe night, especially since my kids never turn down anything that tastes like pizza! The pepperoni and provolone make them different from our usual sloppy joes without making dinner any harder.
What you’ll love about Pizza Sloppy Joes
What Ingredients Do I Need to Make Pizza Sloppy Joes?
- Ground beef
- Tomato sauce
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Honey
- Salt
- Parmesan cheese
- Pepperoni
- Provolone cheese
- Buns
Ingredient Notes:
- Ground Beef: I use whatever beef I have on had 85/15 or 93/7. Just drain well after cooking the beef.
- Honey: Just a little honey cuts the acidity of the tomato sauce without making the sloppy joes sweet. You can use white suga
- Parmesan Cheese: I used the green shaker cheese, but freshly grated work just fine too!
How do I make Pizza Sloppy Joes?
Step 1: Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
Step 2: Add the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, honey, salt, parmesan cheese, and chopped pepperoni to the skillet. Stir until everything is combined.
Step 3: Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is heated through.
Step 4: Spoon the pizza sloppy Joe mixture onto the buns and top each one with a slice of provolone cheese. Serve warm.
PRO TIP:
Chop the pepperoni into small pieces so you get a little pepperoni in every bite instead of large pieces throughout.
Storage and Reheating:
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Keep the buns separate so they don’t get soggy.
Reheating: Reheat the mixture in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave until heated through. Add a small amount of liquid if the mixture seems too thick after reheating.
Freezing: Let the meat mixture cool completely, then freeze it in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Additions and Substitutions:
- Cheese: Mozzarella can be used instead of provolone.
- Vegetables: Add chopped green peppers, or mushrooms to the ground beef while it cooks.
- Cheese: Try different cheeses like cheddar or Monterey Jack for variation.
- Beef: Try cooked Italian sausage in place of some or all of the ground beef.
- Pizza Toppings: Add extra pepperoni, or your favorite pizza toppings!
FAQs about Pizza Joes
Can I make Pizza Sloppy Joes ahead of time?
Yes! Make the meat mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Reheat it when you’re ready to eat, then assemble the sandwiches with the cheese and buns.
Can I use store-bought pizza sauce?
Yes. You can substitute your jarred pizza sauce when you’re short on time, but the homemade pizza sauce is so quick and easy to make and tastes like a billion times better. LOL!
What cheese is best for pizza sloppy joes?
I use provolone because it goes really well with the pizza sauce and pepperoni. Mozzarella is another good option.
What can I serve with this Sloppy Joe recipe?
Pizza Sloppy Joes are easy to serve with the same sides you would make with regular sloppy joes. Potato chips, French fries, herb roasted potatoes, or a simple salad.
Pizza Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chopped pepperoni slices
- 4 slices Provolone cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease.1 pound ground beef.
- Add the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, honey, salt, parmesan cheese, and chopped pepperoni to the skillet. Stir until everything is combined.1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce,1 Tablespoon honey,1 teaspoon Italian seasoning,1/2 teaspoon garlic powder,1/2 teaspoon onion powder,1/2 teaspoon salt,3 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese,1 cup chopped pepperoni slices.
- Cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is heated through.
- Spoon the pizza sloppy Joe mixture onto the buns and top each one with a slice of provolone cheese. Serve warm.4 slices Provolone cheese,4 hamburger buns.
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About Vicky Hadley
Vicky Hadley is a professional food photographer and creator behind Little Chef Within. As a mom of 6 boys, there’s always plenty of noise and plenty of food! She relies on filling meals to keep her crew happy and loves creating recipes that real families can count on.