Description
A delicious twist on the classic sloppy joe, Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes combine seasoned ground beef, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and melted mozzarella cheese served on toasted hamburger buns for a kid-friendly, easy dinner option with all the flavors of pizza in a handheld sandwich.
Ingredients
Scale
Sloppy Joe Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Serving
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted
Instructions
- Cook the beef and vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, chopped onion, and green bell pepper together until the beef is fully browned and the vegetables are tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the skillet to reduce fat content.
- Add the seasonings and sauces: Stir in the pizza sauce, garlic powder, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix well to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Incorporate pepperoni and simmer: Add the chopped pepperoni to the skillet and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through and the flavors meld.
- Melt the cheese: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese until it melts completely and blends with the beef mixture, creating a gooey pizza-flavored filling.
- Assemble and serve: Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture onto the toasted hamburger buns and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Use turkey or plant-based ground meat for a lighter or vegetarian-friendly version.
- Add chopped olives or mushrooms to the beef mixture for an extra burst of classic pizza flavors.
- For a crispier sandwich, place the assembled sloppy joes under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes to melt and brown the cheese slightly.
