Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes

Spicy, savory and saucy Tex-Mex sloppy joes are here to jolt your dinner repertoire out of the doldrums. If you enjoy classic sloppy joes but wish they weren’t quite so sweet (raising my hand here), you’ll want to give this spiced version a try.

Browned ground beef simmers in a thick ketchup-based sauce flavored with sauteed onion and garlic—so far, so classic—before ushering in the Tex-Mex part of the recipe with green chiles, cumin, chili powder and crushed red pepper flakes. The result isn’t so fiery that it will put off the kids; it’s just further into taco-inspired territory and away from the cafeteria menu.

Ingredients for Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes

• Ground beef: Quick-cooking ground beef recipes are weeknight dinner standbys in my house. They’re so saucy that you can use lean beef without missing the richness of a fattier blend.
• Onion and garlic: Cooking fresh aromatics goes a long way to cut through the various canned and jarred condiments used in the sauce.
• Ketchup: Even our creative sloppy joe recipes often start with ketchup, which makes a tangy, slightly sweet, smooth sauce. If you use sugar- or salt-free ketchup, you may need to adjust the other seasonings to get the right flavor balance.
• Canned chopped green chiles: Using canned green chiles saves time. They have a smoky, earthy flavor that’s only mildly spicy.
• Beef broth: Adding broth to thin the sauce gives additional beefy, savory flavor. Add a bit more if your sauce is pasty. You definitely don’t want dry sloppy joes—as the name suggests, they should be juicy, and should soak the bun.
• Chili sauce: Don’t confuse this thick, tomatoey sauce with sweet chili sauce, an Asian sauce that’s syrupy-sweet. Chili sauce looks similar to ketchup, but it’s chunkier, tangier and spicier (though it’s not particularly hot).
• Spices: To drive home the Tex-Mex flavors, the meat is seasoned with chili powder, ground cumin, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. You probably already have most of these in your pantry. For a milder sandwich, you can skip the pepper flakes.
• Hamburger buns: Soft, squishy burger buns are airy enough to soak up plenty of sauce. Toasting them gives them structure to keep them from falling apart under the saucy meat.
• Butter: Buttering the buns might sound like a step you can skip, but I actually notice the added flavor and richness, and I bet you will, too. That said, if you’re looking for a way to reduce fat, it’s not vital.

Directions

Step 1: Brown the beef

In a large skillet, cook the beef and onion over medium heat for six to eight minutes or until the beef is no longer pink, breaking up the beef into crumbles as it cooks. Drain the fat and juices. Add the garlic, and cook the mixture one to two minutes longer.

Editor’s Tip: Adding garlic once the meat is cooked prevents it from burning and infusing a bitter taste into the entire dish.

Step 2: Add the sauce ingredients

Stir in the ketchup, chiles, broth, chili sauce, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer the mixture, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Editor’s Tip: The sauce may splatter a bit, so use a splatter guard if you like. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can adjust it with a splash of broth or water.

Step 3: Toast the buns and build the joes

Meanwhile, spread the cut sides of the buns with butter. Place them on baking sheets, buttered side up. Broil them 4 inches from the heat for one to two minutes or until they’re toasted. Serve the beef mixture in the buns with pickle slices, if desired.

Recipe Variations

• Kick up the heat: Saute a chopped jalapeno with the beef and onion to make the meat spicier, or season the skillet with your favorite hot sauce before serving the sandwiches.
• Make it cheesy: For a queso dip–meets–sloppy joe sandwich, melt a few cubes of Velveeta or cream cheese into the meat mixture before spooning it over the toasted buns. Or, you can serve these as I always had sloppy joes growing up: topped with a big handful of shredded cheddar.
• Swap sauce ingredients: Sometimes you’re missing one ingredient, but you just can’t run to the store. This recipe is extremely versatile. Go ahead and replace the chili sauce with one of the best salsas, use taco seasoning in place of the spices, or use water or tomato juice instead of beef broth.
• Lighten up: Subbing ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef dramatically cuts calories without taking away the saucy, Southwestern soul of the recipe. If you just want to lighten it up a little, you could also try a combination of ground turkey, ground beef and ground pork.
• Add veggies: Cubed zucchini, frozen corn, bell peppers and spinach are all tasty additions that will bulk up the meal. If you don’t want your kids to see the veggies, pulse them in a food processor until they’re very finely chopped, then saute them with the meat.
• Think outside the bun: Serve the sloppy joe mixture on corn tortillas with taco toppings, if you’d like. Or, spoon it over hot rice for a quick gluten-free meal.

How to Store Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes

Store the meat mixture separately from the buns in an airtight food storage container for up to four days. Keep the buns in a sealed bag on the countertop. Ideally, toast only the buns you plan to eat immediately, though you can keep leftover toasted buns in an airtight container on the counter for up to a day.

What’s the best way to reheat Tex-Mex sloppy joes?

The quickest way to reheat Tex-Mex sloppy joe filling is in the microwave. Transfer as much as you plan to eat into a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat it in 30-second bursts, stirring between them, until the filling is steaming. You can also reheat the filling in a pot over medium heat, stirring, until it’s hot. Add water or broth to adjust the consistency, and check whether the sauce needs a fresh pinch of spice or salt to perk it back up.

Can you freeze Tex-Mex sloppy joes?

Although you don’t want to freeze assembled sandwiches, the filling for Tex-Mex sloppy joes freezes beautifully. After the filling is cooked, cool the meat and sauce completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze it for up to two months. Defrost the filling in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.

Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes Tips

What should you serve with Tex-Mex sloppy joes?

These spicy sloppy joes are delicious with classic side dishes like cool, creamy potato salads, smooth and indulgent mashed potatoes, and bright, sharp green salads. If you’re in a hurry, keep it simple with warmed black beans and a side of frozen or canned corn. You can also lean into Southwestern flavors by serving Mexican-inspired side dishes like an avocado salad or cheesy, smoky esquites.