Pizza Sloppy Joes
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of pizza —so much so that I opened a pizza restaurant in my hometown!
- 2 lb. ground beef
- 1 (6-ounce) package pepperoni slices
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)
- 3 tbsp. salted butter, at room temperature
- 4 to 6 kaiser rolls
- Salad, for serving
- Heat a large broiler-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Pour off most of the fat. Add the pepperoni to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the bell pepper, onion, and all but 1 teaspoon of the minced garlic to the pan. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
- Add the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes to the pan and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the marinara sauce. Add 1 cup water to the sauce jar, swirl and add the water to the skillet. Add the sugar and salt and stir, then simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
- Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle the meat mixture with the mozzarella. Transfer the skillet to the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 3 minutes.
- Mash together the butter and reserved 1 teaspoon minced garlic in a small bowl. Spread the cut sides of the rolls with the garlic butter. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Working in batches as needed, toast the rolls cut-side down until golden brown, about 1 minute. Spoon the meat mixture over the bottom of each roll and add the roll top. Serve with salad.
The pizza sloppy joe filling comes together in one skillet, making this an easy weeknight dinner. The beef cooks with pepperoni, bell pepper, onion, and garlic before simmering in marinara sauce. A little sugar balances the sauce’s acidity, while red pepper flakes add a touch of heat. Once the mozzarella is sprinkled over the top, the skillet goes under the broiler until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
I like serving these hearty sandwiches with a Caesar salad for a weeknight dinner, but they’d also be perfect on a game day spread. They’re saucy, cheesy, and so satisfying. If your family loves pizza as much as mine does, this easy pizza sloppy joe recipe is sure to be a winner.
Can you make pizza sloppy joes ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare the beef and pepperoni mixture up to 2 days ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a skillet over medium-low heat, then add the mozzarella and broil until melted.
How do you store leftover pizza sloppy joes?
Store the filling separately from the rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Toast fresh rolls just before serving so they don’t become soggy.
