These zesty Italian Sloppy Joes are a family dinner favorite. They’re also a delicious easy option for your next game day party!
Who doesn’t love a good old sloppy Joe??
These Italian Sloppy Joes are always a hit at our house. A combination of ground beef and spicy Italian sausage with some Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes for added spice, these are such a great option for your family dinner, meal prep for the week or even your next game day party.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This recipe is super easy to whip up. Kids who live on their own? A tasty, simple recipe that they can easily whip up on their own even if they are a novice in the kitchen.
Cutting carbs and bulking up on protein? This recipe is great even without the bun. Serve with just a side salad.
I like to use spicy hot Italian sausage, but if you enjoy things milder feel free to substitute some sweet Italian sausage and limit the amount of red pepper flakes you add.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- olive oil
- ground beef
- bulk Italian sausage (sweet or spicy)
- yellow onion
- coarse kosher salt and pepper
- garlic
- tomato paste
- crushed tomatoes
- granulated sugar
- Italian seasoning
- dried parsley
- red pepper flakes
- grated Parmesan cheese
I also just added chopped onions, but I’m thinking next time I’ll add the same amount of chopped green peppers.
Step-By-Step Instructions
The first step is to cook your ground beef, Italian sausage, yellow onion, salt and pepper in a larger skillet over medium-high heat, breaking the meat up as it cooks and it’s no longer pink and the onions are translucent. You’ll drain the excess fat/liquid from the skillet and then mix in your minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
The second step is to mix in your tomato paste until well combined followed by your crushed tomatoes, granulated sugar, Italian seasoning, dried parsley and red pepper flakes. You’ll cook the mixture covered over medium-low heat until heated through, about 5-6 minutes.
The third and final step is to add in your grated Parmesan and a 1/4 cup water and mix until well combined.
You can serve on buns or without buns. I sometimes like to top mine with an additional sprinkle of grated Parmesan and/or some freshly shredded mozzarella cheese.
These are also really delicious served open face on a slice of Texas toast.
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below.
A Few Cook’s Notes for Italian Sloppy Joes
I added four large minced garlic cloves, but if you like more garlic, add what you prefer.
The 1/2 teaspoon of the red pepper flakes is enough for my taste, especially with the hot Italian sausage, but if you prefer more, taste first and then add what you like.
Italian Sloppy Joes
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 lb. bulk hot Italian sausage
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 tsp. coarse kosher salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp. dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Add you olive to a large deep skillet of medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add ground beef, Italian sausage, yellow onion, salt and pepper and cook breaking the meat up as it cooks. Cook until it's no longer pink and the onions are translucent. You'll drain the excess fat/liquid from the skillet and then mix in your minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Mix in your tomato paste until well combined followed by your crushed tomatoes, granulated sugar, Italian seasoning, dried parsley and red pepper flakes. Bring to a low boil, then lower to medium-low heat and cook the mixture covered, until heated through, about 5-6 minutes.Add in your grated Parmesan and a 1/4 cup water and mix until well combined and heated through.
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