Want a fun and filling recipe, these Open Faced Sloppy Joes are full of flavor and super filling. Kids and adults alike adore them!
So we recently went to Vegas and ate at our first Wahlburgers. It was around 11:00 and we had just gotten down at there Paris Casino and Hotel seeing a hypnotist and we were craving anything.
While nothing around us that was walkable was open past midnight I found Wahlburgers and was like “we have to go here”. I have always wanted to try this restaurant and I’m so happy I did!
They have a recipe on their menu called Mom’s Sloppy Joes. This Open Faced Sloppy Joe recipe is a copycat version of that. I literally fell in love when I took my first bite.
I know people are like “how can you fall in love with fast food”? Well my friends, this sandwich is completely different. It is layers of sloppy joe meat, burger sauce, cheese sauce and fried onion strings. I mean hello…what about that DOESN’T scream mouthwatering!
It was literally two days after we arrived home and I created my new favorite sloppy Joe recipe. You guys, you will fall I love with this, seriously there is so much depth to this recipe that it is hard to not just want to indulge.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU NEED FOR MEAT SAUCE?
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Tomato puree
- Ketchup
- Vinegar
- Brown sugar
- Garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce
This recipe really tastes like a homestyle recipe, the sauces that go along with it are super simple to whip up, the burger sauce just consists of ketchup, mayo, sweet relish, vinegar and pepper. Pretty much a basic Thousand Island Dressing!
You could easily substitute the Thousand Islands if you like, but this sauce alone is really good and it really makes these Open Faced Sloppy Joes one of the best “sandwiches” that I have ever put in my mouth.
So I know that this sloppy Joe recipe seems to have a lot of components to them but let me tell you that they really don’t, the only thing that really takes some time is making the onions and those really aren’t that hard either! There are so many different ways on how to make sloppy joes, but these are our fave.
Onion straws are one of those things that I could pop in my mouth all day long. You should never ask me to be the one who is in charge of making the green bean casserole because I eat the fried onions right out of the bag. Sorry, not sorry.
While we adore take out now and again, we really enjoy it more when we can do some fake out takeout and make them at home.
Some of our favorite copycat takeout recipes include:
These Open Faced Sloppy Joes will be one of those ones that you’ll want to make over and over again, kids love it! Well my kids loved it minus the onions straws, they are just picky like that.
I’m sure a lot of you can relate to having super picky kids, but it hasn’t stopped us from making all the fun and flavorful things we love. We keep experimenting and my kids have learned to love a lot of things they never did before.
If you like this recipe you might also like:
- Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rattlesnake Bites
- Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Copycat Chinese Takeout Sweet and Sour Chicken
Open Faced Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Sloppy Joes:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 cup onions diced
- 3/4 cup tomato puree
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt & pepper
- Canned cheese sauce
- Texas toast
Burger Sauce:
- 3/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 Tbs sweet pickle relish
- 1 Tbs vinegar
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Onion Straws:
- 1 large onions sliced thin
- 1-2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups flour
- 1 Tbs paprika
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- Oil for frying
Instructions
To make your onions straws:
- Add your sliced onions to a large bowl and cover with buttermilk and let sit for about 30 minutes.
- Heat oil to 350 (we use the deep fryer).
- In large bowl whisk together flour, paprika, pepper, salt and garlic powder.
- In small batches remove onions from buttermilk and toss in flour mixture and then into deep fryer and toss a few times until browned, drain on paper towel and repeat, set aside.
To make your burger sauce:
- add all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until combined, set aside.
To make sloppy joes:
- In large skillet add your ground beef and onions and saute over medium-high heat until browned, drain off fat.
- Add in remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.
To assemble:
- Add your canned cheese sauce to bowl and heat up slightly in microwave.
- Toast your Texas toast and layer one slice on plate.
- Top with sloppy Joe meat and then spread desired amount of burger sauce over the top, then desired amount of cheese sauce.
- Top with onions straws and serve.
Nutrition
Tornadough Alli is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value is important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and values can vary depending on which brands were used.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Mike Didier
Do you find yourself trying different vinegars realizing
nothing specified here E.G. Sherry Vinegar.
I follow you. Recipes are clear and helpfully delicious.
Rachael Yerkes
Oh this was so good!! I’m obsessed!
Kara C
Holy yum! With that ooey gooey cheese and the crunchy onions, my mouth is watering over here! I’m gonna have to try these.
Kimberly
Oooh, this looks so good and I love the lower carb version!
Anna
This looks incredible! I cannot wait to make it!
Ashley F
A new family favorite! We love the sweet and tangy sauce!
Rachael Yerkes
This looks stinking amazing!