Description
Zesty Italian garlic bread sloppy joes merge classic comfort with bold flavors, creating a mouthwatering fusion of hearty beef and crispy bread. Melted cheese and savory marinara sauce elevate this crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf Italian bread
Butter and Seasoning:
- 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) garlic salt
Instructions
- Slice the Italian bread lengthwise, creating two equal halves that will serve as the base for this indulgent meal.
- Generously coat the bread’s interior surfaces with softened butter, ensuring complete coverage for a rich, flavor-packed foundation.
- Sprinkle minced garlic, dried parsley, and grated parmesan cheese across the buttered bread, pressing gently to help the seasonings adhere.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into small, uniform crumbles as it cooks.
- Add diced onions and bell peppers to the meat, sautéing until the vegetables become translucent and slightly tender.
- Pour tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar into the skillet, stirring to create a harmonious, tangy mixture that coats the meat completely.
- Simmer the beef mixture for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken to a rich, clingy consistency.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, preparing a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Spread the saucy beef mixture evenly across the prepared garlic bread, ensuring each section receives an abundant portion.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat, creating a melty, golden topping.
- Place the loaded bread into the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the bread edges turn crispy and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, then slice into individual servings and enjoy the decadent fusion of garlic bread and sloppy joe flavors.
Notes
- Choose sturdy Italian bread that can handle the meaty filling without getting soggy, like a crusty ciabatta or thick-cut French bread.
- Toast the bread with garlic butter before adding the meat to create a crispy, flavorful base that adds extra texture and prevents sogginess.
- Mix ground beef with additional seasonings like smoked paprika or a dash of Worcestershire sauce to enhance the depth of flavor in the sloppy joe mixture.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to reduce calories and create a more diet-friendly option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg