When it comes to comfort food, few things bring as much satisfaction as a hearty sloppy joe. But when you take that classic recipe and give it a Southern twist with thick, buttery Texas toast, you’re in for something truly special. This Texas Toast Sloppy Joe recipe combines smoky, sweet, and savory flavors all piled high on slices of garlicky toasted bread It’s the perfect combination of crunch, flavor, and nostalgia. Whether you’re firing up the griddle, cooking indoors, or feeding a hungry crowd, this is one meal that hits all the right notes.

Looking for more nostalgic recipes that have a BBQ twist, then check out my Smoked Meatloaf recipe, Homemade McRib Sandwich or a hearty Salisbury Steak Dinner.

A New Take on an Old Favorite

Traditional sloppy joes are usually served on hamburger buns, but Texas toast takes this dish to the next level. The thick, buttery bread holds up beautifully under the saucy beef mixture, soaking up all the flavor without falling apart. The result? A rich, messy, and absolutely irresistible sandwich that’s part comfort food, part indulgence, and 100% satisfying.

Using Texas toast also gives you more texture — that perfect crunch on the outside with a soft, buttery interior. It’s the kind of upgrade that makes a simple weeknight meal feel restaurant-worthy. And if you’re grilling, Texas toast is your best friend. It toasts quickly, resists getting soggy, and brings that smoky, buttery flavor we all crave.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Texas Toast Sloppy Joe recipe is everything comfort food should be: simple, flavorful, and satisfying. It brings together the smoky, sweet, and savory notes of a traditional sloppy joe, then amplifies them with buttery, garlicky bread that makes every bite unforgettable. Perfect for weeknight dinners, backyard gatherings, or game day spreads, this dish delivers the bold, hearty flavor Texas is known for — no fork required.

Ingredients needed to make a Texas Toast Sloppy Joe

• Ground beef: I used an 80/20 ground chuck blend which has the perfect level of lean to fat ratio.
• Sloppy joe mix: I used a pre-measured seasoning packet for convenience. Takes the guess work and mess out.
• Texas toast: I used frozen garlic Texas Toast slices.

Start with the beef

Traditionally, sloppy joes are made with ground beef, which is exactly what I used. If you’re looking for a leaner option, use a 90/10 blend or ground turkey as an alternative.

For this Texas Toast Sloppy Joe recipe, I used an 80/20 ground chuck blend which has the perfect level of lean to fat ratio. It’s not too lean and has enough fat to add flavor to the meat.

Preheat the grill to a medium 375 degrees and set it for dual zone cooking. This means there is a direct and indirect heat option. I used my Weber Kettle, but any grill or store top will do the trick. Follow same times and temps.

How to create dual heat zone on different grills

Dual heat zones are created differently depending on the type of grill you have.

• Gas grill: Turn the burners on one half of the grill. For indirect heat, place food on the opposite end.
• Charcoal grill: position the heated charcoal to one half of the round bowl. For indirect heat, place the food on the opposite end.
• Komodo style grill: use a plate setter that will deflect direct heat from the food on the grates.

While the grill is heating up, dice up a yellow onion and green bell pepper. These veggies will give a nice crunch and texture to the sloppy joe mixture.

Grill the Texas Toast Sloppy Joe

Once the grill is hot, place a cast iron skillet directly over the grates and place the meat in it. Leave the ground beef whole in the hot pan for 2-3 minutes to sear the bottom.

Next, start breaking down the meat and cook until the pink is gone and color turns to brown.

Add in the chopped veggies and mix everything together.

For the seasoning, I went with a pre-measured packaged Sloppy Joe Mix by Williams. It’s convenient but more importantly very tasty. Add the tomato past and a cup of water and now mix all the ingredients together again one last time.

Let the grilled sloppy joe mixture simmer over the grill for 15 minutes allowing the veggies to cook and the beef to absorb all those delicious spices.

Toast up the Texas Toast

We are almost at the assembly part. For this recipe I used the classic frozen garlic Texas toast slices from the grocery store. If you like making your own - go for it!

Follow the toasting instructions. Once done, take a large spoon and make a dent in each slice.

Take a heaping spoonful of the sloppy joe mix and place it on each toast.

Sprinkle the top with shredded cheese and put everything back on the grill for 5 minutes on a pan over indirect heat to allow the cheese to melt.

Before serving, add some freshly chopped parsley over the top and enjoy!

Serving Ideas and Variations

The best part about Texas Toast Sloppy Joes is how customizable they are. You can keep them classic, or turn up the flavor with additions like grilled onions, jalapeños, or crispy bacon. Want to make them more indulgent? Top with a fried egg for the ultimate messy masterpiece.

Storage Tips

If you have any of the sloppy joe mixture leftover, don’t worry, I have you covered.

• Store leftover sloppy joe meat separately from the toast to keep it from getting soggy.
• The meat mixture can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
• When ready to eat, reheat the meat on the stovetop or grill, and toast fresh bread for that signature crunch.
• Reuse the leftovers to make Sloppy Joe Cornbread or a Sloppy Joe loaded Baked Potato.

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving something bold, messy, and downright delicious, Texas Toast Sloppy Joes deliver in every way. They’re the perfect blend of comfort food and Southern flair — easy to make, loaded with flavor, and guaranteed to satisfy even the biggest appetites. The buttery crunch of Texas toast paired with the rich, saucy beef makes each bite unforgettable.

Whether you’re grilling outdoors, whipping up a quick weeknight dinner, or feeding a crowd on game day, this recipe brings big flavor with minimal effort. It’s proof that sometimes the best meals are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously — just good food, good company, and plenty of napkins.

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Texas Toast Sloppy Joe

Take your classic sloppy joe to the next level with this Texas Toast Sloppy Joe recipe — thick, buttery toast piled high with smoky, sweet, and savory beef. A bold, hearty comfort food perfect for weeknights or game day.

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword texas toast sloppy joe, nostalgic food, garlic bread, ground beef, comfort recipe, grillin with dad recipes, grilling with dad recipes.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 People

Calories 621kcal

Author Maciek Zurawski

Ingredients

• 1 lbs Ground beef
• 1 Yellow onion
• 1 Green bell pepper
• 1 cup Water
• 1 pkg Sloppy Joe mix
• 6 oz Tomato paste
• 8 Garlic Texas toast slices

Instructions

• Start by preheating the grill to a medium 375 degrees and set it for dual zone cooking.
• While the grill is heating up, dice up a yellow onion and green bell pepper.
• Place the cast iron skillet directly over the grates and place the meat in it. Leave the ground beef whole in the hot pan for 2-3 minutes to sear the bottom.
• Start breaking down the meat and cook until the pink is gone. Add in the veggies and mix together.
• Add in the sloppy joe mix, tomato paste and water. Mix all the ingredient together until everything is evenly blended. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.
• Toast the garlic Texas toasts. With a large spoon, make a dent in each slice.
• Take a heaping spoonful of the sloppy joe mix and place it on each toast.
• Sprinkle the top with shredded cheese and put everything back on the grill for 5 minutes on a pan over indirect heat to allow the cheese to melt.
• Before serving, add some freshly chopped parsley over the top and enjoy!

Notes

Use an 80/20 ground chuck blend. This has the ideal lean to fat ratio without compromising flavor.

Use pre-measure and pre-packaged ingredients for convenience and speed.

Nutrition

Calories: 621kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 831mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 766IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 16mg