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Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes

A fun mashup of classic sloppy joes and pepperoni pizza, featuring a savory, cheesy ground beef and pepperoni filling piled on a toasted bun.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 sandwiches
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Fusion
Calories: 485

Ingredients
  

Sloppy Joe Mixture
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion finely diced
  • 1 green bell pepper finely diced
  • 4 ounces pepperoni half diced, half whole for garnish
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 0.5 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp dried basil
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
For Assembly
  • 6 soft brioche or potato buns toasted
  • 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
  • Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Wooden spoon
  • Cutting board
  • Chef’s knife

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.
  2. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess grease if necessary.
  3. Add the diced pepperoni and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in the pizza sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
  5. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. While the mixture simmers, lightly toast the hamburger buns.
  7. Place the bottom halves of the toasted buns on plates. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto each bun. Top immediately with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Garnish with whole pepperoni slices, grated Parmesan, and fresh herbs. Serve immediately with the top bun on the side.

Notes

The meat mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. For a spicier version, use spicy pepperoni or add more red pepper flakes.