Say goodbye to traditional buns and welcome a new way to enjoy a sloppy joe! These Bread Bowl Sloppy Joes are hollowed-out Kaiser rolls brushed with garlic butter, then filled with my award-winning sloppy joe recipe and topped with mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese. Finally, they are baked in the oven until the cheese is hot and melty. My mouth is watering just describing them! For another delicious twist on the classic sandwich, check out my Garlic Bread Sloppy Joes, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Sloppy Joe: If you haven’t tried my sloppy joes yet, this would be a great time to use it! You will like it so much, you will never go back to the canned stuff again! I have used it in quite a few recipes from my sloppy joe grilled cheese to a sloppy joe baked potato and sloppy joe nachos, just to name a few!
- Bread Bowls: I used Kaiser rolls with the tops and center removed. I also have a recipe for homemade bread bowls if you are feeling motivated. You could also buy bread bowls at some grocery stores.
- Garlic Butter: A generous amount of garlic butter is brushed all over the bread bowls, both inside and out! It helps the bread bowls be even more flavorful, so don’t skip it!
- Cheese: Adding both mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top of the sloppy joe bread bowls brings an extra layer of creaminess and flavor. Provolone, Pepper Jack (for a little kick), or Swiss would all be delicious, too. Or, if preferred, you can leave off the cheese. The sloppy joe bread bowls will still be delicious!
How To Cut The Perfect Bread Bowl For Filling
Once you have your rolls picked out, it’s time to cut them for the sloppy joe filling! Use a serrated knife to cut a circle around the top of the roll, but start a little in from the edge. I like to cut at an angle, pointing the knife toward the center so that a V-shaped piece comes out. You can use your fingers to remove more bread if you want it to be more hollow.
What To Do With Bread Bowl Tops
Don’t let the tops of the bread bowls go to waste! I love to cut them up and make my homemade croutons. You could also pulse them in a food processor to make homemade bread crumbs. Or, serve them with dips like my Easy Spinach Dip or Cheeseburger Dip.
What To Serve With Bread Bowl Sloppy Joes
Here are some great sides that I would serve with Bread Bowl Sloppy Joes:
- Air Fryer French Fries (This leaves the oven available for the bread bowls!)
- Coleslaw
- Potato Salad (My Roasted Potato Salad is incredible, I might add…)
- Sweet Potato Fries or Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Corn on the Cob
- Wedge Salad
Any of these sides will round out the meal nicely!
Can I Make The Sloppy Joe Filling Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can absolutely make the Sloppy Joe filling ahead of time! Prepare the filling as instructed, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, simply reheat it on the stove or in the microwave before filling the bread bowls. I love this as a great option for meal prep or busy days!
How To Store Bread Bowl Sloppy Joes
Storing leftover bread bowl sloppy joes is possible, but not ideal because the bread may get soggy. But, if storing, try to separate the filling from the bread bowl. Then, store the filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wrap the bread bowls tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Reheat the sloppy joe filling in the microwave or on the stovetop. Toast the bread bowls in the oven before filling.
Bread Bowl Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Sloppy Joe
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion, chopped
- 1 ½ cups (360 g) ketchup
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Bread Bowls
- 4 round (5-6 inches) rolls, like white kaiser rolls
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons parsley, minced
Topping
- ½ cup (56.5 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- ½ cup (56.5 g) sharp cheddar, shredded, divided
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Sloppy Joe
- In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and onions until the beef is no longer pink (8-10 minutes). Drain grease.
- Stir in the ketchup, water, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, mixing until combined.
Bread Bowls
- Cut the centers out of the tops of the rolls, making sure that the base of the bread remains attached (Be careful to not cut all the way through). Place rolls on the lined baking sheet. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine butter, garlic, salt, and parsley. Stir until well combined.
- Spoon and brush the garlic butter sauce equally on each roll (inside and out). You will use 2-3 tablespoons of the garlic butter sauce per roll.
Assembly
- Divide the sloppy joe mixture evenly between the rolls. Top each with 2 tablespoons of mozzarella and 2 tablespoons of cheddar.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Top with parsley for garnish.
Video
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
These are great! Pairing the sloppy joe mix with the bread bowl takes the classic sandwich to the next level!
Elizabeth
What a fun and delicious way to serve a sloppy joe! The garlic butter on the bread bowl adds so much flavor! The only thing I would tweak is maybe offering a couple without cheese, too.
Annabelle
The bread bowls really elevate this dish. The filling is classic sloppy joe, but the bread bowl soaks up all the flavors without getting too soggy.
Bella
Serving sloppy joes in bread bowls is genius! And, I don't mind the cheese (which I have not added to my sloppy joe before).
Selena
Delicious! The bread is crisp and flavorful on the outside, soft on the inside, and the filling is packed with flavor. The melted cheese on top just makes it even better!
Such a great idea – you should call them not-so-sloppy sloppy joes! (my husband is your biggest fan)
10/10
Happened to have old bread bowls (that I was going to make your french toast bowls with) but the kids were hungry at 8 last night so I made these. I made 4 for the 3 of us and we were fighting over the last one!!!