Kick up the flavor of dinner with these Sloppy José Sandwiches! They’re perfect for game day, too!
Southwestern Sandwiches
If your family is anything like my family, we love finding reasons to get together with friends and family to share great food and memories! These Sloppy José Sandwiches make an appearance for many of our game day festivities. And we also enjoy them for dinner throughout the year.
As I have mentioned before, sloppy joes are a favorite in the Love Bakes Good Cakes house. I can almost give you 50/50 odds that if I ask Brian what sounds good for dinner, he’s going to ask me when was the last time we had sloppy joes. Yes, he is that predictable! As much as I love a good sloppy joe sandwich once in a while, my husband could eat them every week.
No. Just no. I like to switch things up …
If you know anything about me, know that I will try to put a Southwest spin on almost anything. That’s where these Sloppy José Sandwiches come from! I didn’t make a typo in the title … they’re a spiced-up Tex-Mex version of a sloppy joe!
To make Sloppy José Sandwiches, you just cook your ground beef with garlic and then add all sorts of Southwestern Tex-Mex flavors: chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, salsa, and of course, a bit of water. After that, if you want, you scoop the filling into sandwich buns and top them with avocado, sour cream, or your favorite Mexican toppings.
Sloppy José Sandwiches are the best spin EVER on a sloppy joe, and you know I’m all about new takes on old classics! It’s simple and delicious!! I hope you enjoy these Southwestern Sloppy Joes as much as my family does!
Mexican Sloppy Joes: Ingredients & Substitutions
To make these Sloppy José Sandwiches, you will need …
Ingredients
- ground beef – lean (85% or leaner so you don’t have to skim off the fat). You can’t have a Sloppy José (or a Sloppy Joe) without some kind of meat!
- garlic – minced. This will provide the base flavor for your sandwich. Don’t leave it out, trust me!!
- chipotle pepper – chopped. Get the kind that comes in adobo sauce, because you’ll want to use …
- adobo sauce – the kind that comes with peppers inside!
- cumin, chili powder – spices that make this Sloppy José Sandwich superb!!
- salsa- my brand favorite to use is the medium Pace since it’s not too spicy nor too mild. But you can use whatever you have available, or make your own!
- water – provides a bit of liquid to your filling.
- hamburger buns – toasted, preferably!
- avocado slices – optional, but a great topping on this sandwich.
Sloppy Joes: FAQs
About 5 minutes to prep the ingredients and 20 minutes to cook them. You’ll have dinner on the table in less than a half-hour!!
You should have enough meat for about 12 sandwiches, more or less.
Y’all, there are so many amazing ways to reuse your Sloppy José mix if you don’t eat it all at dinner!! Try …
– scooping it onto baked potatoes or fries
– using it as a topping on hot dogs
– putting it in a sloppy joe grilled cheese
My mouth is watering just thinking of it all!
Honestly, I love a good hamburger bun! I know a lot of people will eat these with a pretzel bun, however, or a Hawaiian sweet roll. A gluten-free bun should work, too, of course.
If you’re a sucker for punishment – (just kidding!!) – you can add your favorite hot sauce to your Sloppy José mix. Sriracha is good too!! You can also use more chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or more of just the sauce if you want.
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Sloppy José Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb. lean ground beef
- 3 – 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce chopped
- 1 – 2 teaspoons adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 cups salsa
- ½ cup water
- 12 hamburger buns toasted
- avocado slices if desired
Instructions
- Cook and crumble the ground beef with garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain, return beef to pan.
- Stir in chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, salsa, and water. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 7-10 minutes or until thickened slightly, stirring occasionally.
To serve:
- Spoon the beef mixture on the buns. Top with sliced avocados, if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use your favorite salsa with your desired spice level!
- Guacamole is a great substitute for avocado slices.
- Try adding a slice of Pepper-Jack cheese!
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Originally published on January 14, 2016. Updated on July 26, 2022.
Haha I LOVE the idea of a sloppy Jose! Sloppy Joes aren't a 'thing' in the UK but I must try to make a veggie version of this, it sounds yummy 🙂
My family loves sloppy joes too and would eat them every week. Love the idea of spicing it up a bit with the Pace®. Gives me a reason to make them more often. #client
We haven't had sloppy joes for some time, but your sloppy jose will be on the menu soon !
What a great idea for a Southwest spin on sloppy joes! You know I'm a lover of anything foodies that have a spicy "bite" and I know the hubby would just love these for dinner tonight!
Everything is better Jose style! YUM!
These Sloppy José Sandwiches look absolutely delicious! I love the twist on the classic! Can’t wait to try this recipe for our next family get-together. Thanks for sharing!
This Sloppy José Sandwich looks absolutely delicious! I love the twist on a classic sloppy joe. Can’t wait to try making it for my next game day gathering! Thanks for the great recipe!
These Sloppy José Sandwiches look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try them out for our next game night. Thanks for sharing such a fun and tasty recipe!
I can’t wait to try these Sloppy José Sandwiches! They look so delicious and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Thanks for sharing this fun twist on a classic!
I made the Sloppy José Sandwiches for dinner last night, and they were a huge hit! The flavors were perfect, and they were super easy to prepare. Will definitely make these again! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a review!
These Sloppy José Sandwiches look absolutely delicious! I love the twist on the classic recipe. Can’t wait to try them for our next family gathering—perfect for a crowd! Thanks for sharing!
This Sloppy José Sandwich recipe looks amazing! I love how easy it is to make and the flavor combinations sound delicious. I can’t wait to try it out for my next game day gathering! Thanks for sharing!
Great recipe! I added a bit of shredded cheese and chopped jalapeños for extra heat — turned out amazing. Next time I might try it with ground turkey for a lighter version.
I love the idea of Sloppy José Sandwiches! The combination of flavors sounds amazing, and I can’t wait to try making them at home. Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe!
These Sloppy José Sandwiches look absolutely delicious! I love the creative twist on a classic dish. Can’t wait to try making these for my family – they’re going to love the flavors! Thanks for sharing the recipe!