Go Back

Mac and Cheese Sloppy Joes

The ultimate comfort food mashup! A messy, hearty sandwich featuring savory homemade sloppy joe meat generously topped with creamy, thick macaroni and cheese on a toasted bun.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 sandwiches
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Kid-Friendly
Calories: 610
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sloppy Joe Mixture
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 0.5 cup yellow onion finely diced
  • 0.25 cup green bell pepper finely diced
  • 0.75 cup ketchup
  • 0.25 cup water
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar packed
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
Macaroni and Cheese
  • 1.5 cups dry elbow macaroni
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
For Assembly
  • 6 hamburger buns sesame seed, toasted

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Medium Saucepan
  • Pasta pot

Method
 

  1. Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with diced onions and green peppers until meat is cooked through and veggies are soft. Drain excess fat.
  3. Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder to the beef. Simmer on low for 5-10 minutes until thick.
  4. For the mac and cheese: melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Cook until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat, stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Fold in the cooked macaroni.
  7. Toast the hamburger buns. Top the bottom bun with a large scoop of the sloppy joe mixture, followed by a scoop of the mac and cheese.
  8. Place the top bun on and serve immediately while hot and gooey!

Notes

To save time on busy weeknights, you can substitute the homemade mac and cheese with a family-size box of your favorite store-bought macaroni and cheese.