Smash Burger Sloppy Joes
Because We All Need Another Sloppy Joe Recipe
Smash Burger Sloppy Joes combine everything you love about a classic smash burger with the saucy comfort of a Sloppy Joe for an easy and crowd-pleasing dinner. Lean ground beef is pressed into a hot skillet to create crispy, caramelized edges before the meat is simmered in a flavorful ketchup and mustard sauce with Worcestershire, beef broth, and savory seasonings then served on soft hamburger buns with melty American cheese and your favorite burger toppings.
I was supposed to be in Southern California this week for work, but a knee injury forced me to postpone the trip for a couple of weeks. All I could think about was how badly I was craving In-N-Out Burger. I already have a million Sloppy Joe recipes on my site and there are a million more out there.
That craving got me thinking, why not turn it into a Smash Burger Sloppy Joe, so I got to work and this version came out absolutely amazing.
Must Have The Crispy Bits
The key to this recipe is making sure you get some crispy, caramelized bits on the ground beef as it cooks. You don’t want the meat burned and you don’t want all of it super crispy.
You do want to press some of the ground beef into the pan so parts of it get extra browned while other pieces stay tender. This is really the only semi complicated step in the whole recipe.
It is what gives these Smash Burger Sloppy Joes that signature flavor.
Saucy and Sassy
The sauce is a simple but flavorful mixture of ketchup, mustard, seasonings, herbs, pickle juice, and beef broth. I like to use Better Than Bouillon beef, but the onion flavor works great too, dissolved in a little water.
It really adds an extra layer of rich, savory flavor to the meat.
How About Some Onion?
Another great option for this recipe is to add the caramelized onions I make for my Really Great Onion Dip. You can top the Smash Burger Sloppy Joes with those sweet, jammy onions or even spoon a little of the onion dip right onto the sandwich for an extra layer of rich, savory flavor.
American Cheese If You Please
I use American cheese for this recipe because it melts perfectly, but any sliced cheese you love would be delicious. You can also add pickled onions, tomato, and lettuce.
Setting up a topping bar makes this Smash Burger Sloppy Joe recipe a really fun option for a DIY buffet or casual get-together.
Keep It Sloppy
I have a few other Sloppy Joe recipes on my website that are just as fun and flavorful. If you love this Smash Burger Sloppy Joe version, be sure to check out the others and find a few new favorites to add to your rotation:
Smash Burger Sloppy Joes Recipe
These Smash Burger Sloppy Joes start with lean ground beef pressed right into the skillet so it gets caramelized. Crispy edges mixed with tender crumbles, just like a classic smash burger. The beef is simmered in a ketchup and mustard sauce with Worcestershire, pickle juice, and savory seasonings, then piled onto soft buns with melty American cheese and all your favorite burger toppings.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1/2 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning, or to taste
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 to 2 tablespoons dried chives, to taste
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire powder or 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- Cooking oil or butter, for the skillet
- Slider buns or hamburger buns of choice
- American cheese slices
- Shredded lettuce
- Pickles, onion, tomato, or any toppings you like
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat and add a little cooking oil or butter. Add the ground beef and spread it out evenly in the pan. This is the key step. Press the meat down slightly as it cooks so it makes full contact with the pan. Let it cook undisturbed until it starts to char and caramelize, then break it up and flip sections so the uncooked side can get some color as well. You do not need every piece to be fully charred, but you want plenty of crispy, browned bits mixed in with the more tender ground beef.
- Once the beef is fully cooked, drain it if needed and return it to the skillet. Season the meat with the Montreal steak seasoning, using as much or as little as you like, keeping in mind there is salt in the sauce.
- In a bowl, whisk together the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire powder or sauce, dried chives, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, black pepper, and pickle juice. Whisk in the beef broth until combined.
- Pour the sauce into the skillet with the beef and stir well. Bring the mixture to a low simmer and let it cook for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the meat.
- Serve on steamed or toasted hamburger buns or slider buns, topped with a slice of American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, onion, tomato, or any toppings you like.