Description
Best Sloppy Joe Fries are the ultimate comfort food, combining crispy French fries topped with a savory ground beef sloppy joe mixture, melted cheddar cheese, and fresh garnishes. This easy-to-make recipe is perfect as a hearty main dish or a fun appetizer that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Fries
- 1 (28 oz) bag frozen French fries
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sloppy Joe Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings and Garnishes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Chopped parsley or pickled jalapeños (optional)
Instructions
- Bake Fries: Preheat your oven and bake the frozen French fries following the package instructions until they are golden and crispy. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven and the fries used.
- Cook Ground Beef: While the fries bake, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 pound of ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned fully. Drain any excess grease to avoid sogginess in your dish.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef in the skillet. Sauté together for 2 to 3 minutes until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Make Sloppy Joe Sauce: Stir in 1/2 cup of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon mustard, and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes until it thickens and flavors meld.
- Assemble Fries: Once the fries are done baking, arrange them on a large serving plate or an oven-safe dish evenly. Generously spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture over the fries, ensuring even coverage.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the fries and beef mixture. Place the assembled dish back into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts fully and becomes slightly bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and top with sliced green onions and optional garnishes such as chopped parsley or pickled jalapeños. Serve immediately for the best experience.
Notes
- For extra heat, add diced jalapeños or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the sloppy joe mixture or as a topping.
- To make this dish lighter or vegetarian, swap ground beef for ground turkey or cooked lentils.
- Use gluten-free fries and check labels on condiments to keep the recipe gluten-free.
- This recipe works well as either a fun appetizer for a party or a comforting main course.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 loaded portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
