This Italian sloppy joes recipe is just the thing for easy, weeknight, family-friendly meals. Everyone will love this Italian twist on the classic!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Love About Italian Sloppy Joes:
- Quick and Easy Recipe: When making the Beef Bolognese mixture, I compensated for the time it takes to make a proper bolognese by building flavors.
- Comfort Food With An Italian Twist: This recipe combines classic Sloppy Joes with the rich and flavorful profile of Bolognese sauce.
- Flavor-packed: Beef, carrots, tomato paste, cooking wine or broth, and Worcestershire sauce combine to create a robust, savory sauce.
Ingredients and Estimated Cost:
Per Serving Cost: $3.14
Recipe Cost: $25.11
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter – $0.52
- 2 large carrots – $0.36
- 1 medium onion – $0.88
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste – $0.78
- 2 large garlic cloves – $0.50
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar – $0.03
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce – $0.44
- 2 pounds ground beef – $10.98
- 1 cup whole milk – $0.42
- ¾ cup white cooking wine or chicken broth – $1.08
- 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes – $3.64
- 8 ciabatta rolls – $5.48
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in December 2024.
Recipe Equipment
- Large, deep 12-inch skillet
- Wooden spoon
- cutting board
- knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Food processor (optional, for finely chopping carrots)
How To Make Italian Sloppy Joes:
This is an effortless sloppy joe recipe without fancy tricks, but the result certainly feels fancy!
- Prep the Veggies: First, gather all of the ingredients and chop the veggies.
- Cook Vegetables: Melt the butter in a large, deep 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots and onion and cook until softened about 6 minutes.
- Add Flavor: Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, sugar, and ½ tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Brown the Beef: Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until browned about 5-6 minutes.
- Deglaze and Finish the Sauce: Stir in the milk, white wine, or chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the liquid is almost evaporated, about 14 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining Worcestershire sauce, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble and Serve: Spoon the Bolognese mixture over warm, sliced ciabatta rolls. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Recipe Variation
- Make Into Beef Bolognese: To make the beef mixture into Beef bolognese over spaghetti, add an additional 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. This will make enough sauce for 2 pounds of pasta.
- Ground Beef: Substitute with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- White Cooking Wine: Swap with chicken broth.
- Rolls: Use hamburger buns or even sourdough bread if ciabatta is unavailable.
- Dairy-Free: Replace milk with unsweetened almond milk and omit the Parmesan cheese.
Storage Tips
STORE: Leftover sloppy joe sauce can be kept in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
FREEZE: Place beef mixture in an airtight container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
REHEAT: Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating on the stovetop. You may need to add a little water to loosen the mixture.
Italian Sloppy Joes Recipe FAQs
You can use chicken broth or beef broth as a substitute.
Yes, the beef mixture can be made a day in advance and reheated on the stove or microwave before serving.
I like to use Ciabatta rolls for this recipe. However, you can substitute a sturdy roll such as Brioche or Kaiser.
One tip is to toast the rolls before adding the mixture on top if you think they will get soggy. However, I have not had a problem with the buns getting soggy without toasting them.
Yes, you can substitute ground beef with a plant-based ground meat alternative, finely chopped mushrooms, or cooked lentils for a vegetarian version.
More Sloppy Joes
- Sloppy Janes – healthier sloppy Joes
- Sausage and Peppers Sloppy Joes
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Save The Recipe
Enter your email below & we’ll send a link to this recipe to your inbox & you’ll subscribe for new recipes
Italian Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter
- 2 large carrots minced or finely chopped in food processor (about 1 cup)
- 1 medium onion small diced (about 1 cup)
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 large garlic cloves minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce divided
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup white cooking wine OR chicken broth
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- salt and pepper
- 8 ciabatta rolls warmed and sliced (or 12 smaller ciabatta rolls for sliders)
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large, deep 12-inch skillet over medium heat.
- Add carrots and onion and cook until softened and the edges of the onion begin to brown about 6 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, garlic, sugar, and ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and cook until browned about 5-6 minutes.
- Stir in milk and cooking wine, scraping up brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the mixture until the liquid is nearly evaporated, about 14 minutes.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Add the remaining ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, season with salt and pepper, and serve over sliced rolls.
- Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve.
Nutrition
did you love this recipe?
Share it with me on Facebook and find more recipes on foodfolksandfun for more!
subscribe for new recipes
Get all the latest recipes in your inbox!
connect with us
Make sure to tag #foodfolksandfun on instagram!
I love the suggestion of pairing these with broccoli. That sounds so perfect for a dinner this coming week.
I hope you enjoy these slippy joes!
This would be a crowd pleasing meal for sure! No leftovers here.
Exactly, Michelle!
What a hearty meal, looks perfect for a big family gathering!
Thanks, Lori!
Oh that looks luscious, I’ll take 3 rolls worth please 😉
You got it. 😉
Yum! I made sloppy joes for my family for the first time ever a few weeks ago and they loved them. I will have to try this recipe out soon!
I hope you and your family loves it!
I love that you photographed all of the steps! What a delicious-looking family friendly meal! I can’t wait to try it!
You’re so sweet, thanks Kim!
Now this looks like comfort food! Sloppy joes aren’t really a think here in the UK, but I think I need to try some.
You should try the, they’re easy and so satisfying!
Love the sound of this, I reckon some nice melty cheese like a Gouda or an Ementhal would work wonderfully 🙂
Those would work as well!
I’m totally with you–weeknight meals need to be FAST! And with 3 other people in my family, they need to be things everyone would enjoy. These sloppy joes totally check all the boxes!
Exactly, Elizabeth!
I have never liked sloppy joes, but I loooove bolognese! I could totally go for some of these vastly improved sloppy joes right now.
They are SO good; a little bit gourmet but SO easy!
Yum! We love sloppy joes in our house, it is always a hit.
Mine, too!
I’ve never tried this twist before. It sounds good!
Thanks, Melanie!
I’ve always wondered how sloppy joes were made. Thanks so much for those detailed step-by-step instructions. Very helpful!
You’re welcome, enjoy!
I’m loving all the sloppy joes I’ve been seeing. They’re the best form of comfort food. These look great!
I agree, comfort food but made quickly!
I love sloppy joes. These looks gourmet and absolutely delicious!
Thanks, Kallee!