BBQ Sausage Sloppy Joes made with Italian sausage links, hidden veggies and a sweet and tangy bbq sauce mixture in 30 minutes.
We LOVE sloppy joes around here, especially Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes, Dr. Pepper Sloppy Joes, and my classic Ultimate Sloppy Joes.
Sabrina’s Sausage Sloppy Joes Recipe
Week two of my new sloppy joes series and this week we’re leaving beef for the first time in favor of cooking with sausage links. The flavors are similar to your favorite BBQ links on a sandwich, but with the benefit of added vegetables your family won’t even realize are there.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 19 ounces sausage links , I used Johnsonville and it was 5 links
- 1 red bell pepper , finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper , finely diced
- 1/2 yellow onion , finely diced
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth , chicken is okay too
- 6 brioche rolls
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese , cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Cut the sausage casing with a knife and empty the meat into a large skillet that’s been preheated on a medium-high flame.
- Break apart the sausage into pea sized crumbles.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Remove the sausage and drain all but 2 tablespoons of the remaining oil.
- Add the bell peppers and onions and cook, stirring, for 5-7 minutes.
- Add the barbecue sauce, tomato sauce and beef broth.
- Simmer until reduced by half, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the sausage back in, dot with the cheddar cheese and mix slightly just to start melting the cheese.
- Serve on toasted brioche buns.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
Chef’s note: Best Bread for Sloppy Joes
I prefer brioche for the buttery texture, chewy center and tender crust even when toasted. Regular hamburger buns are fine but will get soggy even when toasted if you don’t add a fat to create a crispier barrier. Use sliced bread as a last resort. If you have to use sliced bread use sliced cheese. Make a grilled cheese using this method: Philly Cheese Steak Grilled Cheese. Hoagie rolls are great too, especially if you remove some of the bottom half of the roll to create a well for the filling.
Can This be Made Ahead of Time?
- If you’re looking to meal prep the recipe cook the sauce mixture for 2-3 minutes less. The meat will be more liquid but it isn’t a problem.
- Store in a separate container and add chopped cheese to the top of the meat. Microwave on half power for 2-3 minutes before adding to the toasted bun.
- When you stir the meat just before serving only allow the cheese to cook for 10-20 seconds before scooping or the cheese will fully melt. This sandwich is even more delicious when you have the little pockets of cheddar cheese.
Tips and Tricks
- Remove the casing before cooking. A paring knife will easily remove the casing before you cook. If you leave the casing it will taste rubbery and won’t absorb BBQ sauce as well.
- Use raw sausage, making this with cooked sausage will result in overcooked sloppy joes.
- Chop the bell peppers and onions finely, then cook them in the sausage fat. They will melt into the sloppy joes.
- If you cut the bell peppers slightly bigger they’ll mimic the texture of tomatoes after you cook them down before simmering them in the sauce.
- Remember to cook the sauce down slowly, cooking too quickly will burn the sauce because of the high sugar content of the BBQ sauce.
- If you’re sensitive to too much sausage flavor I also sometimes work with half sausage and half ground pork. The flavors are more muted but still delicious.
What to Pair With
We love serving sloppy joes with crispy sweet potato fries, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Loaded Garlic French Fries or your favorite roasted vegetables.
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Photos used in previous versions of the post.
I used Impossible sausage and Bette Than (“beef”) Bouillon. I added cayenne pepper, chili powder and paprika to the vegetables. It was GREAT, but the next time, I’m going cut the BBQ sauce by a third and add a third to the tomato sauce — that, or find a less-sweet BBQ sauce.
Everyone’s “sweet barometer” is unique for sure! Thanks for trying the recipe and the five star review!
So good. We will make it again.
Excellent and easy! We used a white cheddar that was amazing!
So glad you enjoyed it, Bryndl. Thanks for the 5 stars.
What kind of sausage links? Johnsonville has 10 different flavors at my store, from Italian to brats to breakfast? Just want to make sure I get the right kind
I used mild Italian sausage for this recipe. 🙂
Could you show me some great an simple deserts to have.
One of my favorite easy recipes is Key Lime Pie which has just a few ingredients and is done in just 20 minutes!
Does this recipe freeze well?
I would leave out the cheese for freezing and add that in when it’s defrosted. Enjoy!
This recipe was delicious! Never going back to regular Sloppy Joes!
I never comment on recipes that I try on the internet but these were so good, I just had to!
So glad you loved it enough to want to leave your first comment!! Yay!!
I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G
🙂 Yay!!
These look so fun and tasty! My son definitely love these!
Thanks Erin! It’s a great family friendly meal!
These look tasty! Great dinner option!
Thanks Krista!
Mmm! Pass me a napkin, please! These sandwiches look scrumptious, and what a great idea to use sausage links!
Thank you Patricia!
These sandwiches look so amazing!
Wait until you taste them! They’re so good!!
Yummy, definitely making this for my family soon!
These are the best looking sloppy Joes I have ever seen!!
Thanks Amanda!