Jalapeno Popper Sloppy Joes are the PERFECT combo of spicy and cheesy just like a jalapeno popper, and ready in under 30 minutes! Try today!
Quick Sloppy Joes Dinners are a must on busy weeknights and Jalapeno Poppers are a guilty pleasure of mine, so it makes total sense that the Ultimate Sloppy Joes would take a familiar turn.
Why You’ll Love These Sloppy Joes?
- These sloppy joes are the best combo of cheesy and spicy!
- Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes and easily customizable to have more or less spice.
Sabrina’s Jalapeno Popper Sloppy Joes Recipe
It’s time to add another recipe to my Sloppy Joe Recipes! I am having a blast over here coming up with new ways to make sloppy joes. This flavorful, spicy, cheesy, messy dinner is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Have the napkins on hand!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup onion , chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 jalapenos , chopped
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 8 ounces cheddar , cut into cubes
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese , cut into cubes
- fresh jalapeno slices , optional
- 6 slices bacon , cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat cook ground beef, onion, and jalapeno until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Use a spatula to break up ground beef, stirring frequently.
- Add ketchup, apple cider vinegar, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook another 6-8 minutes, stirring to combine with meat.
- Add ¾ of the cheddar, cream cheese and bacon, stirring for just a second before serving on toasted hamburger buns and top with remaining cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
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Note from Sabrina
Add the cheese and bacon at the very end for the creamiest, most flavorful Jalapeno Popper Sloppy Joes. Stir in the cheddar, cream cheese, and bacon just until the cream cheese melts and everything is combined. You don’t need to cook it for long, this keeps the bacon from getting too soft and lets the cheddar melt into the beef without becoming greasy. Save the remaining cheddar for topping the sandwiches so you get an extra layer of gooey, melty cheese in every bite. Serving the sloppy joes on toasted hamburger buns adds a little crunch and helps keep the creamy filling from making the buns soggy.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
This Sloppy Joe tastes like the dinner version of our favorite appetizer, jalapeno poppers, cooked with ground beef and served on a bun. It’s cheesy, spicy, and gloriously messy. Basically everything you could ever want out of a sloppy joe, and then some. Plus you get all of the flavor of a jalapeno popper, with only a fraction of the work!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- If you want the jalapenos to be less spicy, make sure you remove the seeds and membrane when you’re chopping them.
- Sauté the onions and jalapeno long enough to let them soften, which will also cut down on some of the spiciness of the pepper.
- Don’t completely cook off the sauce, let some of it stay on the bottom of the pan. That’s what’s going to make this sloppy joe juicy and sloppy.
Pairing Suggestions
There’s a lot of flavor going on here, so I’d suggest serving these sloppy joes alongside KFC Potato Wedges, or Shoestring French Fries. Or make it an appetizer flavors night and go with Beer Battered Onion Rings!
Variations
- Vegetables– You can add more vegetables to these sloppy joes if you’re trying to make them a little bit healthier. I recommend bell peppers, mushrooms, or finely chopped celery. Just add them when you add the ground beef to saute, and you won’t even know they’re there.
- Spice: If you want to cut down on the spiciness, try using ½ bell pepper instead of jalapenos. This would be a better option if you have kids who don’t like spicy food.
Related Recipes
More Jalapeno Recipes
Photos used in previous version of post
So I made these for my kids for lunch. They liked the flavor a lot, but since I made them ahead of time all the cheese melted into the meat mixture instead of staying in chunks. It made them really thick. Is there anything I can do to avoid that the next time? Maybe let the mixture cool before mixing in the cheese cubes?
Did you happen to add 3/4 of the cheddar cheese cubes, reserving the remaining cubes to top the sloppy joe right before serving? (Instruction #3). Thank you for the kind review Kelly 🙂
Is the cream cheese softened?
not to soft – you’ll need to cut it into cubes.
Hi! Just wondering if I can use a shredded cheese blend in place of the cheddar? Thank you!
Sometimes pre shredded cheeses have an additive that changes the consistency and flavor a bit, so if possible I’d stick to the cheddar.
Followed the recipe except omitted the tomato sauce. Turned out so good. I’m afraid it would have been to soupy had I added the sauce.
My boyfriend loved it!! I never cook but since it’s his birthday I decided to try this recipe out and he asked me to memorize the recipe!! I decided to season the meat with some sazon and use pickled jalapeños for the beginning and it Gave it a kick. Thank you so much!
Woohoo! You’re welcome! Glad it was a hit and you both liked it. 🙂
I made this yesterday and it turned out great. When I make it again I’ll use another 1/2 pound of hamburger to make it more meaty and also use pickled jalapenos instead of fresh to get more bite. Another excellent recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it, Mark!
Made these and they are delicious. The only problem is they were very juicey! It was more like soup. Any d idea why?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Sounds like your ground beef might have been a bit fattier than mine. If you notice more oil after browning, trying draining it before adding the other ingredients. Hope this helps!
Such a fun twist on sloppy joes. Can’t wait to try it!
Enjoy!!
So cheesy, delicious and full of flavor! Perfect weeknight meal!
Thanks, Jamielyn!
We loved this delicious meaty and spicy twist on sloppy joes!
It’s fun to switch things up!
We made these for football Sunday dinner last night and they were a huge hit!!
Yay!! So glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks for the 5 stars!
This is my kind of appetizer and perfect to serve on a charcuterie board. Guests go crazy over this recipe! Thanks!
You’re welcome, Sandy!