Description
Sloppy Joe Monsters are a fun and festive twist on the classic sloppy joe, perfect for Halloween parties or themed dinners. Ground beef is cooked with a flavorful mix of onions, bell peppers, garlic, and a tangy tomato sauce, then piled onto burger buns with cheesy ‘teeth’ and olive ‘eyes’ to create monster faces that kids and adults will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Assembly
- 4 hamburger buns
- Sliced cheddar or American cheese (for “teeth”)
- Large pitted olives or candy eyes (for “eyes”)
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- Cook the Beef Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease to keep the mixture from becoming too oily. Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add Flavorings and Simmer: Stir in the ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine all the flavors. Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until thickened to a nice sloppy consistency, then remove from heat.
- Prepare the Buns and Cheese: Slice the hamburger buns in half. Place a slice of cheese on the bottom half of each bun. If you want to create monster ‘teeth,’ cut jagged shapes into one side of the cheese slice to mimic teeth.
- Assemble the Sloppy Joe Monsters: Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture on top of the cheesy bottom buns. Place the top bun over the mixture.
- Add the Monster Eyes: Skewer large pitted olives or candy eyes onto toothpicks and stick two into the top of each bun to resemble monster eyes. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Great for Halloween parties or themed dinners to delight kids and guests.
- Use mini slider buns to make smaller, kid-sized versions perfect for little hands.
- Ground turkey or plant-based meat can be substituted for a lighter or vegetarian-friendly option.
