Manwich meets Mcdonald’s in this family-pleasing Big Mac Sloppy Joe Sandwich!
This fun take on homemade sloppy joes is sure to please. They’re so simple to prepare, are ready in under 30 minutes, and will keep your family and food budget happy!
If you're like us and love a good meaty burger or sandwich, be sure to check out all of our amazing. hamburger recipes.
We've all had those nights when going through the fast food drive thru feels like the only viable option. Everyone is tired AND hungry, a volatile combination that can only be cured with greasy comfort food...AND FAST.
We indulge in our fair share of sanity-saving fast food runs, but I'm also happy to have a few quick and easy comfort food copy cat recipes in my back pocket when my time and energy allows.
These Big Mac Sloppy Joes barely take more time than hopping in the car and waiting in line, and they still deliver all of the quintessential sweet, tangy, juicy flavor of a Big Mac (and it's famous sauce).
When you can make a Big Mac or a Double Bacon Cheeseburger at home in a flash, the drive through suddenly doesn't sound quite so appealing. If you can stave off the hangries for just 30 minutes, you'll be able to deliver a dinner the whole family will enjoy.
Why You'll Love Big Mac Sloppy Joes
- These sloppy joes are super fast and straightforward! This is ready in less than 30 minutes, so you can save your time and energy for enjoying your family and your dinner.
- These are delightfully fun as well as tasty. When you mix a fast food classic with the iconic American homemade sandwich, you can’t go wrong!
- Big Mac Sloppy Joes are affordable, but still deliciously unique. These joes are anything but boring, and they give you a real bang for your buck!
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground Beef - Any type will do, but normal joes use the 80/20 ratio. Make it organic or grass-fed to keep it healthy. You could use ground turkey or chicken, or even bison. Switch it up and see what flavors you can create!
- Sesame Seed Buns - Use sesame seed buns to keep it classic, or experiment with whole grain, potato, or brioche varieties. You can easily make this gluten-free with some GF buns as well.
- Salt and Pepper - Essential spices to enhance your fantastic joe!
- More Pickles, More Onions, and Lettuce - Top it with what you like! Pile on the pickles, 86 the onions, do what makes you happy. Get crazy and add some tomatoes if you want to. Leave a tray out on the table for the fam to pick and choose their toppings, too.
- American Cheese Slices - Another key to big mac bliss. If you need to leave it off though, don’t worry - you’ll still get your Mickey D’s fix because the secret is in the...
- Big Mac Sauce! - The star ingredient!! This is surprisingly easy to make with some mayo, relish, a little ketchup and vinegar, and finished off with onion powder and salt. Thousand island dressing can be a quick alternative, or if you demand the real thing, McDonald’s will sell you the sauce all by itself.
How to Make Big Mac Sloppy Joes
- Sear meat. In a large skillet, sear your ground meat, breaking it up as you go. This shouldn’t take long - about five minutes, give or take.
- Cook vegetables. Once your meat is browned, toss in your diced pickles and onions with salt and pepper to taste. Stir the ingredients together for a quick minute, just so they get to know each other.
- Stir in the sauce. Mix in the secret sauce to make the magic happen!
- Simmer until cooked. Let this sit for a couple of minutes, so the flavors start to mingle.
- Serve. Break out the buns, and scoop on the tangy goodness. Stack on the cheese, pickles, onions, and lettuce. You can layer it just like a big mac and slide a bottom bun in the middle.
Storage and Tips for Making Big Mac Sloppy Joes
- This is a great family meal, so laying everything out on the table buffet-style is a smart way to go. Everyone can participate and create their own special big mac sloppy joes sandwich!
- You can toast the buns to add some crunch or leave them soft to stay true to the big mac style.
- Leftover sloppy joes are super simple to handle. Grab some Tupperware or plastic wrap, cover, and store in the fridge for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
- These can be made gluten or dairy-free with some simple substitutions. Gluten-free bread options are plentiful in most grocery stores, and dairy-free cheese slices are popping up nearly everywhere. Stick with a large grocery chain or a natural foods store to be sure to find a good selection of what you need.
What goes with Big Mac Sloppy Joes?
Big Mac Sloppy Joes are fantastic alongside some Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes, or you can keep the side dish light with this Easy Garden Salad Recipe. You can also pick up some frozen French fries or tater tots for the side.
If you want to REALLY be extra, you could even serve this alongside our Big Mac Salad. So much Big Mac flavor!!!
More Great Ground Beef Sandwich Recipes
For more sloppy joe recipes, check out our Sloppy Joe Sliders, Korean Sloppy Joes, and Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes.
You can also turn your sloppy joes into a Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole!
For parties, we love making these cheesy Ground Beef Sliders or Meatball Subs.
We also love these Italian Burgers, Goat Cheese Burgers, and Bacon Jam Burgers for crowd-pleasing, creative ways to use ground beef. Just a little twist on the classics can turn boring burgers into stellar sandwiches!
📖 Recipe
Big Mac Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup big mac sauce (plus more for serving)
- 5 slices American cheese
- 4 sesame seed buns
- 2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
- 16 dill pickle chips
- ½ yellow onion (diced)
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking up any big chunks, until no pink remains, about 5-6 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the big mac sauce and 1 slice of American cheese until melty and well combined.
- Meanwhile, brush the melted butter on the insides of four buns. Broil for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Top each bottom bun with additional big mac sauce, shredded lettuce, diced onion, pickle chips, and a slice of cheese. Scoop beef mixture over top, top with the second bun, and dive in!
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