Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes have all the saucy goodness you'd expect from Sloppy Joes, but with bold Southwestern flavors, melty cheese, and the right amount of spice. This flavor-packed dinner comes together easily and is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Recipe Overview
Time: 45 minutes - 10 minutes to chop the onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño, then another 35 to make the sloppy joe filling
Ingredients: Ground beef, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, garlic, tomato sauce, corn, Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, spices, pepper jack, buns, olive oil.
Ease: Moderate - There's a bit of chopping and measuring, but nothing complicated.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Ground Beef - I like using 90% lean ground beef, so I don't have to drain any excess fat. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
Jalapeños - It adds a little spice, omit if you don't want any spice, or use ¼- ½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder or cayenne to add spice.
Garlic - If you don't have fresh garlic, you can use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder as a substitute.
Corn - You can use canned corn or frozen corn. If using frozen, cook a little longer to compensate for extra moisture.
Worcestershire - You can substitute with soy sauce.
Apple Cider Vinegar - You can use another type of vinegar or omit it entirely.
Spices - I used a tex-mex spice blend of chili powder, cumin, salt, smoked paprika, and pepper. Regular paprika can replace smoked paprika. A taco seasoning packet also works, although it will have a slightly different taste and a stronger tomato flavor.
Pepper Jack Cheese - Adds a little spice. One cup of cheddar cheese works as well.
Full ingredient list with quantities in the recipe card below
How to Make Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes
Cook Ground Beef and Veggies
Cook the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic in a large skillet.
Simmer
Add tomato sauce, corn, Worcestershire, vinegar, and spices. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Add Cheese & Serve
Mix in cheese. Toast the buns and serve!
Common Questions
If you don't add any jalapeño seeds, this will be very mild. Half the jalapeño seeds will give it a medium heat level. If you want it even spicier, add hot sauce, chipotle chili powder, or cayenne powder after the filling is done cooking.
You can add extra cheese on top, throw on a few pickled jalapeños, fresh cilantro, or a spoonful of guacamole.
Yes! You can easily swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
Make Ahead
- Fridge: Prepare the sloppy joe mixture and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
- Freezer: Let the mixture cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove or microwave before serving.
Sides
- Side Salad - A healthy option. A pre-made southwest salad kit from the store would pair perfectly.
- Chips - This is a super-easy side for your Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes.
- Tater Tots - Frozen tater tots are easy and make the perfect pairing. Sprinkle a little chili powder over the tots once they are done to give them a little Tex-Mex flavor
Tried this recipe? Let everyone know how it turned out! Your feedback and tips help others decide if they should make it.
Tex-Mex Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef 85-90% lean
- 1 small yellow onion diced or ½ of a large onion
- 1 large green bell pepper diced
- 1 jalapeño deseeded for mild, half seeds for lil spice
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup canned corn drained
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 slices pepper jack cheese or 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the beef as it browns, until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, corn, Worcestershire, vinegar, chili powder, cumin, salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking. If it gets too thick, add a little more water to loosen it up. If it's too thin, let it simmer a little longer. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Stir in the cheese until melted and combined.
- If desired, toast the hamburger buns. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the buns, dividing evenly.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and may vary based on the ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!