How To Make BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes

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If you’re a fan of anything loaded with beef, bacon, and BBQ sauce, these BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes are for you! They’re messy in the best way, loaded with flavor, and come together in 20 minutes. Piled high with crispy onions, spicy jalapeño, and pepper jack cheese, it’s everything a cowboy would love!

Angled view of three sloppy joes in a pile on a white plate with a green napkin underneath on a wood background.

Why I love it (and you will too!)

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of sloppy joes… until I made these!

If you’re anything like me, adding BBQ sauce to anything instantly makes it better. But these? I actually crave all the time! The combo of beef, bacon, and that saucy BBQ flavor completely changed the way I see sloppy joes. It’s sweet, a little tangy, with a little heat from the jalapeños, and then you get that melty cheese and crunch from the fried onions on top… I can try to describe how good they are, but it still doesn’t do them justice.

I used to pass on sloppy joes, but now I find myself making them all the time! Try them once and your whole family will be absolutely hooked (speaking from experience). I’m not complaining though, it just gives me another excuse to make them again. Paired with my Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries, they’re definitely a year-round favorite around here!

Close up of sloppy joe on top in a pile on a white plate with bowl of BBQ sauce in the background.

Ingredients you will need

Everything here works together to make that saucy, smoky, sweet sloppy joe you’ll crave again and again! You’ll find the full ingredient list and exact amounts in the recipe card below.

Ingredients laid out on a white background in individual bowls.

Ground beef – What’s a sloppy joe without ground beef? It soaks up all that sweet BBQ flavor!
White onion – Adds a little depth as it cooks down with the beef.
Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper – A simple blend of spices that gives the meat plenty of flavor while keeping things easy.
BBQ sauce – Brings that sweet flavor that makes these sloppy joes so good. Homemade is hard to beat, so try my 5 Minute Honey Barbecue Sauce!
Ketchup – Helps create that classic sloppy joe messiness we all love. Want to make your own? Try my No Sugar Added Ketchup.
Mustard – Just a touch adds a little tang.
Worcestershire sauce – Adds a deeper, savory flavor that pulls everything together.
Brioche buns – Soft, slightly sweet buns that go perfectly with all that saucy filling.
Pepper jack cheese – Melts right in and adds a little kick.
Crispy fried onions – Adds crunch and a little extra flavor. You can make your own or grab a bag like this one from the store.
Jalapeño – Brings a little heat that goes really well with the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
Bacon – Crispy, smoky, and just makes everything better. Every cowboy loves bacon, right?

Tools You Will Need

This recipe keeps things simple, and you probably already have everything you need!

Large skillet – You’ll cook everything in one pan, so a good, sturdy skillet is great for browning the beef and mixing everything together. I’ve used this stainless steel set for years and love it!
Wooden spoon or spatula – Perfect for breaking up the ground beef as it cooks and stirring everything together. I honestly use my wooden utensils for just about everything in my kitchen.
Measuring cups and spoons – Helpful for getting the sauce just right, but you can definitely eyeball it too. I’ve done both and it always turns out great since the sauce is pretty forgiving!

How to make the best BBQ Sloppy Joes

This is one of those dinners that comes together fast and couldn’t be easier. Let me show you how to make it:

Cook the onions
Start by cooking the diced onion in a skillet until it softens up and smells really good. This is where all that flavor starts!
Add in the flavor
Next add the ground beef and cook. Once it’s browned, stir in the seasonings, then pour in the BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce so everything starts to come together.
Let it get saucy
Let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens up and gets nice and saucy. This is when it really starts smelling yummy!
Pile it high and dig in
Spoon the mixture onto your buns and pile on the toppings. Serve them warm and don’t worry about the mess, that’s part of it!

FAQs and Tips

Can I make this ahead of time?

Definitely! The sloppy joe mixture can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just reheat it on the stove or in the microwave, then assemble the sandwiches right before serving.

How do I keep the filling from getting too watery or too dry?

If your mixture looks a little watery, just let it simmer for a few extra minutes. It will thicken up as it cooks and sits. If it starts to look a little dry, add a small splash of water or a bit more BBQ sauce to loosen it back up.

Tip: Don’t skip draining the grease!

After browning the beef, draining the extra grease keeps the filling from getting too heavy and helps the sauce stick better.

Tip: Add the cheese while the meat is hot.

Let the heat from the sloppy joe mixture melt the cheese slightly before adding the toppings. It makes everything extra gooey and so good.

One sloppy joe on a brown plate with chips behind it on a wood background.

variations

Swap the meat

Ground turkey or ground chicken both work great here if you want something a little lighter. The flavor will be a bit different, but the sauce still brings everything together and keeps it really good. It’s a simple swap that still gives you that same saucy sloppy joe, and you can follow the directions just the same.

Add more toppings

Try adding sliced dill pickles, coleslaw, or even a few extra toppings you love on top. The pickles add a little tang, the coleslaw brings some crunch, and it’s an easy way to change things up and make it your own! I’ve even tried spreading a little 5-Minute Chipotle Sauce on the top bun. Yep… delicious!

Use a different bun

Brioche is my favorite because it’s soft and slightly sweet, but you can use regular hamburger buns or potato buns if that’s what you have on hand. They all work great!

Quick Tip: Toasting them first makes them even better!

related Recipes

If you’re LOVING these sloppy joes as much as I do, here are a few more of my favorites you’ll want to try next:

If you’re into saucy recipes like this, my Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos with Homemade Sauce are a must have! Crispy shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce and piled into tacos… They’re as good as you’re picturing.
For another ground beef dinner, this Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole is always a good one around here. It’s cheesy, filling, and great when you want something easy to throw together.
And if you’re in the mood for something a little different, these Sirloin Steak Sheet Pan Fajitas are so good! Everything cooks on one pan, and it’s another super quick dinner.

BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes

Yield: 4 sandwiches

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Messy, saucy, and packed with flavor, these BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes are loaded with beef, bacon, and plenty of BBQ sauce. Piled high with toppings fit for a cowboy, they’re impossible to resist!

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 small white onion, diced
8 slices bacon, cooked (reserve 1 tbsp bacon grease for cooking, see notes)
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ cup BBQ sauce
¼ cup ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
4 brioche buns
4 slices pepper jack cheese
⅓ cup crispy fried onions
1 medium jalapeño, deseeded and sliced

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat with 1 tbsp bacon grease. Add the diced onion and cook just until it softens up.
Add the ground beef and cook for 7–10 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until it’s fully browned. Drain any extra grease.
Stir in the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until everything is well combined.
Add the BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Give it a good stir and let it come to a low simmer. Let it cook for a couple minutes until it thickens up a bit.
To build the sandwiches, spoon the sloppy joe filling onto the bottom half of each brioche bun. Add the pepper jack cheese, then top with jalapeños, crispy onions, and bacon.
Add the top bun and serve while warm. They’re messy, but so worth it. Enjoy!

Notes

Bacon grease: If you’re cooking the bacon fresh, set aside about 1 tablespoon of the grease to cook the onion and beef. It adds really good flavor! If you’re using pre-cooked bacon or didn’t save the grease, just use a little olive oil instead.
Extra cheesy: Add 2 slices of cheese to each sandwich instead of just 1 and let it melt into the warm meat.
Texture tips: If the mixture looks a little too watery, let it simmer for a few extra minutes until it thickens up. If it gets too thick or dry, add a small splash of water or a little more BBQ sauce to loosen it back up.
Leftovers: Store any leftover sloppy joe filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, then assemble the sandwiches fresh when you’re ready to eat.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 sandwich
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 600

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

Pinterest pin reading the best BBQ cowboy sloppy joes.

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