Italian sloppy joes make a hearty, quick, and easy weeknight dinner
This Italian-style sloppy joe pairs ground beef and Italian sausage with sautéed vegetables, pizza sauce, black olives, and melty provolone. It’s a comforting, family-friendly twist on the classic sandwich that’s ready in about 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights or sports-practice evenings.
When schedules get hectic—school activities, practices, and evening errands—it helps to have a dependable, fast dinner that everyone will eat. These Italian sloppy joes are exactly that: simple to prepare, full of bold flavor, and easily adaptable to what you have on hand. The pizza sauce gives the filling a bright tomato base while the provolone adds creamy, mild tang that kids and adults both tend to love.
More easy ground beef dinners to try:
-
Amish Country Casserole
-
Shepherd’s Pie with Tater Tots
-
Slow Cooker Calico Beans
-
Hamburger Macaroni Soup
The recipe comes together quickly: brown the meats with onion, pepper, and garlic, drain the fat, then simmer the mixture with pizza sauce and olives. Fifteen minutes of gentle simmering lets the flavors meld. This dish reheats very well and makes excellent leftovers—bonus points if you have family members who typically avoid leftovers, because the Italian flavors keep it tasting fresh.
A favorite shortcut for leftover filling is to toss it with cooked spaghetti to make a fast pasta dinner: the same savory mixture becomes a completely different meal in minutes. You can also toast the buns or broil the assembled sandwiches (without the top bun) for a minute or two to melt the provolone and add a slightly crisp edge.
Ways to customize Italian sloppy joes
- Swap ground turkey for the ground beef for a lighter version.
- Use spicy Italian sausage if you prefer more heat.
- Try different vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant for added texture.
- Add a pinch of crushed red pepper for a little kick.
- Serve the filling on garlic bread instead of buns for a heartier sandwich.
- Add pepperoni or ham for a meat-lovers variation.
This recipe freezes well, so consider doubling it and saving half for a quick dinner another week. Below is a concise recipe card with ingredients and instructions so you can get this Italian sloppy joes recipe on the table fast.
Italian Sloppy Joes
Ground beef, Italian sausage, vegetables, pizza sauce, and provolone combine to make a quick and flavorful twist on classic sloppy joes.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Amy D
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/3 cup diced onion
- 1/3 cup diced green pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 ounce can sliced black olives
- 2 (15 ounce) cans pizza sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- 8 sandwich buns
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage with the diced onion, green pepper, and garlic. Break the meat into small crumbles as it cooks.
- Drain excess fat from the pan, then return the meat and vegetables to the skillet. Stir in the pizza sauce, sliced black olives, and sugar. Cover and simmer gently for about 15 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Serve the hot mixture spooned onto sandwich buns and top each with a slice of provolone. If you prefer melted cheese, place the assembled open-faced sandwiches on a baking sheet under the broiler for a minute or two until the provolone melts, then add the top buns and serve.
Nutrition
Servings: 8
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