Meet Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs: grilled hot dogs nestled in buttery brioche buns, piled with homemade Sloppy Joe meat and topped with a creamy cheese sauce. It’s a simple way to elevate a classic hot dog into something indulgent and memorable.
Ingredients You Need to Make This Recipe
- Hot dogs (6)
- Brioche hot dog buns (6)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ seasoning
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder
Cheese sauce
- 8 oz deli-style American cheese (or cheddar), chopped
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Optional: ½ teaspoon cornstarch to thicken
How to Make Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs
Making Your Sloppy Joe
This Sloppy Joe is made from scratch—no cans—so the flavor is richer and fresher than store-bought. Follow these steps:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté until softened, about 5–10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned. Stir in the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and BBQ seasoning. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer briefly so the flavors meld. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
This homemade Sloppy Joe mix is versatile—use leftovers for sliders, tacos, or a quick sandwich.
Making the Cheese Sauce
For a smooth, creamy cheese sauce, chop or tear the American cheese into small pieces so it melts easily. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and stir in the milk.
Add the cheese gradually, stirring constantly until fully melted and silky. If the sauce is too thin, whisk in about ½ teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in a little cold milk. If it’s too thick, add a splash more milk until you reach the desired consistency.
Grilling the Hot Dogs and Buns
Preheat a griddle or skillet to medium-high. Cook the hot dogs until browned and heated through, turning a couple times—only a few minutes per side.
Split the brioche buns down the center without cutting all the way through. Lightly butter the inside and toast them open-faced in the pan or on the griddle until golden and slightly crisp.
Assembling the Sloppy Joe Dogs
Place a grilled hot dog into each toasted brioche bun. Spoon a generous portion of the Sloppy Joe mixture over each hot dog, then drizzle or spoon on the warm cheese sauce.
Garnish if you like with sliced jalapeños, chopped chives, or extra pickles for brightness. These dogs are equally satisfying with just the meat and cheese.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store leftover Sloppy Joe meat and any prepared dogs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat assembled dogs in a 350°F oven for 5–8 minutes to revive the bun crispiness. An air fryer also works well for restoring a crunchy edge. The microwave is fastest but will soften the bun.
Looking for More Creative Hot Dog Recipes?
If you enjoyed these Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs, try other inventive hot dog ideas like:
- Hot Dog Grilled Cheese
- Sonoran Style Hot Dogs
- Chili Dog Poppers in a Blanket
- Cajun Style Chili Dogs
Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs (With cheese sauce)
No reviews
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6
Ingredients
For the Hot Dogs:
- 6 hot dogs
- 6 brioche hot dog buns
For the Sloppy Joe Mixture:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ seasoning
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder
For the Cheese Sauce:
- 8 oz deli-style American cheese, chopped
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Optional: ½ teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Make the Sloppy Joe: In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the diced onion in olive oil until soft. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Once the onion is softened (5–10 minutes), add the ground beef and break it up. Season with BBQ rub and cook until browned.
- Stir in ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Simmer on low for a few minutes to combine flavors.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and stir in the milk.
- Add the chopped cheese gradually, stirring until smooth. Adjust thickness with cornstarch or extra milk as needed.
- Grill the Hot Dogs and Toast the Buns: Grill hot dogs over medium-high heat until browned. Split and butter brioche buns and toast open-faced until golden.
- Assemble the Sloppy Joe Dogs: Place hot dogs in toasted buns, top with a generous spoonful of Sloppy Joe mixture and drizzle with cheese sauce. Garnish with jalapeños or chives if desired.
- Author: Jordan Hanger
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American