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The Boat Shed Kitchen

Homemade Sloppy Joes

This stuffed Italian meatloaf is a flavorful twist on the classic, made with ground beef, Italian sausage, herbs, cheese, and a delicious marinara filling. The center is gooey with mozzarella and spinach (optional), wrapped in a perfectly seasoned meat blend and topped with rich tomato sauce and Parmesan.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1½ pounds lean ground beef 90/10
  • 1 small sweet onion diced
  • 1 small green bell pepper diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1½ cups beef stock
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add beef and cook until browned, 3–5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
  3. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
  4. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne. Cook 1 minute.
  5. Pour in beef stock and scrape the pan.
  6. Add ketchup, Dijon, Worcestershire, brown sugar, and sugar.
  7. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. See full steps with tips & photos → https://theboatshedcafe.com/homemade-sloppy-joes/

Notes

• You can use a mix of fresh and dried herbs depending on what you have.
• If your loaf is very juicy after baking, carefully drain off any excess liquid before serving.
• Using parchment makes it easier to lift and transfer the loaf after baking.