Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe is your new go-to for effortless entertaining and comforting weeknight meals. This incredibly easy and satisfying appetizer transforms classic sloppy joe flavors into a dippable, shareable delight, perfect for game days, parties, or just a cozy night in.
Key Ingredients for Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Optional toppings: chopped fresh parsley, extra shredded cheese, diced jalapeños
How to Make Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe
This Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe is unbelievably easy to make, delivering a burst of savory-sweet flavor that’s utterly soul-satisfying. The magic lies in its simple, hearty ingredients coming together to create a rich, creamy texture everyone will adore. With a preparation time of just 15 minutes and a cooking time of 30 minutes, this dip is a quick win for busy schedules and hungry crowds.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5–7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned, draining off any excess grease.
- Build the Sloppy Joe Base: Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, chili powder, and oregano. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15–20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese: While the sloppy joe mixture is simmering, in a separate medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Combine and Melt: Add about half of the shredded cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack cheese to the cream cheese and stir until combined. Gently fold this cheesy mixture into the cooked sloppy joe mixture in the skillet. Stir until the cream cheese is completely melted and the dip is smooth and creamy.
- Top and Melt: Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the dip.
- Bake or Broil: You can either bake this dip or broil it to achieve that perfect cheesy topping.
- Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the dip to an oven-safe dish if it’s not already in one. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Broiling: For a quicker melted topping, place the skillet (if oven-safe) or an oven-safe dish under a broiler set to high. Broil for 2–4 minutes, watching very carefully to prevent burning, until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with optional fresh parsley, extra shredded cheese, or diced jalapeños if desired. Serve hot immediately with your favorite dippers like tortilla chips, pita bread, crackers, celery sticks, or carrot sticks.
Why You’ll Love This Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe
You’ll absolutely adore this Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe for its incredibly comforting and familiar taste, reminiscent of childhood favorites but elevated for grown-up palates. It’s a true crowd-pleaser, offering a warm, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned bite every time, making it even more irresistible than a classic bowl of chili. The delightful combination of savory ground beef, sweet ketchup, and a hint of tangy mustard, all enveloped in a luscious, creamy cheese sauce, creates an experience that’s both nostalgic and excitingly new.
Not only does this dip deliver on flavor, but it’s also a fantastic way to impress guests without breaking the bank. Making this Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe at home is significantly more cost-effective than purchasing pre-made dips or catering appetizers, allowing you to serve generous portions for a fraction of the price. The customizable toppings, from a sprinkle of fresh herbs to a kick of jalapeños, allow you to tailor it to any taste preference, offering a dynamic flavor profile that keeps every spoonful interesting. Don’t miss out on this easy, budget-friendly, and incredibly delicious appetizer – try it for your next gathering!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing Leftovers:
- Allow the dip to cool completely to room temperature before storing.
- Transfer any leftover Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe to an airtight container.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating Tips:
- Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Transfer the leftover dip to an oven-safe dish. Cover with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes if you want to re-melt the cheese topping.
- Stovetop Method: For a quicker reheat, place the leftover dip in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until the dip is warmed through. You may need to add a tablespoon or two of milk or water if the dip is too thick.
- Microwave Method (Least Recommended for Texture): Place a portion of the dip in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until heated through. Be cautious, as the microwave can sometimes alter the creamy texture.
Freezing for Future Meals:
- It’s best to freeze the sloppy joe mixture without the cream cheese and shredded cheese added.
- Cool the cooked sloppy joe mixture completely.
- Portion into freezer-safe bags or containers.
- Freeze for up to 2–3 months.
- To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, proceed with reheating instructions, adding the softened cream cheese and shredded cheese during the final stages of warming.
Final Thoughts
This Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe is the ultimate comfort food appetizer, guaranteed to disappear fast. Its simple preparation and irresistible flavor make it a winner for any occasion, so don’t hesitate to whip up a batch and share the deliciousness!
Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5–7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 medium onion, finely chopped, 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped, 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Add the lean ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned, draining off any excess grease.1 pound lean ground beef
- Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, chili powder, and oregano. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15–20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.1 15-ounce can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- While the sloppy joe mixture is simmering, in a separate medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- Add about half of the shredded cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack cheese to the cream cheese and stir until combined. Gently fold this cheesy mixture into the cooked sloppy joe mixture in the skillet. Stir until the cream cheese is completely melted and the dip is smooth and creamy.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided), 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the dip.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- You can either bake this dip or broil it to achieve that perfect cheesy topping. Baking: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the dip to an oven-safe dish if it’s not already in one. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Broiling: For a quicker melted topping, place the skillet (if oven-safe) or an oven-safe dish under a broiler set to high. Broil for 2–4 minutes, watching very carefully to prevent burning, until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
- Garnish with optional fresh parsley, extra shredded cheese, or diced jalapeños if desired. Serve hot immediately with your favorite dippers like tortilla chips, pita bread, crackers, celery sticks, or carrot sticks.chopped fresh parsley, extra shredded cheese, diced jalapeños
Notes
Allow the dip to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Transfer any leftover Hot Sloppy Joe Dip Recipe to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheating Tips:
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Transfer the leftover dip to an oven-safe dish. Cover with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes if you want to re-melt the cheese topping.
Stovetop Method: For a quicker reheat, place the leftover dip in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until the dip is warmed through. You may need to add a tablespoon or two of milk or water if the dip is too thick.
Microwave Method (Least Recommended for Texture): Place a portion of the dip in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until heated through. Be cautious, as the microwave can sometimes alter the creamy texture. Freezing for Future Meals:
It’s best to freeze the sloppy joe mixture *without* the cream cheese and shredded cheese added. Cool the cooked sloppy joe mixture completely. Portion into freezer-safe bags or containers. Freeze for up to 2–3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, proceed with reheating instructions, adding the softened cream cheese and shredded cheese during the final stages of warming.