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An incredible, made from scratch Sloppy Joe filling is topped with cheese and baked between layers of crescent roll dough. These Sloppy Joe Squares will be a hit with your family or at your next potluck gathering!
Boy # 4 started back to school today. The first day of his last year of high school and the first of many lasts for us this year. His older brothers will return to their respective colleges within the next couple of weeks. Summer is officially winding down.
I always like to plan a special menu full of good, hearty, kid friendly (or teenage boy friendly) meals for the first week of school that are centered around the boys and cater to their tastes. Meals like this are much needed after the stress, excitement, and first day jitters that inevitably come each new school year. And somehow it makes me feel better too. This recipe is a great one to feed your hungry Back to Schoolers and it’s also a great choice for all those upcoming school potlucks or banquets.
I came across a similar recipe a loooonnnnggg time ago in a magazine that no longer exists. It was called Hometown Cooking, from the folks at Better Homes & Gardens. I’m still trying to get over the fact that this magazine is no longer published. It was my favorite cooking magazine and every issue had a gazillion recipes I wanted to try. I still refer back to issues that are now over 10 years old, for inspiration.
The recipe calls for Sloppy Joe filling so I use my all time favorite, hands down, no contest cause it’s the winner, recipe for Cajun Sloppy Joe’s.
Just slice, serve… enjoy!
Put a plate of this in front of them and ask them about their day. If you have a son, and he says more than three words in response, you are truly blessed.
More recipes for Sloppy Joe fans:
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes | Belly Full
Sloppy Joe Sliders | Valerie’s Kitchen
One Pot Sloppy Joe Noodle Skillet | Spicy Perspective
Taco Sloppy Joes | Lemons for LuLu
Sloppy Joe Squares
An incredible, made from scratch Sloppy Joe filling is topped with cheese and baked between layers of crescent roll dough. These Sloppy Joe Squares will be a hit with your family or at your next potluck gathering!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small white onion diced
- 1 small green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Creole or Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper adjust amount as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 16 ounces refrigerated crescent roll dough (2 (8 ounce) packages)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar/jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onions, and bell pepper until meat crumbles and no pink remains. Drain well and return skillet to heat.
- Add tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, Creole seasoning, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and fresh ground pepper. Stir well to combine and reduce heat to low. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and spray a 13- x 9-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Press one can of the crescent roll dough into the prepared pan, pressing with your fingers to cover the bottom of the pan. Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture on top of the dough in pan and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Carefully place the 2nd sheet of crescent roll dough on top of the cheese, lightly pressing the seams together and pulling the dough out to the edges of the pan. Brush the top of the dough with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake, uncovered, for 13 to 15 minutes till nicely golden brown. Serve immediately.
Betty McClure says
Made this Saturday night for my husband’s birthday & it was delicious! Will send to my son, basketball coach who is staying @ home In Memphis Grizzlies territory! He’s been cooking quite a bit & I think he & his roommates would love this! Thanks!
Laeken Lanegan says
This was a hit.
Julie says
I’m so glad I took the time to make the filling instead of using Manwich – which I was considering. We could taste the difference. Very good, easy, kid friendly…thank you!
Don says
Can the red and green peppers be left of as I can’t tolerate the after effects of peppers.
Valerie says
Sure! Modify the filling to suit your taste.
Judy Tonnies says
I tried this tonight and it is wonderful! We run a restaurant and I plan on using this in place of juicy burgers! Thank for posting.
Amy @Belly Full says
My family would love this!
michelle perry says
This is an excellent idea for dinner. my kids gobble up Sloppy Joe stuff any way they can have it. Have used cheddar mozarella cheese and sharp cheddar mixed with marble and it is awesome and yes you can freeze crescent rolls with it as I used Manwich filling before and it froze very well as I had made a double pan and froze one as my company didn’t show up so we had the leftovers reheated from thawing the other pan out. it was as good as the first fresh one reheated up and went great with a tossed salad.
Valerie says
I’m so glad to hear it worked out so well for you and thank so much for the tips!
Jaclynne says
How long do you cook it after you froze it? I made this to give to a friend and figured to freeze it so that they can make it whenever. Should I tell her to thaw and cook or can it go right in over but for longer?
Valerie says
I would definitely have her thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then she can just cook it as directed.
Monica Stone says
thank you for this recipe. It was delicious. My husband loved it. I have all my Mom’s recipes, made a beautiful recipe book for myself and my sister’s, but the one recipe that I could never find was my Mom’s sloppy Joe recipe. Not quite like her’s, but delicious. thank you for sharing.
Valerie says
It is so special that you’ve collected all of your mom’s recipes and taken the time to put them together this way. What a wonderful tribute to her 🙂 I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
CD says
Do you think this would freeze ok before cooking?
Valerie says
I can’t say that I’ve ever tried freezing crescent roll dough. I think I’d be more inclined to make and freeze the filling and then assemble it just before baking but if you give it a try, be sure to let me know how it works out for you.