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
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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
i was actually thinking of doing sloopy joes or chili or chili today after a marathon day of cooking duck and sausage gumbo, tater salad, rice, homemade from scratch frenchbread and a apple, cranberry, raspberry gallette! whew, this looks perfect for today….going to make it wth baked mac n cheese and a salad…thanks -)
My husbands favorite meal is sloppy joes!! This looks so so good, and a great twist.
I love how you plan your meals around comfort the first week of school…it’s true, so many feelings, emotions & energy packed into school days, so nice for kids to come home to meals like this.
This sounds like some wonderful comfort food!
I haven’t had sloppy joes in ages and this is making me crave it. Great recipe!
What an absolutely clever dish! I love it! With the crust on the top and the bottom it is like eating a Sloppy Joe but not near as messy. Can I be a kid in your kitchen? 🙂
THIS. THIS is all i need…. TOO GOOD to be true!
My husband will be all over this! Thanks, Valerie!
Sounds like a winner. :love the Cajun twist. I have a daughter that just started her Senior year. Only 4 classes and she’s home by noon. She needs to learn to make this for me! LOL
Sounds like a great idea Megan! Take pictures and send them to me so I know what it looks like to see a teenager cooking dinner 🙂
What a great recipe. Simple, comforting and delicious. Saving this one! 🙂
It’s super easy Anita. You can throw it together in under an hour.
It sounds very delicious, but it’s WAY too many ingredients for busy working moms. I might make it when I have a couple of days off.
It’s actually very quick and easy to put together. I hope you give it a try Angie! Enjoy 🙂
Found this recipe years ago, in a “Manwich” cookbook. Just a simplified version of the one here…crescent rolls, can Manwich & cheese . Sesame seeds on top. Feel free to fry onions etc with ground beef. I’ve even brushed the top with garlic butter for a little change. 🙂
You could use Manwich but it is oh, so good, with a homemade filling!
I have made this for years. Use bottled BBQ sauce. Very quick. Travels well in a lunch and good cold as well.
I made this but not all those ingredient just sloppy joe mix, cut up onion and cheese, all the other stuff I left out and it was great
I love anything with crescent roll dough….this sounds so good and homey! YUM!
This looks so good! I know that it will go down very well indeed at my house!!
My husband would eat that up!
It is totally adult friendly as well. We love it!