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Easy Ground Beef Korean Bulgogi Smash Burger Recipe

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Enjoy all the flavors of Korean bulgogi in a mouthwatering burger! You'll love this easy recipe for a smash burger that is full of flavor, topped with kimchi for the ultimate Korean style burger!

Delicious burger with fresh lettuce, tomato, grilled patty, and kimchi topping.

Do you love Korean food and Korean bbq? If so, you are probably a fan of bulgogi, which translates "fire meat" (fire (bul) and meat (gogi).

I absolutely love all types of bulgogi including, chicken, traditional beef bulgogi, and pork!

And I was recently introduced to a new way of savoring the flavors of bulgogi...in a bulgogi burger!

I devoured a bulgogi burger at Kitok Restaurant in Waco, TX, known for its no-frills and delicious Korean cuisine, and just knew I had to recreate it at home.

So here's my version of a bulgogi burger, which is a great option for an easy dinner for your busy weeknights!

But wait! I'm going to level up this burger by making it a smash burger!!

Jump to:

Why Smash Burgers Are Next Level!

I am a HUGE fan of smash burgers! So, we could enjoy this Korean recipe for the bulgogi burger as a regular burger with a few of our favorite toppings such as lettuce, tomato, and in this case some funky kimchi!

However, smash burgers with their crispy edges and caramelization (due to the Maillard reaction) make for the best burgers!

The cooking process involves smashing burger balls into thin patties on a very hot surface (like a hot griddle or cast iron skillet) which results in a juicy burger with lots of flavor and a pretty quick cooking time!

If you are ready for some of the best homemade smash burgers served Korean style, then read on for my recommended equipment, ingredients, and instructions!

🍽 Equipment

I recommend that you have the following equipment on hand to make this easy ground beef recipe:

  • Large skillet (preferably cast iron) or cast iron griddle/grill (I love using this to make more than one burger at a time, and it can be used on an electric stovetop!)
  • Burger/bacon press - This ideal tool is what I use this to smash my burgers; you can use a flat metal spatula to smash, but the heavy press works great you will love it!
  • Wax paper or parchment paper - insert a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between the meat and your press so the meat doesn't stick to your burger press - trust me you will want to do this!
  • Instant read thermometer - highly recommended to help you gauge the doneness of your burger

🥘 Ingredients

Ingredients to make bulgogi burgers displayed in bowls include ground beef, panko, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, gochujang, gochugaru, sesame oil, and black pepper.
Preparations for flavorful ground beef recipes with spices, soy sauce, and fresh ingredients.

Here's what you will need to make this ground beef bulgogi recipe:

  • One pound of ground beef (Ground chuck 80/20 is the best type for this burger; lean ground beef is not recommended)
  • Panko
  • Regular Soy sauce (can sub low-sodium soy sauce if you like)
  • Gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
  • Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
  • Black pepper
  • Sesame oil
  • Brown sugar
  • Minced garlic
  • Minced ginger
  • Sesame oil

These ingredients (excepting the gochugaru and gochujang), are the typical ingredients that you would use in a traditional bulgogi marinade.

You should be able to find most of these ingredients at your local grocery store. And Asian grocery stores should carry gochugaru and gochujang, which I've also linked to Amazon if you'd like to purchase from there.

I'd like to suggest the following toppings for your smash burger, which I used on mine:

Ingredients for bulgogi burger toppings including tomatoes, kimchi, lettuce, gochujang mayo, and a toasted burger bun.

Of course you'll also need some hamburger buns. I didn't use buns with sesame seeds this time, but next time I will!

🔪 Instructions

Prep Your Burger Ingredients and Toppings

Add all of the bulgogi burger seasonings (soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, gochujang, gochugaru, garlic, ginger, brown sugar and panko) to a large mixing bowl and mix well to combine.

A mixing bowl containing seasoning ingredients to make bulgogi burgers including garlic and ginger, gochugaru, gochujang, soy sauce, brown sugar, panko, and sesame oil.
Add the bulgogi burger seasonings to a mixing bowl...
A mixing bowl containing a seasoning mixture for bulgogi burgers, and a yellow spoon with a wooden handle.
Stir to combine.

Now add the ground meat, and work the marinade ingredients into the ground beef. Gently combine, and don't overwork the meat.

A seasoned ground beef mixture in a mixing bowl.

Divide the beef into 4 equal portions and then shape into balls. Put these in your refrigerator and leave for 30 minutes marinating time.

Four balls of ground beef in a silver mixing bowl.

During this time, prep and get your burger toppings ready, and make some gochujang mayo by mixing in a bit of gochujang into some mayo (that's all there is to that!)

Time To Smash!

Get your cast iron really hot! Set it on a medium-high heat to high heat. Once very hot, add one of the balls of beef to your pan and immediately smash it down as thin as you can using your burger press (or metal spatula).

Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the beef and the burger press so the beef doesn't stick. (If you have room to cook more than one burger at a time that's great! Otherwise you'll need to do this in batches, keeping the cooked burgers warm while preparing the other ones.)

A ball of ground beef on a smoking cast iron pan.
Add a ball of beef to a very hot cast iron pan...
A bacon/burger press on top of parchment paper in a cast iron pan.
Smash it using a burger/bacon press or a metal spatula...placing parchment paper between the smasher and beef helps the food avoid sticking...
A smashed ground beef burger being cooked on a smoking cast iron pan.
Smash it down!

Cook this side for around 2 minutes on medium-high, and around a minute on high. You want the burger to be somewhat crispy, caramelized and brown/charred before turning over.

Turn it and cook the other side. You'll want to cook this around 1-2 more minutes or so on medium-high, and less than a minute on high. The length of time will also depend on how well done you like your burgers.

A charred ground beef bulgogi burger being cooked on a smoking cast iron pan.

The USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160F. You can determine the temperature by using an instant read thermometer.

Repeat with remaining burgers.

Assemble Your Masterpiece!

Spread the buns with gochujang mayo (top and bottom buns), add lettuce to the bottom bun, stack with your beef patty, kimchi and tomato, and the top bun, or assemble anyway you like!

Suggestions For Serving

Delicious bulgogi burger with fresh lettuce, tomato, grilled patty, and kimchi topping.

It's time to enjoy the incredible flavors of your Korean beef bulgogi burger!

Serve with some french fries for a delicious dinner that your entire family will love!

Some Korean side dishes (banchan) to consider are cucumber kimchi, green onion kimchi, and Korean zucchini side dish. Because hey, you can't have a Korean meal without some banchan!

불고기 버거 만세! (Long live the bulgogi burger!)

FAQ

What are some other ways I can use this bulgogi marinated ground beef?

You don't have to use this beef just for burgers! Feel free to stir fry the marinated ground beef (don't shape into burgers) and enjoy with lettuce wraps. You could also add stir fried marinated beef to rice bowls, along with some green onions and a fried egg for a delicious meal! Try it in a cauliflower rice bowl for a low carb option!

Can I make this recipe as a regular burger (not a smash burger)?

If you prefer to have a regular burger, simply shape the ground beef mixture into patties. Pan fry each side in a bit of butter on medium high. For a burger closer to medium well, fry the first side for around 4 minutes, flip, then fry the flip side for around 3 minutes. Please feel to adjust your cooking time to suit your tastes.

What about CHEESE?

Make this a cheeseburger for some extra deliciousness! Add a slice of American cheese (or your choice) when frying the second side and watch it melt while you salivate!

Some Other Burger Recipes That You Will Enjoy!

Here are some other burger recipes that you will enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

Finally, I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food horizons! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Delicious bulgogi burger with fresh lettuce, tomato, grilled patty, and kimchi topping.

Easy Ground Beef Korean Bulgogi Smashburger Recipe

Grace Stewart
Enjoy all the tremendous flavors of bulgogi in this Easy Ground Beef Korean Bulgogi Smashburger Recipe!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Korean
Servings 4 servings
Calories 378 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron pan/griddle or large frying pan for cooking your burgers and toasting your buns
  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 burger/bacon press can use a flat spatula instead of this press to smash your burgers
  • 1 instant read thermometer optional, but so useful to help gauge the doneness of your burgers
  • parchment paper helps to keep food from sticking to your burger press

Ingredients
  

For The Burgers

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 ground chuck
  • 1 inch ginger peeled and minced
  • 5 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 1 tablespoon gochugaru
  • 2 tablespoon gochujang
  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 ts brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon panko
  • 1 ts black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Toppings and Other Burger Needs

  • 4 each burger buns buttered and toasted
  • 1 cup kimchi optional but oh so good!
  • 4 each slices of tomato thinly sliced (1 for each burger)
  • 4 each lettuce leaves 1 for each burger
  • ½ cup gochujang mayo or regular mayo to make the gochujang mayo, mix in a little bit of gochujang to taste and that's it! assume 2 tablespoon for each burger

Instructions
 

Burger and Toppings Prep

  • Add all of the bulgogi burger seasonings (soy sauce, sesame oil, black pepper, gochujang, gochugaru, garlic, ginger, brown sugar and panko) to a large mixing bowl and mix well to combine.
  • Now add the ground beef, and work the seasonings into the ground beef. Gently combine, and don't overwork the meat.
  • Divide the beef into 4 equal portions and then shape into balls. Put these in your refrigerator and leave for 30 minutes marinating time.
  • During this time, prep and get your burger toppings ready, and make some gochujang mayo by mixing in a bit of gochujang into some mayo (that's all there is to that!)

Time To Smash!

  • Get your cast iron really hot! Set it on a medium-high to high heat. Once very hot, add one of the balls of beef to your pan and immediately smash it down as thin as you can using your burger press (or metal spatula). Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the beef and the burger press so the beef doesn't stick. (If you have room to cook more than one burger at a time that's great! Otherwise you'll need to do this in batches, keeping the cooked burgers warm while preparing the other ones.)
  • Cook this side for around 2 minutes on medium-high, and around a minute on high. You want the burger to be somewhat crispy, caramelized and brown/charred before turning over.
  • Turn it and cook the other side. You'll want to cook this around 1-2 more minutes or so on medium-high, and less than a minute on high. The length of time will also depend on how well done you like your burgers. The USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160F. You can determine the temperature by using an instant read thermometer.
  • Repeat with remaining burgers.

Assemble Your Masterpiece!

  • Spread the buns with gochujang mayo (top and bottom buns), add lettuce to the bottom bun, stack with your beef patty, kimchi and tomato, and the top bun, or assemble anyway you like!
  • Enjoy the incredible flavors of your bulgogi burger!

Notes

I do recommend you use an instant read thermometer and this burger temperature chart to help you fine tune how long you should cook your burgers to your liking.
PLEASE NOTE: The length of time will also depend on the thickness of your burger patties. The USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160F. You can determine the temperature by using an instant read thermometer.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 23gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 1051mgPotassium: 488mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 720IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 4mg
Keyword beef bulgogi burger, Burger, korean food
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Homemade New Zealand Kiwi Smash Burger Recipe

by Leave a Comment

Enjoy your burger the Kiwi way! The Kiwi burger features beetroot and a fried egg, which is typical of the standard hamburger that New Zealanders love. And take it up a notch with this recipe by smashing it up with your burger press to make it an over the top delicious Kiwi Smash Burger!

A hamburger which includes beef patty, beetroot relish, fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and red onion.

I discovered an amazing burger joint called "Burger Fuel" on a trip to New Zealand. There, I indulged in their "Bio Fuel" burger, aka "The Homegrown Kiwi Classic."

So what is a Kiwi Classic burger you ask? Let me introduce you to a great burger that New Zealanders love, which features beetroot and a fried egg!

The Bio Fuel burger, grass fed and smashed, was absolutely incredible, and I had to recreate it when I returned home!

Here is my take on the Kiwi Burger, which is very different to the traditional burger that Americans are used to, which I know you will absolutely LOVE!!

Jump to:

Why Smash Burgers Are The BEST!

I am a HUGE fan of smash burgers! So, we could enjoy this kiwi style burger as a regular burger with a few of our favorite toppings such as lettuce, onion, and tomato with newbie additions of fried egg and beets.

However, smash burgers with their crispy edges and caramelization (due to the Maillard reaction) make for the best burgers!

The cooking process involves smashing burger balls into thin patties on a very hot surface (like a hot griddle or cast iron skillet) which results in a juicy burger with lots of flavor and a pretty quick cooking time!

If you are ready for some of the best homemade smash burgers served "Kiwi style," then read on for my recommended equipment, ingredients, and instructions!

🍽 Equipment

I recommend that you have the following equipment on hand to make this recipe:

  • Large cast iron skillet or cast iron griddle/grill (I love using this to make more than one burger at a time, and it can be used on an electric stovetop!)
  • Burger/bacon press - This ideal tool is what I use this to smash my burgers; you can use a flat spatula to smash, but the heavy press works great you will love it!
  • Wax paper or parchment paper - insert a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between the meat and your press so the meat doesn't stick to your burger press - trust me you will want to do this!
  • Small nonstick pan - helpful for frying your eggs
  • Instant read thermometer - highly recommended to help you gauge the doneness of your burger

🥘 Ingredients

New Zealand Kiwi Burger ingredients including sliced tomatoes, red onion, lettuce, garlic mayo, beet relish, ground beef, burger buns, and a fried egg.

So here's what you will need to make your Kiwi smash burgers:

  • Ground beef - I will always recommend grass fed! Use 85/15 or 80/20 for best results. Any leaner and your burgers won't be as juicy as you deserve.
  • Burger buns - lightly toasted with some grass fed butter can't be beat! If you want to be extra fancy you can use brioche buns
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Eggs - fried over hard is an essential ingredient for your kiwi burger
  • Lettuce leaves
  • Tomato - thinly sliced from a large beefsteak tomato is lovely!
  • Red onion - again, thinly sliced
  • Garlic mayo - I usually make this by adding some raw minced garlic to mayo - you can of course just use regular mayo without additional garlic
  • Beetroot relish - ok, this is typically not the easiest to find in the US. You can make my Easy New Zealand Style Homemade Beet Relish Recipe, or just substitute slices of beetroot. But just know a kiwi burger is not a kiwi burger without beetroot 😁

You should be able to find all of these ingredients in your local grocery store, with the exception of the beet relish. Of course you can simply sub slices of cooked beets for the relish to make things less complicated.

Let's now make this delicious burger!!

🔪 Instructions

You are now just a few minutes away from enjoying your burger! Begin by prepping your ingredients:

Prep The Ingredients For Your Burger

Toast lightly buttered hamburger buns on medium heat in your cast iron pan (if you so desire).

Prep your veggies: thinly slice red onion and tomatoes, wash and dry your lettuce.

Have your beetroot relish ready to add to your burger, or slice some cooked beetroot as a sub for the relish.

Add some minced garlic (or garlic powder) to your mayo for a most delicious mayo to add to your burger. You can use regular mayo if you prefer.

Now Get Ready To Smash! And Fry Your Eggs!

Add 1 ts salt and 1 ts pepper to the ground beef, and gently mix it in by hand. Split into 3 equal balls of ground beef weighing ⅓ lb (from the 1 lb of beef). Have some extra salt and pepper ready for sprinkling over the beef as it cooks.

Fry your eggs (over hard) in a nonstick frying pan and keep warm while you cook your burgers.

An egg being fried in a pan.

Get your cast iron really hot! Set it on a medium-high heat to high heat. Once very hot, add one of the balls of beef to your hot pan and immediately smash it down as thin as you can using your burger press (or metal spatula).

A ball of ground beef in a cast iron pan.

Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the burger patty and the burger press so the beef doesn't stick to your burger press. (If you have room to cook more than one burger at a time that's great! Otherwise you'll need to do this in batches, keeping the cooked burgers warm while preparing the other ones.)

A person holding a bacon press over a piece of wax paper.
Placing wax or parchment paper between the beef and press keeps the meat from sticking!
A smashed raw beef burger being cooked in a cast iron pan.
Smash the beef as thin as possible...if it's not a perfect circle that's ok!

Cook this side for around 2 minutes. While cooking, sprinkle a good pinch of salt and pepper over the side that is not cooking. You want the smashed burger to be somewhat crispy, caramelized and golden brown before turning over.

Turn it and cook the other side, again sprinkling a good pinch of salt and pepper over the side that was just cooked. You'll want to cook this around 2 more minutes for medium-rare to medium, and up to 3 for a medium-well burger.

Burger Temperatures

I do recommend you use an instant read thermometer and this burger temperature chart to help you fine tune how long you should cook your burgers to your liking.

PLEASE NOTE: The length of time will also depend on the thickness of your burger patties. The USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160F. You can determine the temperature by using an instant read thermometer.

Repeat with remaining burgers.

A beef burger being cooked in a cast iron pan with someone holding a spice bottle over the burger.
Sprinkle additional salt and pepper over both sides of the burger as it cooks.
A cooked beef burger patty on a plate.
Behold your juicy smash burger!

Assemble Your Burgers!

Spread the buns with garlic mayo (top and bottom buns), add beetroot (relish) to the bottom bun, stack with your beef patty, fried egg, lettuce, onion, tomato, and the top bun.

And now get ready to enjoy your delicious homemade New Zealand style burger!

Suggestions For Serving

A hamburger which includes beef patty, beetroot relish, fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and red onion.

The perfect accompaniment to your perfect smash burger is some french fries. Even better, if you can get your hands on kumara (New Zealand sweet potato), make some kumara fries to enjoy with it!

Quite honestly that's all you need for an incredible culinary experience, New Zealand style!

FAQ

If I would like to add a slice of cheese to this Kiwi burger, what kind of cheese would be best?

I recommend adding some cheddar cheese if you'd like to make this a cheeseburger.

Should I turn on my exhaust fan when making these smash burgers?

It's quite a good idea to turn on your exhaust fan as you might get smoked out of your house!

What internal temperature should I cook my burger to ensure it is safe to eat?

The USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160F. You can determine the temperature by using an instant read thermometer.

Some Other New Zealand Recipes That You Will Enjoy!

You will love these other New Zealand recipes:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

Finally, I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food horizons! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A hamburger which includes beef patty, beetroot relish, fried egg, lettuce, tomato, and red onion.

Easy Homemade New Zealand Kiwi Smash Burger Recipe

Grace Stewart
Enjoy this New Zealand Kiwi Burger with beetroot and an egg, and level it up by making it smash burger style!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine New Zealand
Servings 3 people
Calories 512 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large frying pan cast iron preferred for cooking your burgers
  • burger smasher can use a metal spatula instead
  • 1 separate frying pan nonstick preferred, for frying your eggs
  • instant read thermometer highly recommended

Ingredients
  

  • 3 each burger buns lightly toasted with butter if you like!
  • 1 lb ground beef 85/15 or 82/10 grass fed ground beef is highly recommended
  • 1 ts salt plus additional for sprinkling over the burgers as they cook
  • 1 ts black pepper plus additional for sprinkling over the burgers as they cook
  • 3 each eggs fried (pasture raised is best) - 1 for each burger
  • 3 each lettuce leaves 1 for each burger
  • 3 each slices of tomato 1 for each burger
  • 3 each slices of red onion 1 for each burger
  • ⅓ cup garlic mayo easily made by adding some minced garlic to mayo, or garlic powder to your taste (just use regular may if you prefer) - split the garlic mayo amongst the 3 burgers and add more if you want!
  • ⅓ cup beetroot relish split amongst the 3 burgers (add more if you like!) - can substitute slices of beetroot for the relish

Instructions
 

Prep The Ingredients For Your Burger

  • Toast lightly buttered hamburger buns on medium heat in your cast iron pan (if you so desire).
  • Prep your veggies: thinly slice red onion and tomatoes, wash and dry your lettuce.
  • Have your beetroot relish ready to add to your burger, or slice some cooked beetroot as a sub for the relish.
  • Add some minced garlic (or garlic powder) to your mayo for a most delicious mayo to add to your burger. You can use regular mayo if you prefer.

Now Get Ready To Smash! And Fry Your Eggs!

  • Add 1 ts salt and 1 ts pepper to the ground beef, and gently mix it in by hand. Split into 3 equal balls of beef weighing ⅓ lb (from the 1 lb of beef). Have some extra salt and pepper ready for sprinkling over the beef as it cooks.
  • Fry your eggs (over hard) in a nonstick frying pan and keep warm while you cook your burgers.
  • Get your cast iron really hot! Set it on a medium-high to high heat. Once very hot, add one of the balls of beef to your pan and immediately smash it down as thin as you can using your burger press (or metal spatula). Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the beef and the burger press so the beef doesn't stick. (If you have room to cook more than one burger at a time that's great! Otherwise you'll need to do this in batches, keeping the cooked burgers warm while preparing the other ones.)
  • Cook this side for around 2 minutes. While cooking, sprinkle a good pinch of salt and pepper over the side that is not cooking. You want the burger to be somewhat crispy, caramelized and brown before turning over.
  • Turn it and cook the other side, again sprinkling a good pinch of salt and pepper over the side that was just cooked. You'll want to cook this around 2 more minutes for medium-rare to medium, and up to 3 for a medium-well burger. The length of time will also depend on the thickness of your burgers. Repeat with remaining burgers.

Assemble Your Burgers!

  • Spread the buns with garlic mayo (top and bottom buns), add beetroot (relish) to the bottom bun, stack with your beef patty, fried egg, lettuce, onion, tomato, and the top bun.
  • Open wide, and tuck in!

Notes

The nutrition information doesn't include any additional salt or pepper added while the burgers are cooking, and includes info on cooked beets rather than beetroot relish.
If you'd like to include beetroot relish in your burgers, please try my Easy New Zealand Style Homemade Beet Relish Recipe you'll love it!   
I do recommend you use an instant read thermometer and this burger temperature chart to help you fine tune how long you should cook your burgers to your liking.
PLEASE NOTE: The length of time will also depend on the thickness of your burger patties. The USDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160F. You can determine the temperature by using an instant read thermometer.

Nutrition

Calories: 512kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 26gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 1127mgPotassium: 470mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 95IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Burger, Kiwi burger, New Zealand Burger
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe

by Leave a Comment

Upgrade your dinner game with this cheesy Texas Toast Sloppy Joe recipe! Use a can of Manwich Original and frozen garlic toast for a quick, budget-friendly meal the kids will devour. It's the ultimate messy, melty, open-faced comfort food for busy nights!

A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.

I grew up eating deliciously messy Sloppy Joe's. My elementary school used to serve these for lunch, and I looked forward with anticipation when my mom would make these for dinner as well. Good times!

It had been quite awhile since I've enjoyed this easy weeknight meal. So I grabbed a can of Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce at the grocery store, and proceeded excitedly to my kitchen to make Texas Toast Sloppy Joes!

Jump to:

What Are Texas Toast Sloppy Joes?

This easy recipe includes the Sloppy Joe mixture that we all know and love. However, rather than being sandwiched inside hamburger buns, it's placed on top of delish garlic Texas toast. Then we add some cheese which we'll get all nice and melty and now you have this family favorite to enjoy in a brand new delicious way!

A white casserole dish with 2 pieces of Texas Toast sloppy joes one topped with melted cheddar and the other with melted American cheese. There is a pair of blue tongs in the dish.

I hope you and your whole family are excited to try these open-faced sandwiches! Now allow me to tell you what ingredients you will need to make this delicious recipe which is perfect for busy weeknights!

🥘 Ingredients

Bowls containing tomato sauce, diced onion, garlic cloves, butter, and diced green bell pepper along with a can of Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce and a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce. There is a package of ground beef and plates topped with Texas Toast and slices of American cheese.

So here's what you will need to make this sloppy joes recipe:

Some optional ingredients to consider are cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, and green onions, which I think take these to the next level. 😃

These simple ingredients are easily found at most grocery stores. Now let's get to the kitchen and start preparing this delicious meal!

🔪 Instructions

Preheat your oven according to the directions on the package of Texas Toast that you are using. I used New York Garlic Texas Toast and preheated my oven to 425F. Place the garlic toast in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet. Bake toast until golden brown according to the package directions and set it aside. I like to stand my toast up and lean it against the side of my dish so that it doesn't get soggy. Reduce the oven temp to 400F and keep it on for now.

3 pieces of Texas Toast in a white casserole dish.
Toasted Garlic Texas Toast
A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast standing on their edges leaning on the side of the casserole dish.
Stand them up so they don't get soggy.

Melt butter on medium heat in a large skillet. Add the minced garlic and diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes until the veggies and garlic are softened. Remove this to a plate and set it aside for now.

A large skillet with melted butter and minced garlic, diced onion, and diced green bell pepper.

Add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook it on medium heat until it has browned, around 5 minutes. Drain the excess fat from the skillet once the meat has browned.

Browned ground beef in a large skillet.

Now add the Manwich sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, onion, and green bell pepper to the skillet. Stir and also mix in the 1 ts of Worcestershire sauce at this time.

Sloppy joe sauce, tomato sauce, green bell pepper and onion, and ground beef in a large skillet. Someone is holding a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce in the foreground.

Reduce the heat and simmer the sloppy joe meat mixture for 10 minutes.

Sloppy joe sauce including beef, tomatoes, and green bell peppers in a skillet with a blue spoon resting in the skillet.

Lay the Texas Toast pieces down, and then top each slice of Texas Toast with about ⅓ cup to ½ cup of sloppy joe mixture. Then add your cheese of choice. If using American cheese then one slice on each piece works great. If using shredded cheddar cheese I recommend around 1.5 tablespoon per slice.

A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce and slices of American cheese that are not melted.
One slice of American cheese per slice will do.
A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
If using grated cheddar add 1.5 tablespoon per slice.

Bake at 400F until the cheese melts. It should only take about 1-2 minutes.

A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.

And now your super DELISH tasty sloppy joes with luscious melted cheese are ready to enjoy!

Suggestions for Serving

A white dish containing 3 pieces of Texas Toast sloppy joes topped with melted cheddar cheese, green onions, and cayenne pepper.

This crowd pleaser is ready to enjoy straight from your oven. Or, if you like a little heat, sprinkle some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes over the slices of Texas Toast. Some sliced green onions also add color and a bit of pizazz as well!

Texas Toast Sloppy Joes can be a fun appetizer or your main meal. As a main course, it's such an easy dinner and great accompanied by a lovely green salad.

I hope this delicious dinner idea deserves a place in your rotation of easy dinners that your family loves!

The full recipe with a printable recipe card can be found below. Bon appetit!!

FAQ

Do you drain meat before adding Manwich sauce?

If you have excess fat after browning your ground meat, it's best to drain the excess fat from the meat before adding the Manwich sauce. If you use extra lean ground beef then there shouldn't be much fat to drain.

What side dishes go with sloppy joes?

A simple green salad is the perfect side dish to balance out a delicious sloppy joe!

What is a Texas Toast Sloppy Joe?

Rather than being sandwiched inside hamburger buns, the sloppy joe meat mixture is placed on top of delish garlic Texas toast. Then we add some cheese which we'll get all nice and melty and now you have this family favorite to enjoy in a brand new delicious way!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.

Delicious Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe

Grace Stewart
This Delicious Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe is super easy! You will love the sloppy joe mixture on top of garlicky Texas Toast with melty cheese!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Total Time 36 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 975 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • baking sheet or casserole dish

Ingredients
  

  • 15 oz Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 pieces Texas Toast Garlic Bread
  • ½ cup tomato sauce can add more if you prefer a thinner sloppy joe mixture
  • 1 lb ground beef can sub ground turkey - select lean or extra lean ground beef
  • ½ cup onion diced
  • ½ cup green bell pepper diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ts Worcestershire sauce

Cheese - Pick one or try both!

  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 6 tablespoon cheddar shredded (use 1.5 tablespoon per slice)

Optional

  • cayenne pepper for some extra heat!
  • green onions sliced for a bit of color and pizazz!

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven according to the directions on the package of Texas Toast that you are using. I used New York Garlic Texas Toast and preheated by oven to 425F. Place the toast in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet. Cook your toast according to the package directions and set it aside. I like to stand my toast up and lean it against the side of my dish so that it doesn't get soggy. Reduce the oven temp to 400F and keep it on for now.
    A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast standing on their edges leaning on the side of the casserole dish.
  • Melt butter on medium heat in your skillet. Add the minced garlic and diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes until the veggies and garlic are softened. Remove this to a plate and set it aside for now.
    A large skillet with melted butter and minced garlic, diced onion, and diced green bell pepper.
  • Add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook it on medium heat until it has browned, around 5 minutes. Drain the excess fat from the skillet once the meat has browned.
    Browned ground beef in a large skillet.
  • Now add the Manwich sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, onion, and green bell pepper to the skillet. Stir and also mix in the 1 ts of Worcestershire sauce at this time.
    Sloppy joe sauce, tomato sauce, green bell pepper and onion, and ground beef in a large skillet. Someone is holding a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce in the foreground.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer the sloppy joe meat mixture for 10 minutes.
    Sloppy joe sauce including beef, tomatoes, and green bell peppers in a skillet with a blue spoon resting in the skillet.
  • Lay the Texas Toast pieces down, and then top each slice of Texas Toast with about ⅓ cup to ½ cup of sloppy joe mixture. Then add your cheese of choice. If using American cheese then one slice on each piece works great. If using shredded cheddar cheese I recommend around 1.5 tablespoon per slice.
    A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Bake at 400F until the cheese melts. It should only take about 1-2 minutes.
    A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.
  • Optional add on's are some sliced green onions and sprinkles of cayenne pepper to take these to the next level! Enjoy!
    A white dish containing 3 pieces of Texas Toast sloppy joes topped with melted cheddar cheese, green onions, and cayenne pepper.

Notes

Please note that the Nutrition Info does not include nutrition for the Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce, and optional green onions, cayenne or red pepper flakes. Please refer to the Manwich can for nutrition info and please accept my apologies for any inconvienienc.
You may also sub shredded mozzarella cheese if you like.
Optional add on's are some sliced green onions and sprinkles of cayenne pepper to take these to the next level! Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 975kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 59gFat: 75gSaturated Fat: 34gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 249mgSodium: 1467mgPotassium: 1046mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1265IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 839mgIron: 6mg
Keyword open faced sandwich, sloppy joes, texas toast
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

An Easy And Delicious Green Chile Burger Awaits!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Here is a post about an Easy And Delicious Green Chile Burger with cheese waiting just for you!

Green Chili Cheeseburger
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A Mouthwatering Recipe For One Of The Best Burgers Ever!

It's my humble opinion that one of the BEST burgers ever is a simple Green Chile burger. Here, I am excited to share with you a super easy, no frills recipe for a mouthwatering burger which also includes lots of cheese! This recipe is:

  • Absolutely delicious! A juicy burger topped with melty cheese is a winner every time!
  • Not overly spicy! I absolutely love spicy food, but here I am using the mild poblano pepper which gives just enough delicate heat to satisfy most of us.
  • A bit sweet! The roasted onions included in this recipe provide a lovely sweet flavor as a balance against the roasted poblanos.
  • Easy! Roasting the onions and poblanos is easy and mostly hands off, and pan frying the burgers works a treat!
  • Inspired by the great Green Chile Burger of New Mexico!

So if you can envision a mouthwatering Green Chile Burger with cheese in your near future (hopefully from this recipe!) then please read on!

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Delicious Cod Sandwich Inspired By Filet-O-Fish!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make a DELICIOUS MELT IN YOUR MOUTH Cod Sandwich inspired by the one and only Filet-O-Fish!

Cod Sandwich with melting cheese and lots of tartar sauce
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Some History Behind The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Sandwich

McDonald's is world famous for its burgers, but believe me it has it's Filet-O-Fish fans, of which I am one. Who doesn't desire a deliciously spiced and delicate piece of fish, served with cheese and tartar sauce, and nestled between soft buns??

The Filet-O-Fish was introduced in the 1960's and has a Catholic history! It was invented by Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchise owner in Ohio. He created this sandwich as a way to gain some business from the mostly Catholic population in his area. They tended to not eat meat during Lent, so a fish sandwich was a great alternative for them. Here is a fantastic article from Smithsonian about the history of the Filet-O-Fish! The article states that McDonald's sells around 300 million Filet-O-Fish each year, and that about 23% of them are sold during Lent!

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Spicy Thai Tofu Burger Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make delicious Spicy Thai Tofu Burgers!

Spicy Thai Tofu Burger
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The Inspiration For This Tofu Burger

Recently we selected the film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" for our Sunday movie night. This film is about a friendship that develops between Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood) and a cynical and jaded journalist assigned to do a story on him. It's a lovely film, and highly recommended.

Fred Rogers was a beloved figure of the American public. I discovered that he was actually a Presbyterian minister, and a vegetarian. From HuffPost.com: "Rogers was one of the rare Christian ministers at this point who believed that treating animals nonviolently and embracing a vegetarian lifestyle are deeply spiritual practices that bear witness to God’s love for animals." He once told the editor of the Vegetarian Times magazine (which he co-owned) that he loved tofu burgers and beets!

On movie nights I'll cook a meal that has something to do with the film we are watching. So I made tofu burgers and beets to accompany this film!

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The PERFECT Bacon Sarnie Recipe

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Nothing in this world is better than a perfect Bacon Sarnie — and this recipe proves it!

This iconic British Bacon Sarnie features gloriously crispy British back bacon fried in butter and sandwiched between slices of white bread toasted in heavenly bacon fat — then finished with copious amounts of tangy HP Sauce and Heinz Tomato Ketchup for the most incredibly satisfying sandwich experience of your entire life!

Toasted white bread bacon sarnie (sandwich) cut into triangles and stacked on top of each other. HP Sauce and ketchup have been included in these sandwiches and can be seen dripping over the bacon and onto the bread. There are bottles of Heinz Tomato Ketchup and HP Sauce in the background.

Behind Her Eyes Bacon Sarnie Scene

We recently watched the Netflix series called "Behind Her Eyes" which is set in England. This is a psychological drama involving a married couple Adele and David and a single mother Louise who enters their lives. It's a 6 part series based on the novel by Sarah Pinborough. Although not for everyone (there are disturbing scenes and quite a lot of adult content), it is intriguing and the ending is quite shocking!

As for me, I am always looking out for food in the programs that I watch. In Episode 1, there is a scene in which Louise eats a Bacon Sarnie. She eats this on her first day of her new job when wearing a lovely white blouse. Unfortunately a huge blob of ketchup from the Bacon Sarnie ends up on her blouse and she ends up in a bit of a panic. 😕

By the way, Louise's colleague who gave her the Bacon Sarnie states: "Bacon Sarnie what is better? Nothing...3 rashers of smoked best back is the highlight of my week."

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Awesomely Delicious Home Made Impossible Burger!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Here is a recipe for an Awesomely Delicious Home Made Impossible Burger!

Impossible Burger

I've been revisiting a trip to Oklahoma that Steve, Toby, and I took in 2019. En route and on the road to OK, we had our first Impossible Burger...at Burger King!

The Impossible Whopper!

I was SO VERY DUBIOUS when I ordered the Impossible Whopper...I didn't think I would like it at all. But I'm so happy to say that I WAS SO VERY WRONG! It was delicious, AND it tasted like a beef burger. How can this be??

Impossible Whopper

Burger King wanted to offer their Whopper "Impossible" style, using the Impossible Burger, which is made from plants. They normally cook their Impossible Whopper on the same broiler that they use to make their regular Whoppers. However, if you request that they prepare it without using their broiler, they will accommodate!

Impossible Whopper Info Card
Impossible Whopper

The Impossible Whopper includes the same ingredients as the Whopper, except the Impossible Meat Patty subs for beef. In my opinion, it tasted almost like a Whopper! I don't know if I would have been able to tell the difference if I had to do a blind taste test!! 🙂

Home Made Impossible Burger

I desperately wanted to recreate this burger at home. You can now buy the Impossible Burger at grocery stores. They sell it both shaped into burger patties, and also a block of it, as you would buy ground beef.

Impossible Burger with lettuce, onion, tomato, and wasabi mayo in a bowl with a spoon
12 oz package - I made 2 LARGE burgers from this, but you can certainly make 3!
Impossible Burger back of the package
Holy moly look at the Nutrition Facts!

I bought a 12 oz pack the other day, and shaped it into 2 burgers (they were pretty big). The only thing I added was some salt and pepper. One note...when working with it with your hands, the texture feels so different to ground beef...feels grainy. It was very interesting to work with!

My Impossible Burger that I made at home was placed inside a butter toasted hamburger bun, and garnished with iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, and thickly sliced red onion. The dressing was wasabi mayo. 🙂

Impossible Burger
Quite the mouthful!

It was DELICIOUS! One day, I will research more about how the Impossible Burger was engineered and came to fruition...I'm sure it's an amazing story. Until then, we'll just enjoy it for what it is. Truly IMPOSSIBLY AMAZING.

Toby likes it too!

Have you tried the Impossible Burger? If not, I urge you to give it a go!

You can buy the Impossible Burger in grocery stores. Amazon also sells the preformed patties and you can purchase that here.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Chicken Sandwich Inspired By Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with bacon, pepper jack cheese, tomato, lettuce, honey mustard dressing in a kaiser roll

RoseAnna's AMAZING Rigatoni With Sausage

Rigatoni With Sausage

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! So please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Impossible Burger

Awesomely Delicious Home Made Impossible Burger!

Grace
Make an INCREDIBLE Impossible Burger at home! So delicious even the most die hard carnivore won't miss the meat!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Toasting hamburger buns 2 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people

Equipment

  • Skillet (cast iron if possible)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 hamburger buns
  • spreadable butter to spread on hamburger buns to toast them
  • 1 12 oz Impossible Burger Made From Plants
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Suggested Garnishes and Condiments

  • few pieces iceberg lettuce
  • few slices onion I used red onion
  • few slices tomato
  • mayo for a kick add some wasabi it's SUPERB!
  • sliced cheese add your favorite sliced cheese if you like!

Instructions
 

  • Heat up your skillet on medium heat. Spread a thin layer of butter on the burger buns, and lightly toast the bottom of each bun. Remove and set aside.
  • Place the Impossible Burger "meat" in a large bowl. Add a little salt and pepper to taste and gently mix to combine. Form into 2x 6 oz patties.
  • Turn up the heat to medium high, and add 2 tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the patties to the skillet. Cook each side around 4 minutes or so until browned. You may need to adjust the time to suit your circumstances. The package on the Impossible Burger states that the burger is cooked with the interior reaches 160F. Remove once cooked and drain on paper towels.
  • Assemble your Impossible Masterpiece! Slather mayo (or wasabi mayo) on the cut sides of the toasted buns. Add lettuce to the bottom bun, top with the patty, cheese (if using) tomato, onion, and top bun. Open mouth WIDE and enjoy!
    Impossible Burger

Notes

The Impossible "meat" really tastes like beef!  It's super fun to make the Impossible Burger at home, and feel free to change up the garnishes and condiments to your liking.  
You can make smaller burgers (shape into 3 or 4 patties if you like) but just remember you'll need to reduce cooking time on each side of the burger with smaller ones.
Enjoy this super delicious burger whenever you fancy a plant based burger! 
Keyword Burger, sandwich, veggie burger
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Chicken Breast Sandwich Inspired By Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner

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This page may contain affiliate links. So, I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a Chicken Breast Sandwich inspired by a trip to Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner!

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with bacon, pepper jack cheese, tomato, lettuce, honey mustard dressing in a kaiser roll

Road Trip To Southeastern Oklahoma

Just about a year ago Steve, Toby, and I took a road trip from TX where we live to Oklahoma. We stayed in Southeastern Oklahoma in the town of Clayton, near a massive lake called Sardis Lake.

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Doc Martin's Inspired Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Please read on about this amazing Doc Martin's Inspired Portobello Mushroom Sandwich!

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

Taos, New Mexico, has some amaaaazing restaurants. We had the privilege to have lunch at one of these (Doc Martin's) on a recent trip. Doc Martin's restaurant is located in the historic Taos Inn, and is an acclaimed restaurant located in the Taos center. Here we had an incredible Portobello Mushroom Sandwich!

Historic Taos Inn
Taos Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. Look at this exquisite blue door!

Doc Martin's Restaurant

The restaurant was named after the first doctor in Taos County, Doc Martin. Legend has it that the doctor never worried whether people could pay. He would accept chickens or potatoes in exchange for his services. The restaurant used to be his home, and the alcove in the restaurant was originally his office and delivery room.

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