Sloppy Dogs | Sloppy Joe Topped Hot Dogs
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Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs are the all-American favorite tailgating food by topping hot dogs with sweet and tangy sloppy joe mixture!
Sloppy dogs are the all-American classic that takes a hot dog and sloppy joe mix and create a match made in heaven.
It’s a simple chili dog concept and the perfect addition to any tailgate party!
If you’ve been following along during Sloppy Joe Fest, we’re on our third recipe:
- The BEST Sloppy Joe Sauce Recipe
- Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
- Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs
- Sloppy Joe Sauced Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Sloppy Joe Tot-chos
Sloppy Joes are an incredibly easy dinner idea that you can completely reinvent the next day! You can use the sauce in all kinds of different ways, and even your picky eater will enjoy it!
First, where did Sloppy Joes come from?
Rumor has it that Joe was creating ‘loose meat sandwiches’ in Sioux City, Iowa. There are all kinds of variations around the country, but America loves this classic comfort food recipe!
Next, what’s in Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce?
- tomato sauce
- chili sauce (the kind you use for shrimp cocktail!)
- Worcestershire sauce
- yellow mustard
- apple cider vinegar
- brown sugar
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- seasoning salt
How do you make a Sloppy Joe Hot Dog?
First, you’ll prepare your sloppy joe meat.
You’ll use the Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce Recipe (there’s a printable recipe card over there!)and it’s a tasty sloppy joe version! It’s a fun twist on the canned version you had in the 90s! And tastes wayyyy better!
Then, once you have your sauce ready to go, you can brown your lean ground beef in a large heavy pot. Use a wooden spoon to really break up your meat. I love using this not-so-fancy meat chopper gadget I got on Amazon! I use it for making all kinds of things, mashing potatoes, making cauliflower grits, etc. It’s a must-have item in my kitchen!
Okay! So, once you’ve browned your meat, you’ll add in the sloppy joe sauce. If you want to add a small onion, small green pepper, and some chili flakes to give it a kick, now would be the time!
Next, get out your large skillet and add a couple of tablespoons of butter. Let this melt, then toast your hamburger buns and the sides of your hot dog buns over medium heat. If you’re feeling extra fancy, take a couple of garlic cloves and swipe them over your toasted buns for added flavor!
Then, if you’re making sloppy joe sandwiches, you’ll ladle some meat over your buns with a slotted spoon.
Assembling the Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs
For your sloppy joe hot dog, you’ll take your heated hot dog (see my notes below on cooking up hot dogs for a crowd!), place it in your bun. Top it with the sloppy joe meat (let’s call this our hot dog sauce!), then top with some shredded cheddar cheese. You can broil this if you’d like, to make it all melty! If you wanted to be extra fun you could ladle cheese dip over the top of these sloppy joe hot dogs! YUM!
If you wanted to bring this meal to Game Day, you could! Just load your slow cooker with sloppy joe recipes then head to your tailgate spot. You’ll crank your slow cooker up to medium-high heat and warm up that sauce. Layout all the fixings for your meal, and serve right from the table!
Let’s chat about tailgating season!
Here are a few tips to help you create a great tailgate setup complete with everything you’ll need.
- Go ahead and buy a tent like this, in your team’s colors.
- Get a few coolers, too. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but you’ll want plenty of them!
- You’ll want to fill a bin with items such as paper towels, wet naps, all kinds of serving ware, paper products, and lots of cups.
- I like to use reusable items, so cups like these that you can even customize are so fun!
- Hop on Pinterest and search for tailgating tips – you’ll be amazed at all the amazing things!
Sloppy dogs are a simple outdoor dinner recipe idea.
You can make the sloppy joe mix ahead of time, then grill the dogs outside.
Put out all the toppings for a hot dog bar, including a crockpot of sloppy joe mix!
Do you need some hot dog bar topping ideas?
- ketchup, mustard, mayo, another favorite: Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue Sauce
- relish, diced onion, jalapenos
- cheese, sour cream, salsa
- hot dog chili, sloppy joe mix
More Uses for Sloppy Joes...
I like to use all-beef hot dogs – preferably Nathan’s. The casing on it gives such a great snap when you bite into it!
And, I learned a new not-so-fancy trick for cooking a lot of hotdogs quickly.
Are you ready for the “secret” hot dog cooking method?!
Use your broiler!
Crank that baby up, plop the dogs onto a sheet pan, and place them under the broiler for a couple of minutes.
Give them a shimmy to move around making sure they get crisped on all sides.
Finally, if you need some sloppy joe hot dog side dish ideas give these a try!
- Macaroni Salad: Southern Macaroni Salad is a summer staple, and this classic recipe is the best you’ll find for your next picnic or cookout! It’s made with elbow macaroni, fresh veggies, mayonnaise, seasonings, and a pinch of sugar for good measure.
- Air Fryer Tater Tots: Air fryer frozen tater tots are the crispiest crunchiest tater tots around! Quick, easy and so much less mess than with oven baked tater tots!
- French Fries: This baked Cajun fries recipe makes the best crispy fries straight out of the oven. They have just the right amount of spice and make the best side dish.
- Onion Rings: This is an actual recipe from a former employee of a popular drive-in restaurant. Crispy coated onion rings like the pro’s make!
Sloppy Dogs | Sloppy Joe Topped Hot Dogs
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: tailgating
- Method: broiler
- Cuisine: american
Description
Sloppy Dogs are the all-American favorite tailgating food by topping hot dogs with sweet and tangy sloppy joe mix! Perfect for tailgating season!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Sloppy Joe Sauced Meat
- 8 All-Beef Hot Dogs
- 8 Buns
- Mayo
- Shredded Cheddar
Instructions
Heat up 2 cups of sloppy joe meat on the stove top or in the microwave. Turn the broiler on, and while it heats up, put your hot dogs onto a rimmed baking sheet. Place under the broiler for a couple minutes. Give the pan a shimmy (use pot holders!) and rotate the dogs a bit. Watch closely – and when they are roasty-toasty to your preference remove from the oven. Place hot dogs into buns, top with sloppy joe mix, and sprinkle cheese on top! Yum!!
