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    Sloppy Joe Nachos

    February 6, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    Game day, movie nights, kid’s birthday parties — every party is just a little more fun when you gather around a cheesy, beefy sheet pan full of Sloppy Joe Nachos!

    sloppy joe nachos on a baking sheet made with fritos topped with sloppy joe filling, cheese, black beans, and sour cream
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    What’s better than classic Sloppy Joes? Well, nothing really except maaaaaaaybe this Sloppy Joe nachos recipe! What are Sloppy Joe naches, you ask with stars in your eyes? Whatever you’re picturing is probably spot-on: Frito corn chips, smothered in a layer of meaty, saucy Sloppy Joe filling and topped with lava-flows of oozing melty cheese. Yup, Sloppy Joe nachos are just that good. A bit like Frito Pie (another game-day favorite!) they’re also so easy to whip up for a party (our eye’s on you, Super Bowl Sunday) and everyone loves them because what’s not to love?? For another nacho variation, check out our very fun Texas Nachos or Irish Nachos.

    bell peppers, onion, ground beef, jalapeño, ketchup, tomato paste, spices, fritos and black beans in prep bowls

    Sloppy Joe Nachos Ingredients

    • Sloppy Joe filling: We whip up a really easy Sloppy Joe filling, with ground beef, ketchup and tomato paste seasoned generously with spices, garlic and veggies like bell peppers, onions, jalapeñoes. You could prep the Sloppy Joe nacho topping a day or two in advance, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to make the nachos.

    • Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is great here, or you could use mozzarella cheese.

    • Frito’s Scoops corn chips: Sturdy and cup-shaped, these are ideal for holding Sloppy Joe filling plus melty cheese. YUM.

    • Toppings: Toppings make nachos just that much more fun! You can either top the nachos yourself or serve these on the side for your party guests to top their nachos themselves.

    bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, and garlic in a food processor
    bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, and garlic being pulsed in a food processor
    bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, garlic, ground beef, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar and spices being cooked in a skillet
    sloppy joe ground beef made with bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, garlic, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar and spices in a pan

    How To Make Sloppy Joe Nachos, Step By Step

    1. Make the quick Sloppy Joe filling. You can do this ahead of time, to make your life that much easier.

    2. Dump a bag of Frito’s on a sheet pan.

    3. Spoon the Sloppy Joe filling over the Frito’s corn chips.

    4. Top with black beans and lots of shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is OK, but if you have time to shred it yourself (with a box grater or grating attachment) it will melt more nicely.

    5. Broil for 10 minutes.

    6. And you’re done!

    sloppy joe ground beef on top of fritos on a baking sheet
    fritos topped with sloppy joe ground beef and shredded cheese on a baking sheet
    fritos topped with sloppy joe ground beef and melted shredded cheese on a baking sheet
    sloppy joe nachos on a baking sheet made with fritos topped with sloppy joe filling, cheese, black beans, and sour cream

    More Easy Ground Beef Recipes

    a plate of sloppy joe nachos made with fritos topped with sloppy joe filling, cheese, black beans, tomatoes and sour cream

    Nacho Average Nachos!

    For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!

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    Sloppy Joe Nachos Recipe

    Published February 6, 2025

    By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  15 min
    • Cook Time:  20 min
    • Calories:  1327
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    Ingredients

    • ½ green bell pepper, seeded and quartered
    • ¼ yellow onion, quartered
    • 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 pound 90/10 ground beef
    • ⅓ cup ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 2 (9.25-ounce) bags Frito’s Scoops Corn Chips
    • 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 3 cups shredded cheese, we like mozzarella and cheddar
    • Sour cream, for serving
    • 3 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced, for serving
    • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, for serving
    • Pickled jalapeños, for serving (optional)

    Method

    1. In a food processor, combine the bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, and garlic. Pulse until finely minced, 10 to 12 times.

      bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, and garlic being pulsed in a food processor

    2. Place the beef and minced veggies in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain off any excess fat, then stir in the ketchup, ⅓ cup water, tomato paste, brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, garlic powder, Worcestershire, and salt until combined. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low. Cook until the mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes more.

      sloppy joe ground beef made with bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, garlic, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar and spices in a pan

    3. Meanwhile, turn on the broiler. Spread the Frito’s out on a rimmed baking sheet. Spoon the beef mixture over the chips and evenly top with the black beans and cheese. Broil until the cheese melts, 8 to 10 minutes.

      sloppy joe nachos on a baking sheet made with fritos topped with sloppy joe filling, cheese, black beans, and sour cream

    4. Serve topped with the sour cream, green onions, tomatoes, and pickled jalapeños, if using.

      a plate of sloppy joe nachos made with fritos topped with sloppy joe filling, cheese, black beans, tomatoes and sour cream

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 1327
    • Protein 55 g
    • Carbohydrates 107 g
    • Total Fat 78 g
    • Dietary Fiber 10 g
    • Cholesterol 138 mg
    • Sodium 9 mg
    • Total Sugars 10 g

    Sloppy Joe Nachos

    Questions & Reviews

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    • Claire

      What a fun take on nachos. Our teenagers made sure there was nothing left over!

      Thanks guys! So glad you guys enjoyed them!