Sloppy Joe Pockets

Sloppy joe pockets are a fun twist on the favorite family dinner—one that ironically makes this dish less sloppy! Traditional sloppy joes, with ground beef simmered in a thick sweet-savory tomato sauce, are an unfussy, filling meal that has been famously served in diners, school cafeterias and home kitchens for generations. In our house, there’s an ongoing debate on whether sloppy joes are best as an open-faced sandwich or served between the buns as a hand-held sandwich. These little meat bombs lean even more toward the hand-held side.

The origin of sloppy joes is a bit murky, with claims to the recipe coming from Cuba, Florida and Iowa. Some stories suggest the sandwich was created in the original Sloppy Joes bar in 1930s Havana, possibly evolved from the Cuban braised meat dish ropa vieja. The Key West bar Sloppy Joes, which opened around the same time, makes a similar claim. In Sioux City, Iowa, a local restaurant cook named Joe said he added tomato sauce to a midwestern classic, the loose meat sandwich, which was a huge hit. Wherever the sandwich started, it’s beloved everywhere now, and this pocket twist is brilliant.

Sloppy joe pockets take that same tangy ground beef filling and tuck it inside a bready pocket made from refrigerated biscuit dough. Once filled, bake the pockets to a golden brown. They’re like a homemade take on store-bought Hot Pockets and similar to our recipes for cheeseburger pockets and air-fryer pizza pockets. Serve them with chips, Tater Tots or fries for all the old-school, comfort-food feels.

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Pockets

• Ground beef: We like an 80/20 blend for most ground beef recipes. It’s lean but still retains some fat for flavor.
• Refrigerated biscuits: Making pocket bread with store-bought biscuit dough is so easy.
• Diced veggies: This mixture of diced carrots, onions and celery is known as mirepoix. The vegetables are sauteed until soft to create a flavorful, savory base for meaty dishes.
• Tomato sauce: Sloppy joes are sloppy thanks to the rich tomato sauce. Plain canned tomato sauce is the perfect base to enhance.
• Ketchup: This classic sloppy joes ingredient adds a sweet, umami-rich flavor to the sauce. Which ketchup brand is your go-to? (I like Heinz best!)
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar sweetens the meat sauce and adds a hint of molasses flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce adds sweet-salty umami flavor to recipes like this one.
• Tomato paste: This is another umami bomb that adds flavor to sauces and roasts. Cooking it a little first is a secret tomato paste technique that makes a big difference.
• Red wine vinegar: This type of vinegar has quite a sharp flavor, but that’s perfect for balancing the rich and somewhat sweet meat sauce.
• Cheddar cheese: An optional ingredient, shredded cheddar cheese can be added to the filling of the sloppy joe pockets.

Directions

Step 1: Brown the meat

Cook crumbled ground beef, celery, onions and carrots in a large skillet over medium heat for six to eight minutes, until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Drain off the excess grease and return the pan to the burner.

Step 2: Add the sauce ingredients

Stir the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste into the cooked beef. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally for 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened. Cool the sloppy joes completely.

Step 3: Assemble the pockets

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly flour a work surface; pat or roll out each biscuit into a 6-inch circle.

Spoon a scant 1/3 cup beef mixture over half of each circle to within 1/2 inch of the edge. If desired, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the meat. Fold the dough over the filling and seal the edges by pressing them with a fork.

Step 4: Bake

Place the pockets on an ungreased baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to cut three slits in the top of each pocket. Bake them for 18 to 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Sloppy Joe Pocket Variations

• Add pickled peppers: Fold chopped pickled jalapenos or banana peppers into the meat mixture with the other sauce ingredients.
• Make turkey sloppy joes: Substitute ground turkey for a leaner version of sloppy joe pockets.
• Spice them up with Sriracha: Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of Sriracha sauce with the other sauce ingredients to give the filling some heat.

How to Store Sloppy Joe Pockets

Allow the sloppy joe pockets to cool completely, then transfer them to a tightly sealed food container. Store them in the fridge for up to four days.

Can you freeze sloppy joe pockets?

Freezing sloppy joe pockets is a great way to have easy meals and snacks for your family. Arrange the baked and cooled sloppy joe pockets in a single layer on a tray, and place them in the freezer. Once solid, transfer the pockets to a sealed freezer-proof container or resealable bag. They’ll last in the freezer for up to three months. You can bake them from frozen in the oven or toaster oven; follow the baking directions in the recipe, adding a few extra minutes to the total time.

Can you make sloppy joe pockets ahead of time?

There are a few ways to prepare sloppy joe pockets ahead of time. You can make the meat sauce filling and refrigerate it up to two days in advance to save time the day you want to assemble and bake them. You can also assemble and bake the pockets ahead of time and then refrigerate them. Reheat them in a 350° oven on a baking sheet covered with foil to prevent overbrowning.

Sloppy Joe Pocket Tips

Can you use another dough for sloppy joe pockets?

Yes, the sloppy joe pockets recipe is versatile enough to make with other doughs. Try making this basic yeast bread dough, then cut it and roll it into 6-inch circles. You can also use homemade pizza dough. Premade options include refrigerated tube pizza dough or bagged pizza dough stocked in the cold case or near the grocery store deli.

What can you serve with sloppy joe pockets?

Make sloppy joe pockets as a game-day snack alongside other favorite tailgate foods like dill pickle dip and Buffalo chicken deviled eggs. Or, make these pockets for a casual, kid-friendly dinner with a side of pan-fried french fries, onion rings or homemade Tots. Also, try veggie sides, like roasted Parmesan carrots, corn on the cob or a garden chickpea salad, with the pockets.