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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Beef » Sloppy Joes with Cornbread

    Sloppy Joes with Cornbread

    Published: Mar 18, 2018 · Modified: Feb 8, 2021 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Sloppy Joes with Cornbread on a plate in the top photo. Sloppy Joes with Cornbread in an iron skillet in the bottom photo.

    Quick and easy homemade sloppy joes with cornbread is a great family friendly meal.  Hamburger in a juicy sauce topped with buttermilk cornbread.

    A plate of sloppy joes with cornbread

    Everyone likes a juicy sloppy joe, a slightly sweet hamburger mixture on a bun.  It’s a great go-to weeknight dinner.  This sloppy joe recipe topped with cornbread is even better because of course it’s covered with homemade cornbread.  

    Instead of putting your hamburger mixture inside a bun, cornbread is added to the top and it all bakes together in an iron skillet.  By cooking the cornbread on top of the hamburger mixture it seals in all the juicy barbecue flavor.

    A skillet of sloppy joes with cornbread

    This isn’t a dry cornbread made from a mix, but a super easy homemade cornbread recipe that will melt in your mouth.

    What you’ll need

    ingredients for sloppy joes with homemade sauce

    For the meat:

    • Ground beef – you can use ground chicken if you like.
    • Onion , garlic and jalapeno pepper
    • Seasonings – chili pepper and garlic powder

    For the homemade sauce:

    • Ketchup and sweet sweet chili sauce
    • Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar
    • Hot sauce and red pepper flakes

    For the cornbread:

    • Cornmeal, flour, sugar and baking powder
    • Buttermilk, eggs, creamed corn and vegetable oil
    • Cheddar cheese

    How do you make the filling for homemade sloppy joes

    Step 1: This part is really easy but you’ll need to simmer it for about 20 minutes to thicken and let the flavors blend.  In a large oven proof skillet, cook onions and add hamburger and seasoning.

    Step 2: Add all the ingredients for the sauce to the hamburger mixture. If you want a sweeter sauce, cut down on the vinegar.  I really like the sweetness that you get from a sweet chili sauce, I like Gramas Sweet Chili Sauce the best. (affiliate)

    Homemade sloppy joe mixture in a skillet

    If you’re in a crunch for time, you don’t have to make your own sauce, you can easily substitute a cup of your favorite barbecue sauce. Mine is Rufus Teague Honey BBQ. (affiliate)

    Step 3: Let the sloppy joe mixture thicken, about 20 minutes. While it’s simmering, make the cornbread.

    Thickened sloppy joe sauce

    How to make CORNBREAD to top the sloppy joes

    Cornbread in general is so easy to make and only takes about 10 minutes.  Step 1: Whisk together the dry ingredients. Combine the wet ingredients and add to the dry, just barely mixing it together.

    Step 2: Pour it on top of the sloppy joe mixture and bake.

    Cornbread mixture poured over sloppy joe mixture

    This sloppy joe recipe is kind of like shepherd’s pie but with cornbread on top instead of mashed potatoes. Both are great but, there’s nothing like Southern cornbread.

    Sloppy joes topped with cornbread in a skillet

    If you haven’t made homemade cornbread before, try it with with browned butter or use cornbread as a base for chicken tamale pie.  It’s the perfect Southern side for any meal and can be made without any pre-planning.

    Sloppy Joes with Cornbread makes a large serving that can feed 8, which means I have leftovers for lunch. I put the leftovers in individual disposable containers and freeze them.  Once thawed, they are best heated in the toaster oven, but the microwave will work.

    FAQ’s and tips

    Can you a use a bottled BBQ sauce?

    Substitute a cup of bottled barbecue sauce if you want an even easier dinner.

    Can you freeze sloppy joes with cornbread?

    Yes this will freeze, just reheat in the oven at 350º for about 10 minutes.

    Are these sloppy joes spicy?

    You can make these as spicy as you like by adding or leaving out the jalapeno pepper.

    Here are even more recipes using CORNBREAD

    • Sausage Cornbread
    • Cornbread Corn Pudding
    • Cornbread and Sausage Quiche

    More Skillet meals with toppings

    • Top hamburger with tater tots in this  Tater Tot Casserole, or use chicken for Buffalo Chicken Casserole.
    • Or try adding a creamy macaroni and cheese on top of slow cooker beef in Brisket topped with Mac & Cheese
    • Guiness Beef Pie topped withBiscuits is amazing
    • Or try Chili with Cheesy Grits

    Watch a webstory!

    A plate of sloppy joes with cornbread

    Sloppy Joes with Cornbread

    Author: Barbara Curry
    Sloppy Joes with Cornbread is a genius idea.  You get two favorites in one.  All that juicy sloppy joe flavor topped with homemade cornbread, your family will love it. 
    4.5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin
    PREP: 30 minutes
    COOK: 35 minutes
    Servings: 10

    Ingredients
     

    FILLING

    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 1 onion diced
    • 2 lbs ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • salt and pepper
    • 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic closed minced
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • 1 cup sweet chili sauce
    • 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • cilantro

    TOPPING

    • 1 cup yellow corn meal
    • 1 cup flour
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup buttermilk
    • 14 ounces creamed corn
    • 2 eggs lightly beaten
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
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    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400º.
    • Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat and add onion, cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add beef to the skillet and season with chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Cook until meat is cooked through, drain fat and add jalapeño and garlic. Cook an additional 2 minutes.
    • Add ketchup, chili sauce, Worcestershire, vinegar, hot sauce and red pepper flakes. Add ½ cup water and reduce heat to low. Cook stirring often until the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add cilantro. Pour into a 8 X 13 baking dish.
    • Topping: Whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add buttermilk, corn, eggs, oil, and cheese and stir until just combined.
    • Spread over the meat mixture and bake until cornbread is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges, about 35 minutes. Toothpick should come out clean.
    • Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving.
    Barbara’s Tips + Notes
    • You can substitute your favorite BBQ sauce for the filling, just add about 1 cup.
    • You can make this spicier by adding some chopped jalapeno to the cornbread.
    • Leftovers will freeze, to reheat, place in the oven at 350º for about 10 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 922mg | Potassium: 545mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 472IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 4mg
    Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

    If you make Sloppy Joes with Cornbread, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! I would love to see your creation.

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    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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