Big Mac Sloppy Joes: Fast Food Flavor Meets Homemade Comfort
Remember that satisfaction of biting into a Big Mac? Now imagine that iconic flavor transformed into a budget-friendly family meal you can whip up in under 40 minutes! These Big Mac Sloppy Joes capture all the nostalgic elements of the fast-food favorite – the special sauce, pickles, lettuce, and melty cheese – but with the hearty, comforting quality of homemade Sloppy Joes. Perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry crowd without breaking the bank, this mash-up delivers big flavor with minimal effort. The kids will love the familiar taste, while you’ll appreciate how quickly dinner comes together.
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What makes Big Mac Sloppy Joes so good?
What do you get when you combine classic comfort food with an iconic fast-food icon? You have a messy yet wonderfully delicious dinner that is sure to make you smile. This recipe packs all the toppings of your fast-food favorite, plus the intense beefy flavor of ground beef in a savory sauce, on a sesame seed bun.
It’s quick, easy, inexpensive, and just might be tastier than the original. Serve it with your favorite sides for a casual meal your entire family will love.
Big Mac Sloppy Joe ingredients and what they add to the recipe
For the Big Mac Sauce, you’ll need:
- Mayonnaise – carries the sauce’s flavor and adds a ton of richness to it.
- Sweet pickle relish – adds tang, a little sweetness, and the signature pickle pieces to the copycat Big Mac sauce.
- Brown mustard – contributes tang and sharpness to chisel off some of the sweetness from the mayo and relish.
- White vinegar – gives the sauce a brightness and lip-puckering acidity.
- Paprika – imparts the classic color and a touch of smokiness to the sauce.
- Onion powder – contributes a touch of aromatics.
- Granulated garlic – delivers a slightly garlicky flavor without being overpowering.
- Ground white pepper – adds a subtle spiciness.
For the Sloppy Joe meat, you’ll need:
- Dry minced onion – delivers the classic onion flavor of a Big Mac.
- Ground chuck, 80/20 blend – the main protein for the recipe for Big Mac Sloppy Joes. Using an 80/20 blend ensures the meat is not dried out.
- Salt – enhances the flavor of the beef.
- Ground black pepper – adds a little heat.
- Cornstarch – thickens up the sauce.
- Beef broth – creates the sauce and brings more of a beefy flavor to the dish.
For building the Big Mac Sloppy Joes, you need:
- Buns with sesame seeds – give you the authentic taste of a Big Mac.
- Iceberg lettuce – provides a lot of crunch.
- American cheese – brings a bit of creaminess to the Sloppy Joe.
- Pickle slices – impart a little crunch and a lot of acidity.
How to make Big Mac Sloppy Joes
To prepare the Big Mac Sauce:
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, brown mustard, white vinegar, paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, and ground white pepper.
- Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for the flavors to meld.
To prepare the beef filling for the Big Mac Sloppy Joe recipe:
- Put the dehydrated onions in warm water to rehydrate. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium to warm.
- Crumble the ground beef into the hot skillet and season with salt and ground black pepper.
- Brown the meat while stirring occasionally/
- Drain the fat and return the skillet to the heat.
- Drain the rehydrated onions and stir them into the cooked ground beef.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the beef broth and pour into the skillet.
- Continue to cook and stir the meat mixture until the sauce thickens.
- Remove the skillet from the heat.
To assemble the Big Mac Sloppy Joes recipe:
- While McDonald’s doesn’t toast its buns, you have that option.
- Spread the Big Mac Sauce on the bottom bun.
- Shred the lettuce finely and add a thin layer over the sauce.
- Top the lettuce with four pickle slices and a slice of American cheese.
- Spoon the hot meat filling over the cheese to melt it.
- Spread the top bun with Big Mac Sauce and top the sandwich with it.
- Serve immediately.
Big Mac Sloppy Joes
All your favorite Big Mac flavors transformed into an easy weeknight meal! Featuring tangy special sauce, seasoned beef, and classic toppings on a sesame seed bun.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 708kcal
Ingredients
Big Mac Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon brown mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
Sloppy Joe Mix
- 2 tablespoons dry minced onion
- 1 pound ground chuck 80/20 blend
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Sandwich Assembly
- 4 hamburger buns with sesame seeds
- 1 1/2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 4 slices American cheese
- 12 pickle slices
Instructions
In a small bowl, rehydrate the dried minced onions in 3 tablespoons of warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
To make the Big Mac sauce, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
To make the sloppy joe mix, place the ground beef in a medium skillet over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and sauté until fully browned. Drain the excess grease and add the rehydrated onions.
Combine the beef broth and cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk to create a slurry. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the ground beef. Cook and stir until thickened.
To assemble the sandwiches, spread Big Mac sauce on the bottom buns. Add lettuce, a slice of cheese, 4 pickles, a scoop of sloppy joe mix, and another drizzle of Big Mac sauce. Cover the sandwiches with the top buns.
Notes
Let the Sloppy Joe meat cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, place the meat in a skillet with a splash of beef stock or water to rehydrate the sauce, and warm over medium heat while stirring occasionally. After reheating, assemble sandwiches with fresh toppings.
Nutrition
Calories: 708kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 1755mg | Potassium: 533mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 564IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 334mg | Iron: 4mg
What to serve with Sloppy Joe Big Macs
You can stick with typical burger sides or get a little creative. Here are a few great options. Be sure to comment on your favorite side dishes for Sloppy Joes.
Dairy Queen Onion Rings. If you remember old-school DQ before they had Blizzards, and when you could still get everything from Fish to Ham and cheese Sandwiches, then you may know the pleasure of DQ’s Onion Rings. This copycat recipe uses real buttermilk for tang, thick-cut Vidalia onions for sweetness, and a mix of cracker crumbs and cornmeal for a crunchy breading. You won’t find better onion rings anywhere else.
Mac and Cheese. Hot, creamy, and cheesy, Mac ‘n Cheese is an excellent side dish that you won’t find at Mickey D’s. Whether you prefer the crunchy crust of the baked version, like Sweetie Pie’s Mac and Cheese, or the ease and texture of the stovetop Version, like the three-ingredient Outback Steakhouse Mac and Cheese, you will love pairing it with this Big Mac Sloppy Joes recipe.
Tater Tots. Do you think tots are a distant second to French fries in the potato sides hierarchy? Then you need to try Loaded Baked Potato Tots. These from-scratch tater tots are based on the ones they serve at The Cheesecake Factory, and with a mashed potato center stuffed with cheese and bacon and a crunch coating, you are gonna change your mind about who is on top of the potato game.
Storing and reheating instructions
Let the Sloppy Joe meat cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container and keeping it in the fridge for up to three days.
Place the meat filling in a skillet along with some beef stock or water to loosen up the sauce and rewarm it over medium heat while stirring occasionally. When the meat is hot, assemble Sloppy Joes as above.
More beefy sandwich recipes
Check out more of my easy recipes for sandwiches and the best copycat McDonald’s recipes on CopyKat!