French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes (Printable)
Savory ground beef with caramelized onions, garlic, thyme, and melted provolone on toasted buns—a French onion soup twist on the classic.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef, 85% lean
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
04 - 4 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Liquids
06 - 1/2 cup beef broth
07 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
→ Breads
08 - 4 hamburger buns
→ Condiments & Seasoning
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
# How-to Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook, stirring frequently, until caramelized and golden brown, 12–15 minutes.
02 - Stir in garlic and dried thyme; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until beef is browned and cooked through, approximately 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Pour in Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the mixture to thicken slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - Lightly toast the hamburger buns if desired.
06 - Spoon the beef and onion mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with a slice of provolone or Swiss cheese. Place the top bun over the cheese; for melted cheese, broil open-faced sandwiches briefly until cheese bubbles.
07 - Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The caramelized onions create this incredible sweetness that balances perfectly with savory beef
- Melting provolone over the top makes it feel like something you'd order at a restaurant but it comes together in under an hour
02 -
- Caramelizing onions properly takes time so do not rush this step or you will miss the depth of flavor
- Draining excess fat after browning the beef prevents these from becoming too greasy
- Broiling the cheese open-faced before adding the top bun creates that restaurant-style melty finish
03 -
- Slice your onions as thinly as possible for even caramelization and that perfect texture
- Gruyère cheese is the authentic French onion choice if you want to splurge a little