Nacho Sloppy Joes
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Nacho sloppy joes are a fun spin on the everyone’s favorite sloppy sandwich made with ground beef, taco seasoning and melted cheese!
These nacho sloppy joes are so cheesy and delicious you’ll want to make them every week! We like serving these with butternut squash soup and homemade three musketeers for dessert.
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Nacho Sloppy Joes
Nacho Sloppy Joes
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 A quick meal that can feed the whole family.
📌 Six simple ingredients that are easy to throw together.
📌 Great for a busy weeknight or for feeding a crowd.
Nacho Sloppy Joe Ingredients
- Ground beef – Lean, browned and drained.
- Onion – Diced.
- Ketchup – Your favorite brand.
- Seasoning – Packet of taco seasoning.
- Tomatoes – Diced tomatoes with green chiles.
- Velveeta – Classic Velveeta cheese (or American cheese), cubed.
- Buns – For serving.
How do you make nacho sloppy joes? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, add the cooked and drained ground beef, diced onion, ketchup, taco seasoning and tomatoes with green chiles to your cooking vessel.
⭐ Next, stir to combine, cover and cook.
⭐ Then, before serving add the cubed Velveeta cheese and stir until melted.
⭐ Last, add salt and pepper to taste and place on buns to serve.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can I make nacho sloppy joes ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these up to a day in advance. Store in the fridge and reheat in the crockpot or the stovetop depending on when you are ready to serve.
Do you drain the grease when cooking nacho sloppy joes?
Yes, it is best practice to drain off any excess grease before adding more ingredients to your nacho sloppy joes.
Stove top nacho sloppy joes
This recipe can be made on the stove top in a large heavy bottom stock pot or soup pot. Brown and drain the beef, then add all remaining ingredients except cheese to the pot.
Bring your ingredients to a simmer, then cover and lower the heat. Immediately before serving, stir in cheese until melted.
Slow cooker nacho sloppy joes
This recipe can be made in a slow cooker or crock pot as an easy set it and forget it meal. Brown and drain the beef, then add all the ingredients except cheese to the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low or high (depending on when you wan to eat), and stir cheese in right before serving.
Instant pot nacho sloppy joes
If you’re in a rush, try making this in the instant pot electric pressure cooker! Use the sauté mode to brown your beef. Drain the beef, then add all remaining ingredients except cheese, plus 1 cup of water, to the instant pot.
Cover and set to sealing. Cook on manual/high power, then do a careful quick release. Stir in cheese before serving.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Storage and leftovers
How long does nacho sloppy joe meat last?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Can you freeze nacho sloppy joe meat?
Yes, cool the nacho sloppy joes completely and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the crock pot or on the stove.
Tips and tricks
✅ Try adding some diced jalapenos to the mix for an added kick!
✅ Top with some avocado, sliced jalapeno or tortilla strips.
✅ Add some diced green and red bell peppers before cooking for added flavor.
✅ These are also great served over rice or on baked potatoes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different type of cheese in place of Velveeta?
Certainly! While Velveeta (or American cheese) is recommended for its creaminess, you can experiment with other cheeses like cheddar, provolone, or a Mexican blend for different flavors.
How can I adjust the level of spiciness in nacho sloppy joes?
Control the heat by adjusting the amount of taco seasoning or by adding more (or fewer) diced jalapenos to suit your spice preference.
Can I make nacho sloppy joes gluten-free?
Opt for gluten-free taco seasoning and ensure the ketchup and other ingredients are gluten-free. Serve on gluten-free buns or in a lettuce wrap.
How can I make a healthier version of this recipe?
To reduce the fat content and calorie content, use lean ground beef or a lean alternative like ground chicken or ground turkey. You can also opt for a lower-fat cheese or reduce the amount of cheese used.
What to enjoy with nacho sloppy joes (serving suggestions)
Nacho sloppy joes are so simple, cheesy and delicious for a weeknight meal. We like to enjoy these with deviled egg potato salad, pico de gallo, and chocolate chip pecan cookies.
Other sloppy joe recipes you’ll love
- Sloppy joe dip
- Beef stroganoff sloppy joes
- Classic sloppy joe recipe
- Sloppy joe casserole
- Italian sloppy joes
- See all our easy sloppy joe recipes!
More great ground beef recipes
- Rotel pasta
- Stuffed peppers
- Slow cooker chili mac
- Cheeseburger quesadillas
- Stuffed pepper casserole
- Air fryer hamburgers recipe
- See all our recipes made with ground beef!
Tools we love
- 7 Quart Crock Pot Slow Cooker – I’ve had this slow cooker since my husband and I were married in 2003!
- Wooden spatula – My wooden spatulas are my absolute favorite to stir with. I don’t know why, but I feel like a real cook when I use them.
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How to Make Nacho Sloppy Joes
Nacho Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef
- small onion diced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 envelope taco seasoning (1 ounce)
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel) (10 ounces) drained
- 4 ounces Velveeta cheese (or American cheese) cubed
- 6 buns
Instructions
- Into your slow cooker add your cooked and drained ground beef, diced onion, ketchup, taco seasoning and tomatoes with green chiles.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook on low 4-6 hours.
- Right before you are ready to serve, add in the cubed Velvetta cheese and stir until melted.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place on your buns.
STOVE TOP DIRECTIONS:
- In a large skillet or heavy bottom pot, brown ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add diced onion, ketchup, taco seasoning and tomatoes with green chiles. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer about 10 minutes, until onions are translucent and flavors have combined.
- About 5 minutes before you are ready to serve, add cubed cheese and stir until fully melted and incorporated. Serve on buns.
SLOW COOKER DIRECTIONS:
- In a large skillet or heavy bottom pot, brown ground beef. Drain excess grease.
- Add browned beef, diced onion, ketchup, taco seasoning and tomatoes with green chiles to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 - 6 hours or high for 2 - 4 hours.
- About 5 minutes before you are ready to serve, add cubed cheese and stir until fully melted and incorporated. Serve on buns.
INSTANT POT DIRECTIONS:
- Using sauté mode, brown ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add diced onion, ketchup, taco seasoning and tomatoes with green chiles and 1 CUP OF WATER (this is for Instant Pot directions only). Stir to combine.
- Cover and set to "sealing". (If your pot is prone to giving a burn notice, you can add an additional ½ cup of water. Cook on manual pressure (high) for 5 minutes then carefully quick release, pausing if the pot begins to sputter.
- If the beef mixture is very runny, turn on saute mode and allow some of the liquid to cook off, 2 - 3 minutes. With sauté mode on, add cubed cheese and stir until fully melted and incorporated. Serve on buns.
Notes
- Cook time - Most electric pressure cookers take about 10 - 15 minutes to come to pressure. The inputted cook time will begin after the pot is pressurized.
- Natural pressure release - Hit cancel and walk away from the pot. It will slowly naturally depressurize. Depending on the contents this can take anywhere between 10 - 20 minutes for a full natural release.
- Quick release - Turn the dial at the top of your pot to allow the pressure to release quickly. Always use a long handled utensil for this to avoid steam burns. Do not quick release under cabinets or you may cause steam/water damage. If there is sputtering, quickly turn dial back to 'sealing' and allow it to naturally depressurize a few minutes before trying again.
Nutrition
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This was a huge hit with the family, everyone loved it and went back for seconds.
The perfect comfort food! All of kids loved them!
This was a huge hit at my house! Everyone at my house loved it! Thanks for the recipe!
These were so delicious! I made them for Taco Tuesday as a fun twist, and we absolutely loved them.
Great recipe – love that it can cook ahead of time and stay warm umtil everyone is ready to eat it!