The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
Big Mac Sloppy Joes are a delicious twist on classic sloppy Joes. They’re an easy copycat recipe that takes just 30 minutes to prepare. Your family will be asking for this weekly!
This recipe costs approximately $14.44 to make. The recipe makes six servings, which works out to cost around $2.40 per serving.
Sloppy Joes are a family favorite in our families, so we enjoy making different variations on the classic Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe. Our favorites are Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes and Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes.
This recipe is for you if you need a deliciously easy weeknight meal! We are taking an American classic, the Sloppy Joe, and combining it with an American fast food icon, the Big Mac. So sloppy Joes and Big Macs together in one sandwich make sense. The sandwich contains ground beef, onions, pickles, lettuce, American cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.
You will no longer need to go to the drive-thru to get your Big Mac fix. It costs less to make six of these Big Mac Sloppy Joes than to buy four Big Macs at McDonald’s! Plus, when you make it yourself, you control the ingredients’ quality. It is a win-win!
This one-pan meal will quickly become a family favorite. So naturally, your family will ask you to make this Big Mac Sloppy Joes recipe again and again! Of course, you will gladly say yes because it only takes thirty minutes to make, and the classic double-decker sandwich has the same great taste as the popular fast food burger, without the cost.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 ½ pound lean ground beef – $5.00
- 1 small onion – $0.62
- ½ cup Thousand Island Dressing – $0.53
- ¾ teaspoon salt – $0.01
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper – $0.03
- 1 ¼ Tablespoon cornstarch – $0.04
- ¾ cup beef broth – $0.24
- 12 slices of orange American cheese – $2.48
- 12 sesame seed buns – $5.49
To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
How to make Big Mac Sloppy Joes
- Using a large skillet, brown the ground beef and onions. Then drain off the extra grease.
- Next, mix in the Thousand Island dressing, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk together the cornstarch and beef broth in a small bowl.
- Add the broth mixture to the pan and stir until it has thickened.
- To assemble the sandwich, place a slice of cheese on the bottom bun, followed by some of the meat mixture.
- Then, place another bottom bun on top of the meat mixture. Top the bun with more meat mixture, followed by another slice of cheese.
- Finally, add shredded lettuce, pickles, more dressing, and then the top bun.
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- You can dice the pickles and add them to the meat mixture.
- You can make these without the signature Big Mac middle bun, and they will be just as delicious!
- These also make fabulous sliders.
- We love using brioche buns or onion buns, but this recipe would also be great in a sub bun.
Storage Tips
SERVE: The meat mixture can stay at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
STORE: Leftover meat mixture will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
FREEZE: You can freeze the prepared sloppy joe mixture for up to 3 months in an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
DEFROST: Defrost the meat mixture in the refrigerator overnight.
REHEAT: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until heated through, about 7-10 minutes. You may need to add a few tablespoons of water to loosen the mixture a bit.
Recipe FAQs
We prefer to use dill pickle slices on our Big Mac Sloppy Joes. However, you can use whichever pickle type you choose. Just note that it will alter the overall taste of the recipe ever so slightly.
Yes, the McDonald’s Big Mac is made with 100% beef. It is known for the layers of buns, meat, cheese, and special sauce. We are using beef in our copycat recipe but mixing it up with a Sloppy Joe version instead of a beef patty.
The McDonald’s Big Mac is topped with a sauce that is extremely close in flavor to Thousand Island dressing. So in an effort to make this recipe even easier, we use a bottle of Thousand Island dressing instead of making a dressing from scratch for all those hectic weeknights.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Your child can help assemble the Sloppy Joes. They can count the number of buns and cheese slices on each sandwich to practice those essential counting skills.
Ages 4-5: Ask your child to pre-measure the ingredients to practice their measuring skills.
Ages 6-8: Teach your child how to brown the meat and onions. They can then prepare the meat mixture while you prepare the toppings.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
Buy beef when it is on sale. Then you can brown the meat, onions, and dressing beforehand and freeze them for when you are ready to throw everything in the pan.
More $15 Recipes
- Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken
- Crockpot Chili
- Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole
- Pizza Casserole
- Mexican Lasagna
- Grilled Pork Chops
- American Goulash
- Homemade Chicken Fingers
Big Mac Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- skillet
- small mixing bowl
- whisk
- Wooden mixing spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid measuring cup
- cutting board
- chef's knife
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- ½ cup Thousand Island Dressing
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ¼ Tablespoon cornstarch
- ¾ cup beef broth
- 12 slices of orange American cheese
- 12 Sesame Seed Buns
TOPPINGS:
- Shredded lettuce
- Pickle slices
- Thousand Island Dressing
Instructions
MAKE SLOPPY JOE MIXTURE:
- In a large skillet, add the ground beef and onions.
- Cook over medium-high heat until the meat is browned.
- Drain off the extra grease.
- Stir in the Thousand Island dressing, salt, and pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and beef broth.
- Add the broth mixture to the pan over medium-high heat and stir until thickened.
ASSEMBLE AND SERVE:
- Place a slice of American cheese on your bottom bun, then add a bit of the meat mixture.
- Next, add the bottom bun of another set of buns and more meat to the top of that bun.
- Next, add another slice of cheese.
- Top with shredded lettuce, pickles, and more dressing.
- Add with the top of the bun.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can brown the meat, onions, and dressing beforehand and freeze them for when you are ready to throw everything in the pan.
- You can dice up the pickles and add them to the meat mixture if you like.
- You can make these without the signature Big Mac middle bun, and they will be just as delicious!
- These also make fabulous sliders.
- I love using brioche buns or onion buns, but this recipe would also be great in a sub bun.
Dana says
Um hello THESE ARE AMAZING. What a fantastic and unique idea! They were a hit. SO GOOD. Can’t wait to make them again!
Colleen says
This is such a delicious idea! My family LOVES sloppy joe’s and of course Big Macs so these were a huge hit!
Andrea says
My family is going to love these sloppy joe big mac’s! Can’t wait to dig in!
Vicky says
This is truly a meal the whole family will love! I really appreciate how you put cooking tips for specific ages of children. My kids love to help out in the kitchen and your advice makes it a no-brainer.
Michelle says
This is brilliant! So easy to make, fun, and my kids LOVE it!