Estate Comforts
Open-Faced Cheese-Topped Sloppy Joes
The Strategy:
A hearty, rustic classic reimagined for an elegant gathering. Serving these open-faced elevates the presentation from a messy handful to a knife-and-fork affair, while a quick broil ensures the cheddar cheese is perfectly melted and bubbling over the rich, savory sirloin.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground sirloin beef
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons prepared steak seasoning
- 1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped, about 1⁄2 cup
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 8 burger buns
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded, about 1 cup
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the beef and cook, breaking the chunks into small pieces, until browned, about 6 to 10 minutes. Add the brown sugar, steak seasoning, onion, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes more.
- Reduce the heat to medium.
- Stir in marinara sauce and tomato paste. Simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Turn your oven to the broil setting. Place the buns on a baking sheet. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture on the buns and top with cheese.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven for 2 to 4 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Thing to Note:
Don’t have a jar of marinara sauce? It doesn’t take long to make your own. Chop some onion, carrots, and garlic and sauté them in olive oil for a couple of minutes until everything is soft. Add a 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano. Stir and simmer until everything comes together, and the kitchen smells really good. Season with salt and pepper. Just like that—you’ve got sauce!
The full recipe lives in the Vault
Ingredients, step-by-step method, and every chef-tested detail are reserved for members of the Estate Registry.
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The Heart of the Table
This is the kind of dish you serve when you want people to feel truly at home. By opening the sandwich up and serving it with a fork and knife, you take away the stress of the mess while preserving every ounce of that incredibly nostalgic, savory flavor. It’s perfect for a casual Sunday dinner with friends where the conversation flows as easily as the wine.
Neighborly Grace
- THE PRESENTATION: Serve these on a large, beautiful platter rather than individually plating them in the kitchen. Seeing the sea of bubbling, golden cheese across eight open-faced sandwiches is incredibly inviting.
- THE POUR: A full-bodied, slightly peppery Zinfandel or a dark, malty amber ale.
- THE VIBE: Hearty, relaxed, and wonderfully indulgent.
