Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

After making French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to the most flavorful, tender beef in just 20 minutes. This cozy, hearty dish is better than takeout and my family begs for it. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Better Than Takeout Baked Vegetable Casserole and Cozy Crockpot Cajun Butter Chicken.

What You'll Need for Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
• Optional: 4 hamburger buns
• Optional: 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

How to Make Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Add sliced onions to the skillet with the beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized, about 10 minutes.
3. Step 3: Stir in minced garlic, salt, black pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute.
4. Step 4: Add Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Stir well to combine.
5. Step 5: Pour in beef broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Step 6: If you'd like a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water in a small bowl. Slowly pour into the skillet, stirring constantly. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened.
7. Step 7: Toast hamburger buns in a separate pan or under the broiler. Spoon beef mixture onto buns, top with shredded cheese, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Storing & Reheating Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.

Freezing Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through. Add a little beef broth to prevent drying out.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a more intense flavor, use a mix of ground beef and ground pork.
• Best substitution: Substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the beef mixture up to 2 days ahead. Store in the fridge and reheat when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and stir into the skillet. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened.

Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

20 mins

⏳

Total

30 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Optional Toppings

• 4 hamburger buns
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Add sliced onions to the skillet with the beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized, about 10 minutes.
3. Step 3: Stir in minced garlic, salt, black pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute.
4. Step 4: Add Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Stir well to combine.
5. Step 5: Pour in beef broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Step 6: If you'd like a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water in a small bowl. Slowly pour into the skillet, stirring constantly. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened.
7. Step 7: Toast hamburger buns in a separate pan or under the broiler. Spoon beef mixture onto buns, top with shredded cheese, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a more intense flavor, use a mix of ground beef and ground pork.
• Best substitution: Substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the beef mixture up to 2 days ahead. Store in the fridge and reheat when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and stir into the skillet. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through. Add a little beef broth to prevent drying out.
• Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 270
• Protein: 24g
• Fat: 15g
• Carbs: 8g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 3g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Cholesterol: 75mg
• Sat. Fat: 6g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Cozy French Onion Beef Sloppy Joes and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!