Sloppy Joe Cups
These Sloppy Joe Cups turn a classic into a handheld, easy-to-eat version with just a few simple ingredients. Ground beef in a rich, tangy sauce is tucked into biscuit dough and baked until golden. They’re a fun twist on traditional sloppy joes with less mess and all the flavor.
Easy Sloppy Joe Biscuit Cups
I love sloppy joes because they’re such an easy but comforting dish. There’s something about that saucy, flavorful beef that just hits the spot. The one problem, though,… they’re, well, sloppy. It’s right there in the name.
Adding the delicious sloppy joe meat to a handheld vessel like a biscuit cup solves that problem. You still get all the flavor but in a neater, easier-to-eat form. I used canned sloppy joe sauce because you all know I like easy, but if you have a homemade version you love, go for it!
I tested these with both jumbo (Grands) biscuits—like the ones I use in my mini chicken pot pies—and regular biscuits. The regular ones worked best. The bigger biscuits didn’t leave enough room for the sloppy joe filling, and the pastry-to-bread ratio was off. And, of course, don’t forget the cheese—everything is better with cheese!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef – The hearty base of the filling.
- Sloppy Joe Sauce – Adds the classic tangy, slightly sweet flavor.
- Refrigerated Biscuits – Forms the cup that holds the sloppy joe filling. Regular size works best, not the Jumbo or Grands.
- Shredded Cheese – Melts on top for a gooey, cheesy finish. I used cheddar cheese, but any melty cheese will work.
Making the Sloppy Joe Biscuits
- Prep – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease 10 holes in a muffin pan with cooking spray.
- Cook the beef – In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the sauce – Stir in the sloppy joe sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes until warmed through.
- Prepare the biscuit cups – Flatten each biscuit between your palms to make a disk, then press it into a muffin cup, ensuring it comes up the sides to form a cup.
- Fill the cups – Spoon the sloppy joe mixture evenly into each biscuit cup, filling them almost to the top.
- Top with cheese and bake – Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the biscuits are golden and the cheese is melted.
- Cool and serve – Let them cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan. Serve warm.
Variations and Substitutions
- Meat options – Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles.
- Different sauces – Use BBQ sauce, taco seasoning with salsa, or marinara for a different flavor twist.
- Cheese choices – Try mozzarella, pepper jack, or smoked gouda instead of cheddar.
- Biscuit alternatives – Crescent roll dough, pizza dough, or even puff pastry can be used instead of biscuits.
- Veggies – Saute diced onions, bell peppers, or jalapeños with the meat for extra texture and flavor.
Tips for Success
- Use regular-sized biscuits – Jumbo biscuits don’t leave enough room for the filling, and the bread-to-filling ratio is off.
- Flatten the biscuits – Pressing them into a disk before placing them in the muffin tin helps them fit better and cook evenly.
- Drain excess grease – After cooking the beef, drain any extra grease to keep the biscuit cups from getting soggy.
- Don’t overfill – Leave a little room at the top so the filling doesn’t overflow while baking.
- Shred your own cheese – Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can prevent smooth melting.
- Let them cool slightly – Giving them a few minutes to cool helps them hold their shape when removing from the pan.
Storage
Store leftover sloppy joe cups in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the oven at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes or in the microwave for 30-40 seconds until heated through.
The sloppy joe cups can be frozen for up to three months. Wrap each cooled sloppy joe cup tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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Sloppy Joe Cups
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (15-ounce) can sloppy joe sauce
- 1 (10-count) can refrigerated biscuits regular size, not jumbo or Grands
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease 10 cups of a muffin tin.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the sloppy joe sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes until warmed through.
- Flatten each biscuit between your palms to make a flat disk and press them into a muffin cup, making sure they come up the sides to form a cup.
- Spoon the sloppy joe mixture evenly into each biscuit cup, filling them almost to the top.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the biscuits are golden and the cheese is melted.
- Let them cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan. Serve warm.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.