What is a Messy Giuseppe? It’s an Italian twist on America’s beloved sandwich, the Sloppy Joe. You can also call this delicious creation a Sloppy Giuseppe or an Italian Sloppy Joe—they’re all the same thing!

I created this recipe for my personal chef clients more than 15 years ago. My dishes with Bolognese meat sauce, marinara sauce, and really any tomato sauce were always the most popular dinner favorites. So, it’s no surprise that my clients loved the Messy Giuseppe too!

So, if you love Italian cuisine, and in particular red sauces, you’ll love Messy Giuseppes as well!

The extra bonus? This is one of the easiest one-pot recipes you can imagine! You’ll definitely want to include this tasty sensation in your weeknight dinner rotation!

Messy Giuseppe Ingredients & Substitutions

Ground Beef

Just like with traditional Sloppy Joes, you can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or any combination of ground meats.

Italian sausage is also a yummy alternative. Just remove the meat from the casing and cook it the same way as the ground beef.

Tomato Puree

If tomatoes are in season, fresh diced tomatoes are always a welcomed substitution; just add a tablespoon of tomato paste to them. You can also replace the tomato puree with canned diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes.

If I have some homemade marinara in my freezer, I nix the crushed tomatoes and seasonings and just mix the marinara into the meat. I’ve also been known to use leftover Bolognese sauce in my Messy Giuseppes. This means I get to skip cooking the meat too. I just heat up the Bolognese sauce and fill the bread.

Italian Bread or Rolls

Since we’re going with the Italian theme here, I like to stick with a crusty Italian bread, ciabatta rolls, or an Italian roll.

However, the traditional bun for classic Sloppy Joes is a hamburger bun. If you have those on hand, they’ll work just fine.

Cheeses

Again, we’re talking Italian Sloppy Joes, so I use Italian cheeses. Shredded mozzarella will melt nicely on your Sloppy Giuseppe. Pecorino Romagna is another tasty cheese that melts well; it’s the same cheese that is used in traditional cacio e pepe.

Alternatively, freshly grated parmesan, especially the Emilia-Romagna specialty Parmigiano-reggiano, will add a delicious layer of complexity.

Messy Giuseppe Recipe

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 
1 medium onion 
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1½ pounds ground beef
2 cups tomato puree
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon chopped basil
4 Italian-style rolls
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
8 basil leaves 

Instructions

1. In a large deep skillet or sauce pan, heat the olive oil and cook the onions and garlic over medium heat until translucent.

2. Add the ground beef and brown the meat, breaking it up into small pieces with a spatula.

3. When the meat is cooked through, add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and oregano, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then turn heat down to simmer for approximately 10 minutes until desired thickness. Stir in chopped basil.

4. Toast the rolls opened-face until the insides are golden brown.

Stuffing the rolls with Sloppy Giuseppe meat

5. Stuff the rolls with the meat mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan, and garnish with basil leaves.

Serving Sloppy Giuseppes

Variations

Anything goes with this Sloppy Giuseppe recipe! A diced red or green pepper can be added when you cook the onions. Add some mushrooms or another family favorite to make it your signature way.

SpicE It Up

If your crowd likes everything with a kick, just sprinkle a little bit of red pepper flakes on top.

When To Serve

Messy Giuseppes make a delicious lunch or dinner any day of the week. If you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, it doesn’t get much easier than this!

You can even make Sloppy Giuseppe sliders on mini buns for a fun party finger food.

Side Dishes

Messy Giuseppes are so hearty, they can be a meal by themselves. If I want to serve a side dish, I usually make a simple green salad. Or for an appetizer salad, I choose my burrata panzanella.