Big Mac Sloppy Joes are a delicious super sloppy version of a McDonald's Big Mac. With the ground beef mixture, cheese, sesame seed bun, pickles, lettuce, onion, and even our own special sauce - we think these are as good as (or better) than the real thing. 😉

Big mac sloppy joes served with special sauce on a hamburger bun with lettuce, cheese, onion, pickles.

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Why You'll ❤️ This Sloppy Joes Recipe
🥘 What You Will Need
🔪 How To Make
🥗 How To Serve
📖 Variations
💭 Top Tips
❓FAQs
✔️ More Sloppy Joe Recipes
📋 Recipe

Why You'll ❤️ This Sloppy Joes Recipe

"One word: delicious. Your family will love this!"

If you're a sloppy joe lover be sure to try my Instant Pot Sloppy Joes or this Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes version. If you're looking for something unique be sure to make my Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes or these Sloppy Joe Sliders - they're GOOD! 🙂

Family Favorite! What's not to love about a combination of cheeseburger and sloppy joes? Kids love them! Customize the toppings to make even your pickiest eater happy.

Tasty Copycat Big Mac. You're gonna love this sloppy joe recipe with its delicious cheeseburger taste - just like a Big Mac.

Easy To Make! Cook everything in a saucepot or deep skillet, toast your buns, then layer on the ingredients.

Make them keto! Make these low carb and keto by using sugar-free ketchup and a brown sugar substitute then serve over a chaffle. De-lish.

🥘 What You Will Need

Here's what you'll need to make big mac sloppy joes:

Ingredients

Ground Beef - I prefer 80/20 for its flavor.

Onion - use a yellow onion if possible.

Whole Dill Pickle - use any favorite whole pickle then dice it up.

Prepared Yellow Mustard

Ketchup - use any favorite brand. I used G Hughes Sugar-Free

Garlic Powder

Brown Sugar - use a brown sugar substitute if following keto or you are watching your sugar intake.

Salt and Pepper

Water

Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns - I usually use 1 bun for each, but McDonald's uses a bottom and a top plus a slice of in the middle. This is your option. For the middle layer, I take the bottom of another bun and slice the crust off.

Butter

Iceberg Lettuce

Processed Cheddar Cheese Slices - you can use real cheddar slices but if you want to go authentic go with the processed American cheese.

Copycat Big Mac Sauce - make this from scratch - it's super easy and a must to keep this as close to tasting like McDonald's Big Mac. 😉 Make it several days ahead of time if you want! You could substitute bottled thousand island dressing but it isn't quite the same.

Sliced Dill Pickles

For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!

🔪 How To Make

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making this recipe:

Brown the beef and cook the onions. In a skillet brown ground beef and cook onions until they are tender.

Make sloppy joe mixture. Add dill pickles, mustard, ketchup, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Toast the buns. Butter one side then toast butter side down in a skillet until they are golden.

Adjust seasoning and serve. See below for serving ideas.

big mac sloppy joes served on a sesame seed bun with pickles, lettuce, and onion.

🥗 How To Serve

Meal idea! Serve big mac sloppy joes with a green salad on the side with the big mac sauce as a dressing or raw veggies for dipping, and french fries or air fryer tater tots.

Toast the bun. Butter one side of the bun then toast it with the butter side down in a skillet until it gets golden and crusty.

Single bun: On a toasted bun, layer first with the sauce, ground beef mixture, cheese slice, lettuce, onion, pickles, and the top bun.

To make it just like McDonald's you'll need a middle bun layer. Take the top or bottom from another bun then slice off the crust so it's flatter. Toast the buns. Layer in this order: bottom bun, big mac sauce, ground beef mixture, cheese slice, middle bun, the sauce, more meat, cheese slice, lettuce, onion, pickles, and then the top bun.

📖 Variations

If you want to make these less of a big mac, here are some ways you can customize your sloppy joes:

Go for spice. Add sliced jalapeno
Make it a deluxe. Add bacon and extra cheese and maybe some tomato.
Use any kind of lettuce you want, or omit it altogether.
Butter and toast the buns for the best flavor, but this is totally optional!
Serve over a baked potato, tater tots, or french fries, and top with cheese.

💭 Top Tips

If you are going for an exact copycat version, use the exact ingredients I used.
This recipe serves 4 if you make yours with a single hamburger bun. If you make a 3-layer sloppy joe it will use more meat mixture and extra bread, so the recipe will serve approximately 3 people. Note that the nutrition value was calculated with a single bun.
Make the Big Mac Sauce up to 2 or 3 days in advance.
Adjust any seasoning or ingredients to get this to your liking.

❓FAQs

How To Store

To store leftovers, let the roast cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. See reheating and freezing instructions below.

How To Reheat

Microwave - transfer to a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.

Stovetop - transfer the meat to a saucepan and heat on low heat until warm through, stirring frequently.

How To Freeze

Place the cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat using the instructions above.

✔️ More Sloppy Joe Recipes

I've got more sloppy joes for you!

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes - an easy hands-off method. Start the crock and forget about it until you're ready to eat!
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes - quick to make perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Sloppy Joe Sliders - sloppy joe meat and cheese slathered on Hawaiian rolls then baked until melty. Perfect for parties or dinner.
Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes - a really unique and tasty spin on the traditional.

If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give it a 5-star rating and/or a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please share photos of your creations with me and others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Big Mac Sloppy Joes