Give Breakfast Sandwiches A Savory Upgrade With An Old-School Saucy Filling

Starting your day with a breakfast sandwich is never a bad idea, but sometimes they can seem a little played out. If you find yourself getting into a breakfast sandwich rut, shake things up with a touch of inspiration from the high school cafeteria. You can still make your favorite breakfast sandwich, but give it a savory upgrade with inspiration from a popular sandwich of the 1970s: the sloppy Joe. 

Tasting Table's easy sloppy Joe recipe includes ground beef cooked in a seasoned, ketchup-based sauce. You could stick with the classic beef and sauce; however, most breakfast versions tweak the recipe and lean into the idea of a classic sausage gravy instead. Pork sausage is most traditional, but chicken or turkey would work just as well. For a spicy version, you could even swap in chorizo.

Brown the meat and use the drippings to make a creamy gravy. The simplest version of Tasting Table's biscuit and herbed sausage gravy recipe calls for flour and the drippings to make a roux, your preferred seasonings, and milk or cream. Some versions add cream cheese for richness. Once thickened, stir in the cooked sausage and spoon the mixture over your breakfast sandwich of choice.

Give a simple egg-and-cheese biscuit a hearty upgrade by spooning creamy sausage gravy over the egg before replacing the top half of the biscuit. Same as a loaded bagel with crispy bacon, sausage, and a hash brown patty — just top the whole thing with the sausage gravy, and get ready to make a mess. If you need sandwich inspiration, Tasting Table has a long list of breakfast sandwich recipes to turn into breakfast sloppy Joes.

The thick gravy coats the fillings, while the browned sausage adds savory flavor and a meaty texture. Push your sloppy Joe breakfast sandwich to the next level with spicy chorizo or hot sauce. Alternatively, if the sandwich feels too rich, add fresh herbs for an aromatic finish or lettuce for contrast. Pickled jalapeños and fresh tomato pair well with a spicy chorizo sloppy joe, adding acidity to balance the richness. Onion and fresh avocado could add more texture and brightness too.

With a bit of sausage gravy spooned into your breakfast sandwich, you get a combination of creamy, crispy, and chewy in every bite. Whatever other ingredients you choose, your sloppy Joe breakfast sandwich will be messy and over the top — making it a fun choice for family breakfasts or a weekend brunch with friends.